Foundations of Islamic Psychology

Abstract

In the last two decades there has been an expansion of the literature on Islāmic psychology, psychotherapy, and counselling in the development of theoretical framework, application of therapeutic psychosocial and spiritual interventions. However, there is a dearth of suitable books tracing the history of Islāmic psychology from the Islāmic Golden Age through the early 21st century, providing students and professionals a thorough look into Islāmic psychology’s origins and key developments in its evolution, from classical scholars to contemporary thinkers. Islām’s heritage and socio-cultural-scientific achievements in a period in the history of Islām, traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century is known as the Islāmic Golden Age. This is a truly remarkable period in human history with the inauguration of the House of Wisdom (Bait-al-Hikmah) in Baghdad, which was a public academy, intellectual centre, and a library. For many centuries, psychology was shaped by ancient Greek, until a new Islāmic psychology emerged. The emergence of “Islāmic psychology” was a result Muslim religious motivation, the quest for knowledge, and the socio-political factors. During the height of Islāmic civilisation, Islāmic scholars were discussing psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, and their connection to holistic spiritual, mental, and physical health. There are several early works of Islāmic scholars that have contributed to what is now known as Islāmic psychology, identified in Arabic as Ilm al-Nafs, which means the “science of the self or psyche.” Although Islāmic psychology had some influence on the Hellenic trait of looking at philosophy, spirit, and mind together, the Islāmic scholars also started to develop a practical approach to psychology. Intervention strategies in psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, classical conditioning, environmental therapy, and music therapy were developed and used to treat patients with psychosocial issues. An understanding of the origins and historical contributions of the study of Islāmic psychology would provide an orientation of where Islāmic psychology came from, what is its present status quo, and where it is going. Many Islāmic scholars played a role in psychology history which have been omitted and absent in Western-oriented literature. These include the scholarships from both classical and contemporary scholars including the work of Islāmic theologians, philosophers, physicians, and modern contemporary Islāmic psychologists. The classical scholars included Al-Kindī, Ibn Miskawayh, Ibn Rushd, Al-Fārābī, Al-Rāzī, Al-Balkhī, Ibn Sīnā, Al-Ghazâlî, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah, Ar-Rāghib Al-Aṣbahani, Ibn al-Jawzī, Ibn Khaldūn, and Ibn Rajab. The 19th–21st century Islāmic scholars include Allāmah Muhammad Iqbāl, and Malik Badri and others. Foundations of Islāmic Psychology: From Classical Scholars to Contemporary Thinkers examines the history of Islāmic psychology from the Islāmic Golden age through the early 21st century, giving the readers a thorough look into Islāmic psychology’s origins, Islāmic philosophy and theology, and key developments in Islāmic psychology. This book integrates materials from philosophical, theological, psychological origins to the historical development of Islāmic psychology. In tracing psychology from its origins in early civilisations, ancient philosophy, and religions to the modern discipline of psychology, this book integrates overarching psychological principles and ideas that have shaped the global history of Islāmic psychology. The book aims to examine the legacy of psychology from an Islāmic perspective, looking at the contributions of early Islāmic classical scholars and contemporary psychologists, and to introduce how the history of Islāmic philosophy and sciences has contributed to the development of classical and modern Islāmic psychology from its founding to the present. This book also aims to engage and inspire students to recognise the power of history in the academic studies of Islāmic psychology, to connect history to the present and the future, and to think critically and historically. This book can be used independently or as a supplement with readers, this brief text is intended for undergraduate and graduate courses on the history of Islāmic psychology.