Young Muslims of Australia Forum

Cool Muslim · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 9 Location: Melbourne

I thought I share my notes too

Western Psycholoy & Islamic Spiritual Psychology (Tasawwuf)
A Brief Comparison

1.The Universe

Traditional psychology assumes that the universe is completely material and without meaning or purpose.

According to Tasawwuf, the universe was created in accordance with Allah (swt) Will and is permeated with Allah (swt) Presence.

“Unto Allah belong the East and the West, and wherever you turn, there is Allah’s countenance, Verily Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing” Quran 2:115

2.The Human

Traditional psychology assumes that the human being is nothing more than a physical body and a mind developed from the physical nervous system.

An important element in Tasawwuf is the spiritual heart (Qalb), which is the location of inner intuition, understanding and wisdom. We are more than mind and body, we are the embodiment of divine spirit.

3. The Human’s Nature

In Western psychology, descriptions of human nature focus primarily on human limitations and neurotic tendencies, or on innate human goodness and our essentially positive nature. The first approach is typical of clinical psychology and the second of humanistic psychology.

According to Tasawwuf, all human beings are located between the angels and the animals. We share both natures and have the potential to rise higher than the angels or to sink lower than the animals.

4. State of Consciousness

According to traditional western psychology our highest state of consciousness is the rational waking state.

Our Mashayikh (the drs of Tasawwuf) point out that for most people this is actually a state of ‘walking sleep”. Most people are habitually heedless and relatively unaware of themselves or the world around them.

These states of development include
• Initial awakening
• Patience & gratitude
• Fear & Hope
• Self-Denial and poverty
• Trust in Allah
• Love, yearning, intimacy & satisfaction
• Contemplation and self-examination
• Recollection or death

5. Sense of Self Identity

Western psychologists hold that self-esteem and a strong sense of ego identity are important; that loss of identity is pathological.

In tasawwuf, the sense of a separate identity is one of the veils between us and Allah (swt) that, distorts reality and prevents us from knowing our true divine nature. Our goal is to transform our egos (Nafs) and to lose our sense of separate identity.

6. Unity of Personality

Western psychologists assume that personality is a relatively unified structure

In Tasawuf, the human being is seen as a diverse collection of traits and tendencies, many of which are related to different stages of evolutionary development. One of our tasks is to balance these various traits and to strengthen our spiritual development. Unity of personality is an advanced state.

7. Logical Reasoning

Western psychology considers logical reasoning, the highest human skill and the way to knowledge and wisdom

In Tasawwuf, the abstract, logical intellect is called the lower intellect. It is useful at school and also for learning skills related to worldly success. But knowledge must be put into practice, and there is also a higher ‘intellect that enables us to understand spiritual truths and the meaning of life. If the intellect serves as a tool of the ego, it can become the enemy of growth and development. The abstract intellect needs the light and wisdom of the Qalb.

8 Knowledge Transmission

Western psychology believes that almost all significant knowledge can be transmitted using logically organize and rational prose.

People of tasawwuf know that the written word is limited. The highest states of spiritual development are beyond rational description, and to achieve them, the rational, separate ego must be dropped.

9. Faith

For Western psychologists faith means believing in things that are not real or ideas that have no solid evidence.

In Islamic spiritual psychology (tasawwuf) faith means belief in the truth, behind the varied appearances of material creation. Faith puts the individual into the right relationship with the universe and with the divine. Tasawwuf is deep soul searching. Fundamental believer that the Divine is fully present in us.

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"The true Sufi is like a mirror where you see your own image, for “The believer is a mirror of their fellow believers.” Get rid of those faults in yourself, because what bothers you in them bothers you in yourself." ( Rumi)