AYAH-therapy: the main parameters of an integrative model of psychological assistance to Muslims

The article presents a theoretical foundation and the main parameters of an integrative model of psychotherapy and counseling – AYAH-therapy, developed within the framework of Islamic Psychology. The model utilizes the central Quranic category of "ayah" (divine sign), which is fundamental to the Islamic worldview, as the basis for psychological assessment and spiritually-oriented therapeutic intervention. AYAH-therapy is based on the Quranic premise of three spheres of divine communication with humans: revealed signs (the verses of the Quran), signs in creation, including the external world (nature and society), and the inner world of the human being. The goal of therapy is to help the client learn to "read" these signs within the context of their life path, leading not only to the resolution of psychological problems but also to spiritual growth. The article elaborates on the ontological and theoretical foundations of the model, the principles of case assessment and formulation, as well as key therapeutic interventions. These interventions represent an adaptation of traditional Islamic practices (dhikr, tadabbur, tafakkur) for therapeutic purposes, and a modification and integration of techniques from modern psychotherapeutic approaches in light of the principles of the presented model. AYAH-therapy is positioned as a method emerging from within the Islamic tradition, aimed at restoring the primordial divine balance (taswiyah) of the human inner world.

1. Badri M. Teoriya i praktika islamskoy psikhologii [Theory and Practice of Islamic Psychology]. Pavlova O. S., Polosin V. S. (ed.). Moscow: ANO NPC «Al'-Vasatiya – umerennost'» Publ.; 2018. 268 p. (In Russian)

2. Rassool H. Islamskoe konsul'tirovanie. Vvedenie v teoriyu i praktiku [Islamic Counseling. Introduction to Theory and Practice]. Moscow: Institute of Knowledge Integration, Association of Psychological Assistance to Muslims Publ.; 2022. 392 p. (In Russian)

3. Riyono B. Tazkiya – metod islamskoy psikhoterapii [Tazkiya – A Method of Islamic Psychotherapy]. 1st ed. Moscow: Institute of Knowledge Integration Publ.; 2025. 120 p. (In Russian)

4. Rothman A. Razrabotka modeli islamskoy psikhologii i psikhoterapii: Islamskaya teologiya i sovremennoe ponimanie psikhologii [Developing a Model of Islamic Psychology and Psychotherapy: Islamic Theology and the Modern Understanding of Psychology]. 1st ed. Moscow Institute of Knowledge Integration Publ.; 2025. 352 p. (In Russian)

5. Pavlova O.S. Psikhologicheskoe konsul'tirovanie musul'man: analiz zarubezhnykh istochnikov [Psychological Counseling for Muslims: Analysis of Foreign Sources]. Sovremennaya zarubezhnaya psikhologiya [Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology]. 2018;7(4):46-55. DOI: 10.17759/jmfp.2018070406 (In Russian)

6. Ganieva R.H. Kul'turnoe i dukhovnoe izmerenie v psikhologicheskom konsul'tirovanii [Cultural and Spiritual Dimension in Psychological Counseling]. Minbar. Islamic Studies. 2022;15(1):197-221. DOI: 10.31162/2618-9569-2021-14-2-197-221 (In Russian)

7. Iakhin F.F. Skhematerapiya i islamskoe ponimanie vnutrennego mira cheloveka: kontseptual'nye paralleli i puti integratsii [Schema Therapy and Islamic Understanding of the Inner World of Man: Conceptual Parallels and Ways of Integration]. Minbar. Islamic Studies. 2024;17(2):449-479. DOI: 10.31162/2618-9569-2024-17-2-449-479 (In Russian)

8. Dzhuad I.I. Potentsial narrativnoy praktiki v psikhologicheskom konsul'tirovanii klientov-musul'man [The Potential of Narrative Practice in Psychological Counseling of Muslim Clients]. Minbar. Islamic Studies. 2025;18(1):201-223. DOI: 10.31162/2618-9569-2025-18-1-201-223 (In Russian)

9. Iakhin F.F. Chelovecheskie simvoly i bozhestvennye znameniya v psikhoterapii i psikhokonsul'tirovanii: islamskiy diskurs [Human Symbols and Divine Signs in Psychotherapy and Psychological Counseling: Islamic Discourse]. Minbar. Islamic Studies. 2021;14(1):201-225. DOI: 10.31162/2618-9569-2021-14-1-201-225 (In Russian)

10. Iakhin F.F. Ispol'zovanie koranicheskikh simvolov, pritch i istoriy pri okazanii psikhologicheskoy pomoshchi musul'manam [Using Quranic Symbols, Parables and Stories in Providing Psychological Assistance to Muslims]. Islam: lichnost' i obshchestvo [Islam: person and society]. 2021;1-2:66-89. (In Russian)

11. Iakhin F.F., Pavlova O.S. Using Quranic Divine Signs in Psychotherapy and Counseling: Introducing Ayah-Therapy Foundations and Techniques. Clinical Applications of Islamic Psychology. Haque A. and Rothman A. (еd.). Seattle: International Association of Islamic Psychology Publishing; 2023, рр. 135–157.

