What is the Islamic perspective on 'Astral Projection'? a) Is it permissible to learn and practice it? b) Could the Night Journey of Prophet (peace be upon him) be explained by this (that is, it was not a physical journey but a journey of the soul only)?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Astral projection, as described by those who are involved in it, is a process that is based on the assumption that there is an "astral body" for the human being other than the physical body. Astral projection denotes that the astral body leaves the physical body and separates from it in specific and delicate conditions, the most important of which is when the person reaches a stage between consciousness and unconsciousness.

However, there is no evidence for what they say; Allaah Says (what means): {And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart about all those [one] will be questioned.}[Quran 17:36]

Dr. Wahbah Az-Zuhayli was asked about it, as per his website, and he answered: “These are superstitious means even if it sometimes  leads to some correct results. It is forbidden to rely on it or practise it – whether by imagination or by action – as the source of the unseen is Allaah Alone and whoever relies on these superstitions disbelieves in Allaah and disbelieves in the revelation as confirmed in the authentic Ahaadeeth of the Prophet about soothsayers, magicians and fortune-tellers.”

Since this knowledge is like magic and fortune-telling, then it is not permissible to learn it; the Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopaedia says about knowledge and its rulings: “Learning (acquiring knowledge) may be forbidden, like learning sorcery, drawing lines on sand, magic, fortune-telling and soothsaying.”

On the other hand, according to the correct opinion of the scholars, Israa’ (the night journey of the Prophet from Makkah to Jerusalem) took place with both the soul and body. Some scholars said that it took place with the soul only. In any case, it has nothing to do with this imaginary knowledge at all, but rather it was a miracle from Allaah.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 83413.

Allaah Knows best.