This presentation on ‘The Call for Islamization of Modern Psychology’ elucidates the nature and focus of psychology in the West and Muslim world. Since the West has gone through a period of shifting of paradigms in its views on man and psychology, and the fact that there exist a myriad of schools in psychology, the presenters would like to restrict their scope of analysis to only three schools from the western mainstream psychology. Among others that include psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and humanistic psychology. In a contrastive manner ideas on Man from the three schools will be compared with what has been conceptualized in Islamic psychology. Due to the fact that at times western schools of psychology agree and complement one another in matters related to man and at other times they are at loggerhead with one another, has created an opportunity for the introduction of Islamic psychology. It is the conviction of the presenters that Islamic ideas on man which are comprehensive and all-encompassing can act as a ‘peace-maker’ to the polemical issues that are prevalent in western schools of psychology. It is believed that ideas provided by Islamic psychology can harmonize many of the differences found in western mainstream psychology.

2. The Call for Islamization of Modern Psychology
By:
Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak
(maarji@iium.edu.my)
Dr. Yousef Rahath House (Kulliyyah of Education)
Department of Fundamental & Inter-Disciplinary Studies
Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
International Islamic University Malaysia
Presented to:
Academic Centre for Education, Culture & Research
Tehran, Iran
March, 2017
© ACECR & maarji

3. This presentation on ‘The Call for Islamization of Modern Psychology’
elucidates the nature and focus of psychology in the West and Muslim
world. Since the West has gone through a period of shifting of paradigms in
its views on man and psychology, and the fact that there exist a myriad of
schools in psychology, the presenters would like to restrict their scope of
analysis to only three schools from the western mainstream psychology.
Among others that include psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and humanistic
psychology. In a contrastive manner ideas on Man from the three schools
will be compared with what has been conceptualized in Islamic psychology.
Due to the fact that at times western schools of psychology agree and
complement one another in matters related to man and at other times they
are at loggerhead with one another, has created an opportunity for the
introduction of Islamic psychology. It is the conviction of the presenters
that Islamic ideas on man which are comprehensive and all-encompassing
can act as a ‘peace-maker’ to the polemical issues that are prevalent in
western schools of psychology. It is believed that ideas provided by Islamic
psychology can harmonize many of the differences found in western
mainstream psychology
Abstract

4. Western Psychology in the Beginning
According to Webster (2003), long before the
emergence of the controversial theory on the origin of
man by Charles Darwin (1809-1882), psychology like all
other natural sciences had its roots in religion. More
precisely, he states that Western psychology had initially
been a branch of the Christian theology. Ideas on man,
presented by Western psychology during that time were
an amalgamated one taken from Plato (428-348BC),
Jesus and Paul (5-67AD)
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

5. Cont.
In addition to that, psychologists paid much attention to
the cognitive phenomena like memory, intelligence and
perception which are all related to the human soul. By the
end of the nineteenth century, this trend in the Western
psychology changed when Sigmund Freud (1856-1039)
introduced his psychoanalysis paradigm into the
mainstream of Western psychology. With its emergence,
psychoanalysis started to wreck, and challenge the
traditional outlook of Western psychology
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

6.  Nye(1986), states that although at
times many of the ideas on man in the
Western paradigms complement one
another in answering the intricate
questions on human nature, there are
also times when they contradict each
other
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)
6

7. 7

8. Sigmund Freud
Freud took psychology away from its mere focus and
discussion on certain selected topics, to deal with the
whole issue of human existence. Controversial enough to
state, he gave the topics on sexuality and sexual impulses
great importance in the psychological growth of man.
Previously such topics were deemed as an intellectual
pollution by Plato and other ancient philosophers. Some
even went to the extent to accolade him with praises as the
‘Darwin of the mind’
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

9.  Painted a negative image of man
 There is no difference between man and other
members of the animal kingdom
 Man is an intellectual beast doomed for
destruction
 Man is enslaved to his sexual impulses
 Man has no freedom to cut loose from the
shackles of his psychosexual development
 Freud’s concept on man is a pessimistic and
deterministic one
 Man is driven by two psychic forces; Eros
 (Life Instinct) and Thanatos (Death Insticnt) 9

10. 10
Pavlov(1849-1936)
J.B.Watson
(1878-1958)
B.F.Skinner
(1904-1990)

