Can Muslims study psychology

[Anam Amrin]

Asalamwalekum,

I wanted to know if muslims can study psychology to take up the role of a counsellor at a later stage of life.

[Supernova]

Asalamwalekum,

I wanted to know if muslims can study psychology to take up the role of a counsellor at a later stage of life.

Asalaamualaykum

The simple answer is yes they can as long as some theories don't confuse or become part of your understanding of deen.

[anatolian]

I even regard this question a danger for our future..

[00001001]

I even regard this question a danger for our future..

Selam abi, I think I understand what you mean, but could you clarify?

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[noraina]

Wa alaykum assalam,

Ukhti, of course a Muslim can study psychology - it isn't much different from any other academic subject.

In fact I think we're in a dire need of Muslim psychologists or counsellors, especially in Western countries, to help the Muslim community and beyond.

[aaj]

:wasalam:

Yes, they can study psychology. But it's good to have a good foundation in Islam before going into the subject. Lot of the theories are based off of western history and immoral and have nothing to do with the true nature of "psychology" but rather are rambling theories of a secular earlier pioneers. For example, look at Oedipus Rex syndrome. That is a western Greek history based theory and something the westerners may feel as kids because of their culture but it is not true for rest of the world. Same goes for a pyromania, the theory is that if you like burning stuff and putting stuff on fire then it's because you were sexually molested as a child. This is not true either, some people just like burning stuff and see the flames and the whole phenomena related to it. So yes one can study the subject but when they practice it they should go at it from an Islamic perspective and mindset and not the secular immoral one with such lewd theories. Also, if you look into it you will find that many who do go into this field are psychologically messed up themselves, and many do take and advantage of their victims as well, such as getting sexual favors from them or start sexual sessions with them, abusing them. All of this is documented and can be found if research about the field.

Lastly, many psychologist don't have normal human interaction with others. They start measuring the person up and start putting him/her in their categories based on their observations rather than meet them genuinely at face value. This you can read from their own blogs. And they end up using this psychology against people in their lives. Which leads to the problem with Muslimahs going into this field. There are those who use this psychology on their husbands to mess with their husbands, manipulate and experiment on them and force them to have it their own way. This leads to a very unhappy marriage if the husband tries to resist and a happy life for the muslimah if she breaks him in and she starts wearing the pants in the house. Which is also why some Muslims will rule out marrying a muslimah with that major.

So yes, you can study it and go into it. But how you end up using it will be the big question.

[muslim brother]

Wa alaykum assalam,

Ukhti, of course a Muslim can study psychology - it isn't much different from any other academic subject.

In fact I think we're in a dire need of Muslim psychologists or counsellors, especially in Western countries, to help the Muslim community and beyond.

agree
ive studied psychology sociology and more

in fact tasawwuf ,and specific writings of imam ghazalli are also psychology
psychology is just a word its not unislamic
infact knowing how humans work is the greatest knowledge

[noraina]

agree
ive studied psychology sociology and more

in fact tasawwuf ,and specific writings of imam ghazalli are also psychology
psychology is just a word its not unislamic
infact knowing how humans work is the greatest knowledge

Yes, I've studied Psychology and wouldn't mind studying it further inshaAllah.

It's not usually termed in this way, but in Islam we are really encouraged to be healthy psychologically. Restrain anger, be positive, exercise patience, ect, it also addresses depression and self-restraint. The same way a doctor can allow someone to physically heal, psychology can provide healing in an equally potent way. Even things like salah and fasting, have an immense impact on your way of looking at things.

And it struck me too, many of the scholars centuries back seemed to have written in great detail on an Islamic/spiritual approach to psychology.

I've even heard Muslims established the first psychiatric institutions, and travellers used to wonder at their treatment of those assumed to have mental difficulties. Not sure how true this is tho.

[Supernova]

Yes, I've studied Psychology and wouldn't mind studying it further inshaAllah.

It's not usually termed in this way, but in Islam we are really encouraged to be healthy psychologically. Restrain anger, be positive, exercise patience, ect, it also addresses depression and self-restraint. The same way a doctor can allow someone to physically heal, psychology can provide healing in an equally potent way. Even things like salah and fasting, have an immense impact on your way of looking at things.

And it struck me too, many of the scholars centuries back seemed to have written in great detail on an Islamic/spiritual approach to psychology.

I've even heard Muslims established the first psychiatric institutions, and travellers used to wonder at their treatment of those assumed to have mental difficulties. Not sure how true this is tho.

Yes thats almost true : Many books in Cordoba in Islamic Spain were about psychology merged with philosophy.
Unfortunately under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella the first, they destroyed many of these gems of knowledge.
Remember at that time Cordoba had the hugest library in the world.

[talibilm]

I do not know what this study involves with but if it does not involve with those matters that's clearly mentioned as prohibited in the Noble Quran and Hadiths such as suspicions etc like in the following hadiths It should not be wrong IMO but a Mufti with good academic knowledge on this subject can give the best reply .

Bukhari :: Book 7 :: Volume 62 :: Hadith 74

Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Beware of suspicion (about others), as suspicion is the falsest talk, and do not spy upon each other, and do not listen to the evil talk of the people about others' affairs, and do not have enmity with one another, but be brothers. And none should ask for the hand of a girl who is already engaged to his (Muslim) brother, but one should wait till the first suitor marries her or leaves her."

Malik :: Book 47 : Hadith 47.4.15

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z-Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Beware of suspicion.Suspicion is the most untrue speech. Do not spy and do not eavesdrop. Do not compete with each other and do not envy each other and do not hate each other and do not shun each other. Be slaves of Allah, brothers."


Muslim :: Book 32 : Hadith 6214

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Avoid suspicion for Suspicionn is the gravest lie in talk and do not be inquisitive about one another and do not spy upon one another and do not feel envy with the other, and nurse no malice, and nurse no aversion and hostility against one another. And be fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.

[cooterhein]

Asalamwalekum,

I wanted to know if muslims can study psychology to take up the role of a counsellor at a later stage of life.

70% of primary school children in Iraq are experiencing significant trauma to a point where they will need this sort of help, without which they will suffer significant long-term consequences....so the answer is rather obvious, no? This is something that you can't afford to get wrong.

[seyma]

Naturally yes, look up names like muhasibi, ibn sina etc. they all did something in this field. Every knowledge that has the potential to lead you to Allah is mubah.

[Fardah]

A philosopher once said, "Give me educated mothers, I shall give you educated society."
Something like that.

What's wrong in gaining knowledge?