What is Islamic Psychology?

Islamic Psychology is the discipline that studies the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of the human being from an Islamic framework. It attempts to understand the complex nature of the Insan, in order to facilitate growth and well-being.

In a world that is overshadowed by capitalism, Islamic psychologists and therapists put the client’s well-being first, an Islamic teaching titled Amanah. This teaching describes the client-therapist relationship as a trust, a sacred bond, a connection that cannot be broken. This is a significant practice that governs the Islamic therapeutic ethics - to ensure that the best outcome is achieved for the client, putting them at the focus of the work.

More, Islamic Psychology is holistic. It understands the human as the human, a unique expression of existence that cannot be divorced from their soul. He is not merely a body that contains neurological and chemical processes, but far more complex. If the various elements pertaining to the human are ignored, the treatment will be partial - perhaps only treating a symptom of a wider, far deeper problem.

Contrary to what some may claim, Psychology is deeply rooted within the rich scholarly tradition of Islam. Scholars like Abu Zayd al-Balkhi from the 9th century attempted to under the human being from not just the bodily symptoms that would arise, but the thoughts and emotions they would experience. When speaking about OCD, for e.g., al-Balkhi makes a distinction between normal and pathological self-talk - an idea that did not synthesise in the modern West until the 20th century. He further suggests that people that suffer from OCD should not be forsaken to isolation, for “their whispers may consume them”, providing social comfort to them. Modern Psychologists confirm that people with OCD actually fair far worse in isolation than when in social gatherings.

It is these understandings of ethics, the human experience and rich history with the Psyche that makes Islamic Psychology a sublime basis for therapy-practices. And where the literature falls short, Islam teaches us to learn further, for the very first command to the Prophetic nation was, ‘Read’.