Positioning the self (nafs) in Islāmic psycho-spirituality

ABSTRACTThere is a significant overlap between the objectives of the Qur’ān and psychology, highlighting their interconnectedness and the importance of Islāmic psycho-spirituality. The Qur’ān provides insights into human nature, emotions, and moral frameworks which align with psychological principles. Nafs, a Qur’ānic term referring to the self, plays a vital role in Islāmic psycho-spirituality. To achieve this, Islāmic psychology emphasizes self-reflection, self-control, and self-improvement, among many other practices, similar to psychological principles. Understanding and purifying the nafs to its higher levels enables individuals to strive for moral excellence, personal growth, and a stronger connection with Allāh.KEYWORDS: NafsselfIslāmicpsychologyQur’ān Disclosure statementThe authors confirm that there are no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests to report.