I've come across the view on this board several times now, of people (muslims) saying that counselling is a total waste and as Muslims we dont need to spend hundreds on counselling sessions when we have Islam as a solution and as a way of life, something to live our lives by.
But my question is, people who come to counselling are not always lost, its just that sometimes they have difficulty coping with where life has taken them, they may know what the solution is, heck they may even have tried to put it into practice themselves, but when they find that they cant, and need a helping hand and somebody to physically guide them through, they might decide to see a counsellor.
If somebody is experiencing post-tramatic stess disorder after an accident or has experienced a loss, to tell them to turn to Allah or find a solution in Islam, although an extremely valid and valuable point, may not always work. Islam provides spiritual comfort and peace of mind sometimes, but at other times we might need something physical, a helping hand, somebody qualified to talk to, somebody you know will bring you up rather than drag you further down...
So....any thoughts? Muslims and Counselling, Muslim Counsellors? Yay or Nay?
It is not always possible for people to solve their problems by themselves. Islam even recommends that when a couple is unable to solve their marital problems by themselves then they should call upon an arbitrator. Therefore, there is no reason why counselling should not be an option for a Muslim.
The ideal situation would be for someone knowledgable in Islam to offer the counselling that a Muslim may need. However, for a non-Muslim psychologist/psychiatrist to give counselling is not wrong either because after all, what they have studied is simply the working and funtioning of the human mind and body that Allah has created.
I don't see this as being any different from seeing a physician when one is ill - although in this case, a muslim should abstain from types of therapy recommended by a counsellor if it is beyond the limits of Islam - just as one would abstain from consuming a medicine which contains non-halaal ingredients.
I've come across the view on this board several times now, of people (muslims) saying that counselling is a total waste and as Muslims we dont need to spend hundreds on counselling sessions when we have Islam as a solution and as a way of life, something to live our lives by.
But my question is, people who come to counselling are not always lost, its just that sometimes they have difficulty coping with where life has taken them, they may know what the solution is, heck they may even have tried to put it into practice themselves, but when they find that they cant, and need a helping hand and somebody to physically guide them through, they might decide to see a counsellor.
If somebody is experiencing post-tramatic stess disorder after an accident or has experienced a loss, to tell them to turn to Allah or find a solution in Islam, although an extremely valid and valuable point, may not always work. Islam provides spiritual comfort and peace of mind sometimes, but at other times we might need something physical, a helping hand, somebody qualified to talk to, somebody you know will bring you up rather than drag you further down...
So....any thoughts? Muslims and Counselling, Muslim Counsellors? Yay or Nay?
WassalamuAlaykum
Salam,
Proffessional counselling is good but we have to ask ourselves y are we even going to them in the first place...dun we have good muslims bros/sis' friends? i think the latter is the best solution along with the Quran and Hadith...being with ppl who do goodness, being in Jam'ah..where there is a spirit to correct each other and help those who are feeling down...if we are seeking proffessional help, maybe its about time we start to make more frens with the pious ppl...its would be better if we are in Jam'ah....=)..
May Allah guide us, bless us and forgive us completely..Ameen
raudha, just what I wanted to hear, JazakAllah khayr
format_quote Originally Posted by Abdul Qadir
Salam,
Proffessional counselling is good but we have to ask ourselves y are we even going to them in the first place...dun we have good muslims bros/sis' friends? i think the latter is the best solution along with the Quran and Hadith...being with ppl who do goodness, being in Jam'ah..where there is a spirit to correct each other and help those who are feeling down...if we are seeking proffessional help, maybe its about time we start to make more frens with the pious ppl...its would be better if we are in Jam'ah....=)..
May Allah guide us, bless us and forgive us completely..Ameen
Wa'alaykum As-Salam
Yup you're right about being in Jama'ah, but not everybody has that network or support of friends and good bro's and sisters. Even then, to help somebody and to advice them in a helpful way is a skill that not everybody posseses. Sometimes if you've not been through something yourself its difficult to advise somebody through it. Whereas a qualified counsellor is a qualified counsellor. Wallahu A'lam =)
it is definitely needed, the problem youd probably have is that people dont want members of their family speaking of issues to an 'outsider', but there is definitely a need for it without a doubt
Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed.
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and expiate from us our evil deeds, and make us die (in the state of righteousness) along with Al-Abrar
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