12. Iakhin F.F. Teoreticheskie osnovy okazaniya religiozno-orientirovannoy psikhologicheskoy pomoshchi: rossiyskiy islamskiy diskurs [Theoretical Foundations of Providing Religiously-Oriented Psychological Assistance: Russian Islamic Discourse]. Minbar. Islamic Studies. 2018;11(3):667-678. DOI: 10.31162/2618-9569-2018-11-3-667-678 (In Russian)

13. Koran [The Quran]. Krachkovskiy I.I. (tr. from Arabic and commentary). 2nd ed. Moscow: Nauka Press; 1990. 727 p. (In Russian)

14. Al'-Dzhawziyya Ibn al-Qayyim. Favaid=Poleznye nastavleniya [Al-Fawa'id=Useful Instructions]. Sorokoumova E. (tr. from Arabic). Moscow: Umma Press; 2013. 480 p. (In Russian)

15. Al'-Dzhawziyya Ibn al-Qayyim. Stepeni idushchikh putem “Lish' Tebe my poklonyaemsya i lish' Tvoyey pomoshchi prosim” [Stations of Those Traveling the Path “You Alone We Worship and You Alone We Ask for Help”]. Dzhelilov A. (tr. from Arabic). Moscow: Eksmo; Umma Press; 2016. 1120 p. (In Russian)

16. Iakhin F.F. “Chelovek po svoyey prirode…”. Ocherk o vnutrennem mire cheloveka [“Man by his nature…”. An Essay on the Inner World of Man]. Moscow: Institute of Knowledge Integration Publ.; 2024. 240 p. (In Russian)

17. Iakhin F.F. Koranicheskoe ponyatie “shaakila”: evristicheskaya tsennost' dlya teorii i praktiki psikhologii i sotsiogumanitarnykh nauk [The Quranic Concept of “Shakila”: Heuristic Value for the Theory and Practice of Psychology and Social Sciences]. Musul'mane Tsentral'noy Evrazii v XXI veke: v poiskakh integrirovannogo podkhoda: Monografiya [Muslims of Central Eurasia in the 21st Century: In Search of an Integrated Approach: Monograph]. Yarosh O., Akhmetov E., Iakhin F., Kuliev E. (ed.). Tbilisi: Universal Press; 2025, pp. 34-68. (In Russian)

18. Koranicheskoe ponimanie «nasheptyvaniya dushi» i ponyatie vnutrenney rechi: znachenie dlya teorii i praktiki islamskoy psikhologii [The Quranic Understanding of “Whispering of the Soul” and the Concept of Inner Speech: Significance for the Theory and Practice of Islamic Psychology]. Islam: lichnost' i obshchestvo [Islam: person and society]. 2025;10:2-10. (In Russian)

19. Koran [The Quran]. Osmanov M.-N.O. (tr. from Arabic and commentary). Saint Petersburg: Dilya Press; 2019. 576 p. (In Russian)

20. Keshavarzi H. & Haque A. Outlining a psychotherapy model for enhancing Muslim mental health within an Islamic context. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. 2013;23(3):230-249.

21. Badri M. Contemplation: An Islamic Psychospiritual Study. London: International Institute of Islamic Thought; 2000. 136 p.

22. Badri M. Razmyshlenie. Issledovanie psikhiki i dushi cheloveka [Contemplation. An Islamic Psychospiritual Study]. Guliev R. (tr. from English). Saint Petersburg: LitoBook Press; 2022. 136 p. (In Russian)

23. White M. Karty narrativnoy praktiki. Vvedenie v narrativnuyu terapiyu [Narrative Practice: Mapping Our Stories. Introduction to Narrative Therapy]. Moscow: Genezis Press; 2021. 329 p. (In Russian)

24. Kanter J.W., Busch A.M., Rusch L.C. Povedencheskaya aktivatsiya: otlichitel'nye cherty [Behavioral Activation: Distinctive Features]. Moscow: Dialektika Press; 2021. 176 p. (In Russian)

25. Dobson D., Dobson K. Nauchno-obosnovannaya praktika v kognitivno-povedencheskoy terapii [Evidence-Based Practice in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy]. Saint Petersburg: Piter Press; 2021. 400 p. (In Russian)