The Islamization of Psychology By ZULKIFLI KHAIR

“Unthinking repetition of Western theories and practices in the discipline of psychology probably presents one of the most serious threats to the status of Islamic ideology among our Muslim scholars and laity. Western psychologists propound theories about man’s personality, motivation, and behaviour which are in many ways contradictory to Islam.” (Malik Babikir Badri)

Islamic concept of knowledge (‘ilm) Knowledge is from God and He knows everything. Knowledge should benefit man’s faith and the entire world. Obligation to learn, to develop, to spread and to practice the knowledge. Two kinds of knowledge: The highest knowledge – the revealed knowledge. The knowledge of the sciences (‘ulum), and is acquired through experience and observation and research – the acquired knowledge or human knowledge. Western concept of knowledge only based on the experience and observation.

God knows everything “He is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth; He gives life and He gives death, and He is able to do all things. He is the First and the Last, the Outward and the Inward, and He has knowledge of all things.” (Quran, 57: 2-3) “His knowledge encompasses all things.” (Quran, 20: 98)

Useful knowledge “…that which increases your knowledge of God, His attributes, acts, and favors; makes you aware of His commands and prohibitions; leads you to renounce the things of this world and wish only for the Hereafter; and brings your faults, the defect in your acts, and the plots of your enemy to your notice.” (Abdullah ibn Alawi al-Haddad, 1989; p. 26)

The holy book Quran After Muhammad, Islam only accept the Quran as the complete and final revelation, testament and holy book. There are three other holy books to be believed in Islam: Zabur, Taurat and Injil. Quran’s words are from God, not written by Muhammad as Islam as the religion of God and not a Mohammadan or the religion that founded by Muhammad. Quran is not a book on psychology and science, futuristic book, literature etc. but the right guidance of man of all times, all places, and all races – never out of date and universal.

The Sunnah Some scholars say that sunnah is similar to hadith. Saying (Qawl), Action (Fi'l), Approvals (Taqreer), Description (Sifah), Attributable to the prophet Muhammad.

“Verily! In the creation of the heavens and earth, and in the alteration of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah while they are standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and THINK DEEPLY about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose, glory be to You! Save us from the torment of the Fire.” (Ali ‘Imran: 190-191)

The concept of islamization “Islamization is the liberation of man first from magical, mythological, animistic, national-cultural tradition opposed to Islam, and then from secular control over his reason and his language. The man of Islam is he whose reason and language are no longer controlled by magic, mythology, animism, his own national and cultural traditions opposed to Islam, and secularism. He is liberated from both the magical and the secular world views….

…. We have defined the nature of Islamization as a liberating process ….We have defined the nature of Islamization as a liberating process. It is liberating because since man is both physical being and spirit, the liberation refers to his spirit, for man as such is the real man to whom all conscious and significant actions ultimately refer. The liberation of his spirit or soul bears direct influence upon his physical being or body in that it brings about peace and harmony within himself in his manifestation as a human being; and also between him as such and nature. He has, in liberation in this sense, set his course towards attainment to his original state, which is in harmony with the state of all being and existence (i.e. fitrah).” (Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, 1993; p. 44-45)

The islamization of knowledge “To recast knowledge as Islam relates to it, is to islamize it; i.e., to redefine, and reorder the data, to rethink the reasoning and relating of the data, to reevaluate the conclusions, to reproject the goals – and to so in such a way as to make the disciplines enrich the vision and serve the cause of Islam.” (Ismail al-Faruqi, 1982; p. 15-16)

The islamization of psychology Redefine, and reorder the data, rethink the reasoning and relating of the data, reevaluate the conclusions, rewrite the history, reproject the goals of the psychology according to Islam as well as liberate the psychology from any other magical and secular world views. Muslim psychologists are responsible and accountable to islamize the modern western psychology. Psychology, the most difficult knowledge to be islamized.

The problems of Western psychology The psychology without soul. Ignoring revealed knowledge. Dualism in moral and value system. For example: Accepting homosexual. Criticized by Western great scholars e.g. Eysenck, Wilbur etc. Sexual abuse in psychotherapy and counseling. Cross-Cultural Counseling: The Arab-Palestinian Case by Marwan Adeeb Dwairy.

The problems with islamization of psychology Psychology is a collection of different discipline. Psychology deals with human behaviour. Different psychologists speak different language. Psychology is even different from other social science. * Adapted from handouts by Alizi Alias as referred to Malik Badri’s lecture at IIUM, 1993.

Psychology is a collection of different discipline Psychology as the most difficult knowledge to be islamized. No logical sequence in psychology. Chapters in the discipline of psychology are almost independent or unrelated each other.

Psychology deals with human behaviour No ‘small unit’ in psychology as in physics, chemistry and biology. Human behaviour is difficult to be measured – difficult to invent a special measurement tool.

Different psychologists speak different language The divergent field of psychology. Psychologist who specialise in the scientific branches (bio psychology, perception, behavioural genetic etc.) may speak a different language from the psychologists who specialise in the less scientific area (social psychology, psych of personality etc.)

Psychology is even different from other social science Other social sciences are greatly ‘socialised’ and dial with man’s behaviour in a limited sense. Psychology is reating its one leg in pure sciences and the other foot on social sciences.

Methods of Islamisation Psychology as a philosophy. Psychology as a pure science. Psychology as arts and skills. Psychology as a history. Psychology as a collection of subject matters and methods. * Adapted from handouts by Alizi Alias as referred to Malik Badri’s lecture at IIUM, 1993.

Psychology as a philosophy Problem: We view the theories and practices of Western psychology as universal and culture-free. Whatever is publicly announced by them is accepted by us as ‘world opinion’. Western psychology is entirely based on a secular materialistic philosophy that denies any sacredness or holiness to any moral, spiritual or humanistic value. Islamisation – should refer to the Islamic philosophy and carried out by Muslim psychologist and other Muslim scholars.

Psychology as a pure science Problem 1: Scientific theory and explanation has been viewed as the only truth besides rejecting revealed knowledge. Problem 2: Over-generalisations from animal research to man; human dignity is abused in social experiments as simply a rat or a dog. Islamisation – Psychology should be well-grounded in the sciences itself besides following the syari’ah and adab of Islam.

Psychology as arts and skills Psychology as arts and skills; e.g. psychotherapy, psychometric and counseling. Problem 1: Psychometric is almost bias to western community. Problem 2: Psychotherapy and counseling do not follow Islamic syari’ah and adab for instance during dealing with client in different gender. Islamisation – Develop Muslim’s measurement test and scales besides following the syari’ah and adab of Islam.

Psychology as a history Problem: The missing 100 years of Muslim world-class achievement in knowledge. Islamisation – Muslim psychologist and historians should carried out the rewriting history of psychology.

Psychology as a collection of subject matters and methods From this view, psychology can be divided in three broad categories: UnIslamic. Not against Islam and supporting Islam. Islamisation – Islamiser should highlighting both categories of psychology and can be made useful for education and da’wah.

Islamisation needs People. Facilities. Supports. Special course. Training Facilities. Library. Supports. Policy. Financial.