11. Behaviorism
Unlike the psychoanalysts, the behaviorists have a different
concept of human nature altogether. In their concept of
human nature, much emphasis has been laid on explaining
that man is nothing more than an outcome of his own
environment. In the behaviorist concept, the environment
refers to the physical as well as the social condition of
family, society and the country at large. Behaviourism as a
school of thought in psychology has its roots in John
Locke's (1632-1704) theory of associationism
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

12.  Based on the ‘tabula rasa’ theory, man is
neither good nor bad
 Man is nothing more than an outcome of his
environment
 Radical Behaviorism: Man and animals can be
conditioned by stimulus and response and
reinforcement
 Man becomes a mechanical being.
 They emphasized on man’s learning
experience
 They do not believe that man is born with
innate knowledge 12

13. 13
Maslow
(1908-1970)
Carl Rogers
(1902-1987)

14. Humanistic Psychology
Humanistic psychology was not happy with Freud's concept of
human nature that depicted man as an animal full of sexual and
aggressive energy that drives him wild and reckless in the pursuit
of his selfish motives. As a response to psychoanalysis, humanistic
psychology emphasized strongly on the parts of human nature
that are uniquely of human potentials such as reflection,
reasoning, judgment, self-awareness, rationality and creative
imaginations. Moreover, humanistic psychologists, believe that
every individual has a freedom of choice, a tendency to enjoy
interpersonal relationship, can have his or her own intention and
purpose in life and also able to undergo spiritual experience
otherwise called as ‘peak experience’ in one’s life
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

15.  Man is born with a good nature but reacts
negatively due to situations which he gets into
 They did not believe that all human actions can be
reduced to a stimulus-response type of action
 They believe, man has a subjective inner dimension
 Man has the freedom to choose either to respond
or not to the demands of the environment
 Man’s state of consciousness is more important
than his unconscious
 Man has the tendency for growth to experience
‘Self-Actualization’ and ‘Fully-functioning Person’
15

16.  Many scholars in the West were and
are influenced by what has been
conceptualized by Charles Darwin
(1809-1882).
 Darwin’s idea that states the origin of
man goes back to the ape family is
lurking in the ideas of Western
scholars who appeared later on the
intellectual stage of Europe
16

17. Islamic Psychology
Unlike the Western schools of psychology; namely the Freudian
psychoanalysis, Behaviorism and Humanistic psychology, which
are based on secular notion on human nature, Islamic psychology
is one that is purely based on the religious ideas on man. In
exploring the contents of Islamic psychology, one would discover
that it caters to answer many of the unattended enigmatic issues
on man by the Western mainstream psychology
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

18. Nature of Islamic Psychology
Islamic psychology is unique when compared to Western
psychology in the sense that it provides a comprehensive
understanding on man, his true nature, his origin before coming
into this world, his supposed mission and role in this life and also
of his eventual return upon completing this earthly life. In contrast
to this thorough explanation on man by Islamic psychology,
Western psychology only emphasizes matters pertaining to man of
his physical, psychological and socio-cultural needs. Moreover, by
being more concerned with man’s ‘here and now’, Western
psychology does not dwell on what was the state of man before
he was born and what happens to him after death.
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

19. Nature of Islamic…..cont.
Different to Western mainstream psychology, Islamic psychology
is much concerned about the state of humanness in man and to
the study of his soul/spirit. In its investigations on man and
personality development, Islamic psychology tries to understand
the functions of the RËÍ, Qalb, Nafs and ÑAql. For many Muslim
psychologists the four entities are one and the same thing
referring to the RËÍ. For some, the four act as different entities in
the human body. Yet, the four entities form the spiritual dimension
on man. The knowledge and understanding of these four entities
have helped Muslim psychologists solve many psychological issues
pertaining to human problems
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

20. • Man has pre-existed before he came to this
world
• Human beings are the progeny of Adam
• Man is the Khalifah/vicegerent of God on earth
• Man was taught by Allah - as such, he possesses
the creative intelligence
• Man was created in the best of moulds
• Man was given the natural disposition
• Man is placed on the highest pedestal in the
hierarchy of creations
• Man was not the First Creation of Allah SWT
• The world was prepared for Man before his
coming 20

21.  At times man’s position can go higher than the
angels and lower than animals
 Man is forgetful
 Man is given the freedom of choice to choose his
way, either to be thankful or ungrateful to Allah
 Man is given the ‘Amanah’
 Man has a dual nature; soul and body
 The spiritual dimension of man
21

