Introduction to Islamic Psychology

In Western thought, Psychology is widely understood as the scientific study of human behaviour, and the way it is taught at colleges and universities very much reflects this definition. Western Psychology focuses on the experimental method as a means of analysing human behaviour where evidence is derived through reasoning and rationality. Without this approach, the discipline could not be seen as a science. However, if we look at the root word Psyche, we find that it has been derived from Greek which, when translated, means Soul. Hence Psychology is the study of the soul and not what secular education has promoted it to be a study of human behaviour. Even Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) who is widely regarded as the founder of Psychoanalysis in the West did not use the concept of psyche in its proper term. It is therefore not surprising that the Psychology taught in colleges and universities in the West does not reflect the true meaning of the word. Students are being taught how to understand human behaviour exclusively from observable characteristics of the person - thereby removing the Psyche from the curriculum. This is an attempt to maintain the scientific credibility of the discipline. Ideally, any serious study of human behaviour and interaction in society would be incomplete if the whole of the human - including the soul - is not included. Such a study renders itself discredited from the outset. It is like studying the functions of a car without an engine. In Islam the study of human behaviour is approached in a holistic way. It includes characteristics of behaviour interlinked with the soul the psyche. This is referred to as Islamic Psychology. Islamic Psychology is based on divine revelation, not human speculation. The two primary sources of jurisprudence that govern the whole way of life in Islam are the Quran and the Sunna. The Shariah (derived from these two sources) is what is used to study all aspects of human life, including the soul. Whereas a sub-discipline of Western Psychology teaches that there is no real truth and everything is socially constructed, Islam gives us guidance through the Shariah and so acts as the benchmark against which versions of truth can be tested.

The Shariah needs to be incorporated into all disciplines of psychology clinical, educational, occupational, counselling and many others. Because Muslim psychologists derive their understanding from the Quran and Sunnah, their vision is different from Western psychologists. Faith and spirituality play crucial parts in conditioning human behaviour, the study of which are vital components of psychology. These are often neglected in the western models; although Jung did consider the role of religion to be an important factor in the process of psychoanalysis. He appears to be a voice in the wilderness. Obviously the methodologies used by these two forms of Psychology will be different as one views the human being as the centre of existence, denying God and spiritual values, whereas the other, looks towards the eternal truths and recognises divine revelation as superseding the limited human reasoning capability as a source of knowledge.

By Zeenat Ghumra Please do not alter, delete or distribute this article without the authors consent, also any feedback is welcome at muslimeducation@hotmail.com