ISLAM AND PSYCHOLOGYPSYC 1070

SEMESTER 2, 2014/2015GROUP REFLECTIONS

MADAM NADJET AKNOUCHE

GROUP MEMBERS :

1. UMMI FATIHAH BINTI ABDUL WAHED (1317252)2. NUR DIYANA BINTI SABRI (1324010)3. FAIZAH BINTI ZAKARIA (1319332)4. ILLYA SYAHEERA BINTI ABDULLAH HALIM (1315764)

5. LABIBA BINTI AHMAD (1319370)6. NURUNNUHA BINTI MD ALWI (1324170)

Reflection 1: Justifying the Need to Islamize Psychology

Psychology is one of the social sciences that had been introduced by western scholars

and as we can see in this current century, psychology has been adapted or included as one of

the major study field. Since Psychology introduced by western, the content in this study

emphasizes the Christianity value and teaching. Thus, to some extent it has certain parts that

contradict to the Islamic teaching. “Unthinking repetition of Western theories and practices in

the discipline of psychology probably presents one of the most serious threats to the status of

Islamic ideology among our Muslim scholars and laity. Western psychologists propound

theories about man’s personality, motivation, and behaviour which are in many ways

contradictory to Islam.” (Malik Babikir Badri). Therefore, to cope with that issue, we as

Muslims should develop our own indigenous psychology.

One of the reasons why we need to Islamize psychology is that

western psychology study does not have divine intervention and is only

explained by human reason. Muslim belief the existence of God. In Islam

the source of knowledge in general are human reason (aql), and revelation

(naql). Knowledge that is purely from human reason can be dangerous

(e.g. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution). The acceptance of Darwin’s theory

may lead to shrik. Hence, the study of psychology without divine

intervention is incomplete. According to Honer & Hunt, universe is self-

sufficient without supernatural cause and control and also exist without

Divine intervention. However, Islam belief that God exists as mentioned in

the Quran :

“ Allah is the creator of all things, and He is over all things, disposer of

affairs. To him belong the keys to heaven and the earth” (Quran 39:62-

63).