22. 22
And when your Lord said to the
angels: “Indeed, I will make a
vicegerent upon the earth.” They
said: “Will you place upon it one
who will cause corruption therein,
and will shed blood, while we
glorify Your praise and sanctify
You.” He said: “Surely, I know that
which you know not.”
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:30

23.  He is known in the Qur’an as:
Man
Al-
Insan
An-
Nas
Al-Ins
Bani
Adam
Zurriyat
Adam
Al-
Bashr
23

24. 24
Body
Soul/ Spirit/
Mind

25. Khalifah Khulafah
Khulaif
25

26. Vicegerent Administer
Deputy Representative
26

27. Allah
•Establish a good relationship with Allah,
•This world is given as a trust
•He has to serve Allah SWT and no other deities/gods
• He has to be accountable for all his actions on this world
Nature
•Bring out the potentials from the belly of the earth and
used them for his spiritual development
•Nature is a gift from Allah (Flora & Fauna)
•Man should not abuse or cause destruction
•Administer the world well- establish peace and harmony
Humanity
•Establish a good relationship with fellow human beings;
Muslims and non-Muslims
27

28.  Born in the primordial nature/ born
with his natural disposition
 Born without any stain of sin
 In Islam, man is not born with the
‘Original Sin’
28

29. 29
So set you your face (O
Muhammad) towards (this)
Faith, inclining to truth. The
nature of Allah that upon
which He has created
mankind. There is no
altering in (the laws of)
Allah’s creation. That is the
right religion, but most of
the people do not know [ Surah Rum30: 30 ]

30. 30

31. 
“We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and
the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to
undertake it, being afraid thereof. But man
undertook it (the Trust);- he was indeed unjust
and foolish...” (Surah Al-Ahzab:72)
31

32.  The word Amanah in Surah Ahzab:72 has
several meanings to it
 Scholars say Amanah can be the sum total of all
the injunctions found in the Qur’an
 The Qur’an can be the Amanah
 The human intellect or Aql’ can be the Amanah
 The Vicegerency can be the Amanah
 The covenant between Allah and the whole of
humanity in the realm of soul, prior to his
coming to this world
32

33. 33
We have certainly created
man in the finest of moulds
(Surah Al-Tin 95:4)
And indeed, We have honored the
children of Adam, and We have carried
them on the land and the sea, and We
have provided them with good things,
and We have preferred them above
many of those whom We created, (a
sure) preference (Surah Al-Isra’:70)

34. 34
Indeed, We guided him to
the way, whether be he
grateful or be he
ungrateful (rests on his
will)
Surah Al-Insan76:3)

35. 35
And indeed, We made
a covenant with Adam
before, but he forgot,
and We did not find in
him determination
Surah Ta Ha 20: 115

36. 36
And He taught Adam all the
names, then He showed them to
the angels and said: “Inform Me of
the names of these, if you are
truthful.”
They said: “Glory be to You, we
have no knowledge except that
which You have taught us. Indeed,
it is You, the All Knower, the All
Wise.”
Surah Baqarah2: 31-32

37.  Al-Ruh
 Al-Qalb
 Al-Nafs
 Al-Aql’
37
Al-
Aql’
Al-
Nafs
Al-
Qalb
Al-
Ruh

38. 1. Jannah
(Adam& Hawwa)
2. Alam Al-Arwah
(Realm of the Souls)
3. Alam
Al-Arham
(9+ months)
4. Alam Al-
Dunya (60-70
yrs)
5. Alam Al-
Barzakh
6.
Qiyamah
(end of
time)
7. Yaumul
Hisab
(Judg-
ment)
8. Al-Mizan
(The Balance)
9. Sirat
(the Bridge)
The Spiritual
Journey of Man:
An Islamic
Perspective
Jahan
-nam
(Hell)
38

