Abuse of mental health patients

According to Islamic belief, Jinn are a distinct creation of Allah. The Holy Qur'an states: "And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire" (Qur'an 55:15).
An important question, however, is whether jinn can directly harm human beings. Some people believe that specific Qur'anic verses can be used to summon jinn or establish communication with them. Yet neither the Qur'an nor authentic Hadith provides a prescribed method for summoning jinn or controlling them. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never promoted practices involving the invocation of jinn, the distribution of amulets as a source of supernatural protection, or the exploitation of people through fear of unseen entities.
In many societies, self-proclaimed spiritual healers, exorcists, or faith practitioners claim to summon or expel jinn through rituals, charms, blessed water, oils, or amulets. Such practices are often accompanied by financial exploitation, with vulnerable individuals being persuaded to surrender money, livestock, or other valuables. In some cases, people suffering from mental illness are subjected to physical and psychological abuse under the guise of exorcism. These practices lack both clear scriptural support and reliable scientific evidence.
From a scientific perspective, the existence of jinn remains a matter of religious belief rather than empirical verification. Modern medicine neither proves nor disproves their existence. Instead, contemporary psychiatric practice emphasises respect for patients' cultural and religious beliefs.
A critical issue arises when experiences attributed to "jinn possession" are actually manifestations of identifiable psychiatric or neurological disorders. Symptoms such as hearing voices (auditory hallucinations), fixed false beliefs (delusions), altered states of consciousness, seizures, memory disturbances, or unusual behaviour may be associated with conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dissociative disorders, and epilepsy. Contemporary neuroscience has demonstrated that many of these disorders are linked to biological and neurochemical changes within the brain, involving systems such as dopamine and serotonin regulation.
This reality is frequently observed in neurological and psychiatric practice. Many individuals initially believed to be suffering from "jinn possession" show significant improvement following accurate diagnosis and evidence-based treatment. With appropriate medical care, many are able to return to normal functioning and productive lives. Consequently, before attributing unusual symptoms to supernatural causes, it is essential to carefully evaluate potential medical explanations.

Dr. Muhammad Sayed Inam
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet