Thursday, March 29, 2007

After Humanistic Psychology had begun to study spiritual intelligence having a vertical dimension, the notion of Islamic Psychology arises. Similar to notion of Islamic banking (shariah banking) which has been refused but which is now popular in some countries, the notion of Islamic Psychology is now also still refused by the community of Western Psychology. This notion, however, will be accepted at least in certain countries and will even become the fifth school of psychology.

Historically, Islam didn’t create separated sciences such as psychology, because, different to sciences in the western world which were made enemy by the religion (the Church), development of sciences in the history of Islam was inspired by the Holy Qur’an and promoted by ulamas. For example, Al Khawarizmi (mathematician), al Birruni (scientist), Ibn Sina or Averroes (physician) were also ulamas (experts of Islam).

Studies of human soul in the history of Islamic sciences didn’t give rise to psychology, but sciences of Akhlaq and Tasawwuf.

Differences between Western Psychology and Islamic Psychology

1. Western Psychology is a product of empirical thinking and researches, while main source of Islamic Psychology is revelation of Holy Qur’an, its statements regarding human soul, based on an assumption that God, as a Creator of human, knows best about anatomy of human soul. In turn, empiric researches assists in interpreting the holy book.

2. Western Psychology has only three aims: attempts to describe, to predict, and to control mental and behavioral events, while Islamic Psychology had two additional aims which are to create good behavior and to encourage people to be feeling that they are close to God.

3. Counseling in Western Psychology only discuses matters on healthy or unhealthy psychologically, while counseling in Islamic Psychology also gives advices on how to make people have a meaningful living, become good people, and feel close to God.