Religious/Spiritual Abuse Toolkit
Spiritual Abuse
Spiritual abuse, which is also sometimes called religious abuse, is mistreatment inflicted on others using the excuse or rationale of religion, faith, or spirituality. Spiritual abuse can include harassment, shaming, abuse of power, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, violence, and/or humiliation. It often involves a person in a clerical position misusing power, religious doctrine and/or ideology to harm individuals. This can happen in any religious community. It is important to recognize the signs of this type of abuse, know how to get or provide help, and avoid blaming the victim when these incidents occur. Below, we have outlined a list of resources to help inform our community.
Resources on Spiritual Abuse
Spiritual Abuse as described above often creates religious distress in the victims and harms individuals not only on a physical and emotional level but a spiritual one as well. The following articles give more depth to the issue and offer considerations for individuals and communities experiencing this type of abuse.
- What is Spiritual Abuse? – Article from National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Understanding Spiritual Abuse – An Interview with Salma Abugideiri
- Shame and Silence: Recognizing Spiritual Abuse – Article from GoodTherapy.org
- What Do I Do When I Find out my Favorite Preacher is Corrupt? – Muslim Matters article by Shaykh Omar Suleiman
- Blurred Lines: Women, “Celebrity” Shaykhs, and Spiritual Abuse – Muslim Matters article by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari
- When Religious Leaders Fail – Article on Virtual Mosque by Shaykha Muslema Purmul
- What No One Told You about Spiritual Abuse in Islam – About Islam article by Janet Kozak
- In Shaykh’s Clothing – a resource website for spiritual abuse in the Muslim community
- Legal Help for Survivors of Spiritual Abuse – FaceTogether.org
Resources on Sexual Violence/Abuse
HEART Women and Girls put together a white paper that “provides recommendations for institutional responses to sexual assault based on surveys with direct services providers.” Additionally, they have collected a list of resources including videos, infographics, and articles on the topic of sexual violence and sexual abuse. You can also find a resource map, talking points on responding to allegations of sexual violence within the community as well as a toolkit on how to talk to children about sexual violence and sexual abuse. Click here for the list of resources
Resources on Victim Blaming
Victim blaming is when the victim of abuse, a crime, or any harmful act is held responsible, fully, or in part for the incident that happened to them. This often puts the victim in greater danger and decreases the chance that victims will reach out for help in the future, increasing incidents of abuse and violence.
Looking for a Muslim therapist?
The RuhCare Directory can help you find a verified Muslim therapist.
More from The FYI
The FYI's Tragic Events Toolkit
The toolkit provides guidance on how to process a tragic event, alone or with your family.
Disbelief, Trauma, & Betrayal: 3 Tips To Healing
Acknowledge the impact, ground yourself spiritually, and channel your energy.
The FYI's Therapy Guide
This guide will help you answer questions about therapy, how to search for a therapist, and what to expect from therapy.
This toolkit was compiled by Sarrah AbuLughod, MA; Amal Killawi, MSW; Madiha Tahseen, Ph.D.; and Sameera Ahmed, Ph.D.
Feedback
Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. It helps us refine and improve our efforts to better serve you. Whether it’s positive comments that motivate us or constructive criticism that guides our enhancements, your insights are an essential part of our journey. We genuinely appreciate your time and input as we work to provide the best possible experience. Thank you for being a part of our process!