Islamic perspectives on psychological and spiritual well-being and treatment

Abstract

This chapter outlines Islamic perspectives on psychological and spiritual well-being and its accompanying treatment implications. Pathology is described on a continuum of health and pathology that includes both manifest psychological and internal spiritual dysfunction. Disorder is not relegated solely to the normative clinical determinants of social, occupational, or familial dysfunction but also includes afterlife considerations. Thus, pathology is seen as the manifestation of any internal or external barriers to maintaining the minimal requirements of optimal functioning as Islamically defined by the presence of character virtues, absence of character defects, and compliance with Islamic external conduct. Within this Islamic schema of health and disorder, modern behavioral science is afforded an important role, and there exists significant convergence between the two fields of Islamic spirituality and behavioral science. The manifestations of this convergence can be seen in two particular domains: (i) external conduct (fiqh al-ẓāhir), mental status considerations for determining the applicability of Islamic legal and ritual requirements of adherents, and (ii) inner conduct (fiqh al-bāṭin), spiritual transformation, where both spiritual exercises and normative psychological treatment strategies can be employed toward the aim of attaining psycho-spiritual health within the context of this Islamic health schema. Both external and internal conduct is discussed within a mental health treatment context, outlining key Islamic concepts and notions to help inform a healthy incorporation of Islamic spirituality within this treatment setting.