Long before Freud or CBT, Muslim scholars were writing about the mind, the soul, and the roots of emotional suffering. Figures like Imam al-Ghazali explored the nafs (the self) and its struggles with desire and despair. Ibn Sina studied the connection between physical health and emotional states. And Abu Zayd al-Balkhi, writing in the 9th century, produced one of the earliest systematic treatments of mental illness – complete with what we’d now call cognitive reframing.
So why does this matter today? Because many Muslims seeking therapy feel a gap between what they learn in session and what they’ve been taught about the soul. Modern psychology, rooted in Western frameworks, can feel disconnected from Islamic concepts of tawakkul (trust in God), sabr (patience), and tazkiyah (purification of the heart). But the truth is, Islamic teachings and evidence-based therapy are not at odds – they often arrive at the same insights through different languages.
Take cognitive-behavioral therapy, the gold standard for treating anxiety and depression. CBT teaches that our thoughts shape our emotions and behaviors, and that by challenging distorted thinking, we can reduce suffering. Al-Balkhi wrote the same thing a thousand years ago, explaining that obsessive thoughts (waswas) could trap people in cycles of fear, and that countering those thoughts with reason and remembrance of Allah could break the cycle. He even distinguished between mental illness rooted in the body (what we’d call biological factors) and suffering rooted in the soul’s turmoil (psychological distress) – a distinction modern psychiatry took centuries to articulate.
This convergence is not coincidence. It’s evidence that Islamic scholarship was doing psychology before the field had a name. And it means that Muslims today don’t have to choose between faith and science. A therapist trained in both Islamic principles and modern techniques can help clients see dhikr as a form of mindfulness, dua as a practice of hope and meaning-making, and the concept of tawbah (repentance) as a framework for self-compassion and growth.
At MySakinah, we connect you with clinicians who understand this integration – professionals who respect your faith and are trained in the tools that work.