Aleem AshrafDepartment of Psychology

University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

Introduction

Nature of personality

Three-tiered model of personality

Psychological health

Seven virtues of a fully functioning man

Levels of needs

Concept of abnormality

Intervention

References

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He was a philosopher, scientist, metaphysical theologian and sociologist.

His metaphysical philosophy is a combination of:

Rationalism like Ibn-e-Rushd

Limited rationalism like AL-Ghazali

Dogmatism like Ibn-e-Taymiyah, and

Mysticism like Ahmed Sirhindi (Mujaddid Alf Thani)

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According to his philosophical system, man is integrated in the larger system of universe.

Being a part of the system, he has a certain role to play. He has a deterministic nature.

He is a psychosomatic unit, therefore, he can only achieve mental health if there’s a balance between the two aspects.

Profoundly influenced the thought of Muslims in the subcontinent.

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Universe is a well planned grand system where everything is working in a predetermined way.

Man is also part of that grand system therefore he also has a predetermined role.

Man is a psychosomatic entity. Psycho means soul or mind and soma means body.

He has beastly as well as angelic tendencies built into him.

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Nafs-e-Nasmah (inferior soul)

is responsible for man’s biological life.

It flows through the body like fire in a coal.

Constitutes of four humors: blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile.

Made of air, earth, water and fire.

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In the middle lies Nafs-e-Natiqa (rational or superior soul) which controls and conducts the Nafs-e-Nasma.

Rational soul makes us different from animals and it is also responsible for individual differences among humans.

Both inferior and superior souls are connected to each other and the body till death.

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Man dominated by Nasmah is driven by materialistic desires while when Nafs-e-Natiqa is in control, he becomes an ideal virtuous person.

The third and top most soul in the hierarchy is called Nafs-e-Samawi (heavenly soul).

There’s a potentiality in every human to reach this level.

Reached at by prophets and saints.

The secrets of universe such as life after death and the unseen are revealed through divine revelation.

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The heavenly soul for all humans have been created much earlier than their birth. While superior and inferior souls are only created at birth.

The heavenly soul is an ideal form of every individual which means that everyone has the full potential to reach at this level of perfection.

The debate of created soul vs pre-birth soul was reconciled by Waliullah by accommodating both types of soul in his system.

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Complete psychological health is achieved by harmonious functioning of both angelic and animalistic aspects of personality.

Man is combination of mind and body, therefore, satisfying the needs of only one aspect adversely affects the other aspect.

Religion is an important means to be on the path that leads to personal as well as the perfection of humanity in general.

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• Wisdom حکمت

• Bravery شجاعت

• Chastity عفت

• Generosity سخاوت

• Truthfulness دیانت

• Mode of expression فصاحت

• Harmony of character سمت الصالح

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The psychological health of an individual depends on the gratification of certain needs.

1. Needs for a person’s physical survivala. Food, eating and drinking

b. Protection, clothes, dwelling place

c. Accessory needs, cleanliness, sleep, help and treatment in illness.

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2. Aesthetic needs of art, literature, decoration, cleanliness etc.

3. Need for association with like minded people.

4. Need for a marital relationship and a family.

In addition to these needs one needs satisfying household relationships between husband and wife, parent and child etc. to grow as person.

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Stable economy is also crucial to achieve the desired level of individual and social growth.

The humanity as a whole can evolve further by establishing a league of nations.

This concept of internationalism can solve the problems of the world by bringing justice to the weaker nations.

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Powerful and dominating inferior soul (heart and emotions) and weak superior soul (reason and intellect) causes character and behavioral problems.

Every individual is born with unique inborn tendencies, ignoring or going against those tendencies also leads to maladjustment.

Bad habits, unethical behavior and bad customs and traditions of the society also affect psychological well being.

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The dominant Nasmah can be effectively controlled by worship and obedience to religious laws.

Such a man also needs hard religious exercises like keeping awake at nights (tahajjud), adopt humanity and simplicity.

Adopting new virtues and strengthening them with repetition adds them to personal dispositions.

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The vices lose their motivating power if an individual stops acting upon them with self control.

For a person who is unaware of his natural tendencies can seek guidance from his affectionate leader to analyze his natural tendencies. So that he can lead a more fulfilling life.

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Hermansen, Marcia (1988). Shāh Walī Allāh's Theory of the

Subtle Spiritual Centers (Laṭāʾif): A Sufi Model of

Personhood and Self-Transformation. Journal of Near Eastern

Studies Vol. 47.

Iqbal, Saeeda (1984). Islamic Rationalism in the Subcontinent.

Islamic Book Service.

Shih Wali Allah's Theory of Religion with a Translation of Hujjat

Allah al-Baligha, vol. I" (Ph.D. Diss., University of Chicago,

1982)

Syed Azhar Ali Rizvi (1989). Muslim Tradition in Psychotherapy

and Modern Trends. Institute of Islamic Culture.

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