The Islamic Concept of Happiness: Psychological Analysis
https://doi.org/10.31162/2618-9569-2021-14-4-923-950
Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of the Islamic concept of happiness from the standpoint of psychological science. Two approaches to the understanding of happiness, originating in Antiquity, are considered: hedonistic and eudemonistic; the cultural specifi city of happiness is investigated through the prism of ethnocultural values. It outlines the views on psychological health and well-being in Islam, as well as the views on social and individual predictors of happiness of medieval and modern Muslim scholars.
The author concludes that the concept of happiness and the idea of it has its own specifi city in diff erent cultures. The concept of happiness among Muslims is directly related to their religious values and worldview, as well as to the peculiarities of ethnic culture. Since Muslim communities are collectivist, the happiness of an individual is seen as closely related to the public good. For a Muslim, the path to happiness is associated with improving his character and the formation of moral values and behavior. Modern Psychology and Psychotherapy are developing the ideas about moral psychology and the ways of its formation as the basis for the psychological wellbeing of an individual.
Supporting agencies: The author of the article thanks the International Association of Muslim Psychologists, the Institute of Knowledge Integration and RIPHAH International University for the opportunity to test the materials that formed the basis for this article while giving lectures and making speeches at the international conference on Islamic Psychology.
About the Author
O. S. Pavlova
Moscow State University of Psychology and Education; Association of Psychological Assistance to Muslims; Bolgar Islamic Academ
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga S. Pavlova, Cand. Sci. (Pedagogy), Associate Professor at the Department of Cross-Cultural Psychology and Psychological Problems of Multicultural Education; Associate Professor at Bolgar Islamic Academy; Chairman of the Board of the Association of Psychological Assistance to Muslims; Member of the International Association for the Psychology of Religion; Member of the International Association of Islamic Psychology; Member of the International Association of Muslim Psychologists; Editor in chief of “Islam: Individual and Society” Journal; Deputy Editor in chief of “Minbar. Islamic Studies” Journal
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For citations:
Pavlova O.S. The Islamic Concept of Happiness: Psychological Analysis. Minbar. Islamic Studies. 2021;14(4):923-950. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31162/2618-9569-2021-14-4-923-950
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