In any Introductory Psychology books, various psychological issues are touched upon such as biological psychology, sensation/perception, psychology of consciousness, psychology of learning, cognitive psychology, motivation/emotion, developmental psychology, personality psychology, abnormal psychology, and social psychology. Believe it or not, these issues are touched upon briefly but comprehensively in the story of Adam’s AS creation.
Adam AS (and thus all humans) is created by Allah SWT with dual nature (i.e., body and spirit; Qur’ān, 23: 12-16; also read a hadith narrated by Bukhari Vol. 9, Book 93, No. 546). When the spirit/ruh enters the body, it is known as soul/nafs. It gives life to the body and interacts with biological and environmental variables to produce various unique human behaviours and mental processes covered in Introductory psychology textbooks.
The story of Adam’s (AS) creation and his nature revealed a unique human biological make-up (Qur’ān, 7:11), consciousness (Qur’ān, 7: 20; 20: 117,120), cognitive ability (Qur’ān, 2: 32-33; 7: 20), development (Qur’ān, 7: 25), motivation and emotion (Qur’ān, 2: 35; 7: 19; 20:120-121), and social behaviour (Qur’ān, 2: 36; 7: 24; 20: 123). But most importantly, the soul gives human beings the ability to choose between good and bad (Qur’ān, 2: 36; 7: 22), and receive guidance and make repent (Qur’ān, 2: 37; 7: 23; 20: 122).
More behavioural and cognitive issues are revealed in the story of Adam’s (AS) two sons, i.e., Qabil/Cane and Habil/Abel, in terms of social behaviour (Qur’ān, 5: 27), personality differences (Qur’ān, 5: 28), abnormal behaviour (Qur’ān, 5: 29-30), sensation/perception (Qur’ān, 5: 30), and learning (Qur’ān, 5: 31). Thus, the Qur’ān touches briefly on major psychological topics when it talks about the first human event i.e., the creation of man after the spirit enters the body and interacts with the environment. These psychological themes are described, explained, or illustrated further (briefly and in detail) throughout the Qur’ān.
What contemporary secular psychology fails to consider are the values of human behaviour and mental processes; that people are capable of doing good and evil (Qur’ān, 91: 8-9), and that people need to be guided to differentiate between good and evil (Qur’ān, 90: 10). Muslims believe that these behaviours and mental processes are manifestations of the soul as the result of interaction between body and spirit and the extent to which they receive guidance on how to perform their duties to Allah SWT as His servant (`abid, Qur’ān, 51: 56) and His vicegerent (khalifah) in this world (Qur’ān, 2: 30).
So, if you want to understand your own or other people behaviours and mental process like all psychologists, social scientists, and virtually all human being, read the Qur’ān further, until the end, not just certain surahs/chapters on certain days or occasions only. Because the story of Adam AS, is just the beginning. Plus, the more we understand our (and others’) behaviour and mental processes, the more likely we receive hidayah and fulfill our role as `abid/servant of Allah SWT.
So, let’s read the Qur’ān in order to receive hidayah!
For further readings:
Achoui, M. (1998). Human nature from a comparative psychological perspective. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 15, 71-95.
Al-Attas, S. M. N. (1990). The nature of man and the psychology of the human soul. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization.
Ali, A. H. (1995). The nature of human disposition: Al-Ghazali’s contribution to an Islamic concept of personality. Intellectual Discourse, 3, 51- 64.
Alias, A. (2009). Human nature. In N. M. Noor, (Ed.), Psychology from an Islamic perspective: A guide to teaching and learning (pp. 79-118). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: IIUM Press.
Huq, M. (1994). In quest of a meaningful model of human self and behaviour. Intellectual Discourse, 2, 1-18.
Mohamed, Y. (1995). Fitrah and its bearing on Islamic psychology. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 12, 1-18
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About the Author:
Alizi Alias currently works as a General Manager (Human Capital), Medic IG Holdings, Bandar Baru Bangi, Malaysia. He was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, International Islamic University Malaysia from 2007 to 2018.
Note: This article gives the views of the Authors, and not the position of the Department of Psychology IIUM Blog, nor of the Department of Psychology IIUM.