The History of Psychology in Islam

ABSTRACT: Early Muslim philosophers and scholars contributed great works to the pursuit of clearly understanding psychology and mental health. During the height of Islamic civilization, Islamic scholars were discussing psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, and their connection to holistic spiritual, mental, and physical health. Innumerable psychological and therapeutic components are incorporated in the Qur‟an and the traditions and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم .(There are several early works and contributions of Islamic scholars that have contributed to what is now known as Islamic psychology, identified in Arabic as Ilm al-Nafs, which means the „science of the self‟ or „psyche‟. Overall, the paper explores the legacy of psychology from an Islamic perspective, looking at the contribution of early scholars to contemporary Muslim psychology.
KEY WORDS: History of psychology, early Muslim scholars, Islamic psychology