Schema Therapy and Islamic understanding of the inner world of man: conceptual parallels and ways for integration

Abstract

This article is located at the intersection of Islamic Psychology, Islamic Theology, and Schema Therapy and provides a thorough investigation of the fundamental schema therapy concepts in an Islamic discourse. The paper presents a study of the basic concepts of Schema Therapy in Islamic discourse and, in particular, suggests the consideration of schemas as an analogue of the "imprints" enveloping the heart (qalb). Both the patterns and these imprints are formed in early childhood as a result of good or bad upbringing, and later, in adulthood, they develop – strengthen or weaken – as the spiritual consequences of good deeds or sins. It is proved that the development of positive schemas and the modification, weakening of negative schemas are like "polishing" or cleansing the heart to bring it into an ideal healthy state, or the so-called “qalb salim”. The notion of modes in schema therapy is examined in Islamic discourse by means of a thorough analysis of the three types (parts) of nafs, which is Russian for "soul" or "I" ("Self").  The concepts of al-nafs al-ammarah, al-nafs al-lawwamah and al-nafs al-mutma’innah as types (parts) of nafs are compared to some modes from the schema therapy model (child modes, parent modes (critics), Healthy Adult mode).The conceptualization of the relationship between the components of the nafs was substantiated by comprehending the processes of interaction between modes found within the theoretical model of schema therapy. This enabled the identification of the strategic practical tasks of both the individual spiritual process of tazkiyat al-nafs, which is Arabic for "purification of the soul," and spiritually oriented psychotherapy for Muslim clients: 1) to develop and strengthen al-nafs al-mutma'innah, providing it with knowledge and wisdom, primarily from Islamic sources, and aiming it at "leadership" among other parts of nafs in order to keep them within established boundaries and moderation, as well as to help the qalb (heart) to find peace; 2) to orient al-nafs al-lawwamah to fulfill its originally inherent functions (the requirement of abstinence from sinful behavior and performance of duties), to prevent its excessive activity and switch it from destructive criticism to constructive; 3) through reminders from an-nafs al-mutma'innah, as well as reasonable and moderate demands from an-nafs al-lawwamah to keep an-nafs al-ammarah within the boundaries established by Allah, in the "golden mean", within the framework of the Islamic principle of wasatiyyah (moderation). This should ultimately contribute to achieving a healthy heart, or qalb salim, and harmony of nafs with fitrah, that is known as the very essence of human nature.