39. Some Analysis on Western & Islamic Psychologies
Western Mainstream Psychology Islamic Psychology
1. Based on scientific & secular ideas
2. Method: mainly scientific
3. Focuses on Man’s “Here & Now”
4. It is a “Soulless” psychology which focuses on
the human mind
5. Darwin’s concept on man forms the basis for
many schools of psychology
6. Dichotomous way of looking at human nature
(mind and body)
7. Psychologists, counselors and
psychotherapists take a ‘value-free’ approach
when dealing with their clients
8. Over dependent on psychedelic drugs to
overcome their clients mental illness
9. No consensus on what is considered to be an
ideal personality
10. Absence of a role-model in their theories of
personality
1. Based on ideas taken from the Qur’an,
Sunnah & medieval Muslim scholars
2. Method: Religious & philosophical
3. Explains Man’s pre-existence, “Here &
Now” & Hereafter
4. Entertains discussion on the nature of
the human soul
5. Its concept on Man goes back to ideas
found in the Qur’an & Sunnah
6. Integrated way of looking at the
relationship between the soul and body
7. Psychologists, counselors &
psychotherapists provide a ‘value-laden’
services to their clients
8. Recommends reading & listening to the
Qur’an, meditation, contemplation,
prayers, fasting, taubah(repentance),
etc. as a form of therapy
9. What is a good personality is well-
explained from the Qur’anic and Sunnah
perspectives
10. Prophets & his companions & saintly

40. Western Psychology is making a U-Turn
• As a result of the Renaissance & Secularism, western
psychology left God & embraced science and scientific methods
to solve all psychopathological problems
• In the beginning it started to measure human greatness by
using IQ= Intelligence Quotient
• After that psychologists said something is missing in human
beings, then they came up with EQ= Emotional Quotient
• The latest development, they are calling for SQ=Spiritual
Quotient
• This new trend sounds as if psychologists are returning back to
religious & philosophical ideas
• But their new concept of spirituality without the presence of
God is still not good enough to remedy all psychopathological
problems
* The following three slides are my quotes on God

41. God
God is like the central piece of the jigsaw-
puzzle of life.Without Him life becomes less
romantic and meaningless
(Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak)
IIUM

42. A day without God in my life will be a
total chaos
(Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak)
IIUM
God

43. The ongoing tussle between good and
evil within me says that God exists
(Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak)
IIUM
God

44. Limitation of Scientific Approach
Western psychologists at one time used the philosophical
approach and at another time they used the scientific
approach aided by laboratory, scientific tools, and even
computers. The latest developments in Western Psychology
show that psychologists are reverting back to some
philosophical ideas due to their inability to find satisfactory
answers in some areas of psychology by merely using
scientific approach
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

45. Limitation of Science……cont.
The optimism of fifty years ago has now dissipated and the
social and psychological problems of Western societies are
probably the only variables that have surpassed economic
inflation in their sharp increase. Their failure is not
surprising since the psychology of humankind, with all its
complex variables and spiritual aspects, could never be
reduced to the chemical and physical data of laboratory
experiments (M.G. Husain, 1996, p.xi)

47. New Trend in Western Psychology
Western psychology which evolved from a philosophical approach
to a scientific one in the study of man has somehow neglected the
true essence of psychology which is the study of the human soul.
As such it is now regarded as a ‘soulless psychology’. In realizing
this situation, the latest trend in Western psychology indicates
that psychologists are incorporating some Eastern philosophical
and religious ideas into their existing scientific ideas on man.
Considering this as an open invitation, Muslim scholars and
psychologists have initiated efforts on the Islamization of modern
psychology by sharing ideas on man’s spiritual dimension found in
the Islamic primary sources
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

48. Islamization of Modern Psychology
The Islamization process is not a total rejection of all
scientific research done by Western scholars. The rejection
of science and scientific research is not the true spirit of the
Qur’an. With this in mind, Muslim scholars, scientists and
psychologists only reject all atheistic, secularist, agnostic
and nihilistic ideas found in the researches done by
Western scholars
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

49. Role of Islamic Psychology
Islamic psychology with its comprehensive ideas on human
nature has been seen by Muslim scholars as a new
perspective in psychology that can fill in the lacunae
present in the modern psychological thoughts on man, and
clears the mist that surrounds most Western theories on
man. It is expected that Islamic psychology can harmonize
many of the disagreements found among the different
schools of psychology in the West
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

50. What to Retain from Western Psychology
• As stated by Badri (1979) and other Muslims psychologists that
it will be good for Muslim psychologists to adopt and adapt
some of the ideas found in Western psychology so long as
these ideas are not contradictory to their Islamic faith, into their
own system of psychology.
• Psychological tools, measurements to conduct intelligence
tests, behaviour therapy and behavioral psychotherapy which
are found on learning theory can be well incorporated into the
realm of Islamic psychology. Moreover, such psychological
tools have great relevance in the fields of education, military
and medicine
(Mohd Abbas, 2013)

51. Moteshakeram
Syukran Jazilan
Terima Kasih
ThankYou