[Book Review]: "Bagus Riyono, Tazkiya Therapy in Islāmic Psychotherapy"

Abstract

This review critically examines Tazkiya Therapy in Islāmic Psychotherapy (Riyono, 2024), a Qur’anic-rooted, multidimensional framework developed by Bagus Riyono. The model positions spiritual purification (tazkiya) at the center of psychological well-being, conceptualizing therapeutic change as a knowledge-mediated process in which cognitive engagement with Divine signs informs emotion, behavior, and the cultivation of the soul. It integrates classical Islamic constructs with contemporary psychological theory and provides seven theoretical frameworks, case vignettes, and “empathetic directives” for clinical application. Strengths include conceptual coherence, practical accessibility for Muslim clinicians, and emphasis on the heart (qalb) and soul (rūḥ, nafs) as primary loci of transformation. Limitations involve the relative lack of empirical validation, insufficient therapist qualification guidelines, underdeveloped methodological operationalization, limited adaptation for non-Muslim clients, and need for deeper engagement with classical Islamic scholarship. In summary, Riyono’s work contributes significantly to Islamic psychotherapy, offering a theologically grounded and psychologically structured model while highlighting directions for future research and professional training.