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Chapter 13 - Coping and Mental Health: Islamic Practices and Beliefs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2025

By
G. Hussein Rassool  and
Janine Owens
Edited by
Basil H. Aboul-Enein ,
G. Hussein Rassool ,
Nada Benajiba ,
Joshua Bernstein  and
MoezAlIslam E. Faris
Basil H. Aboul-Enein
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
G. Hussein Rassool
Affiliation:
Charles Sturt University
Nada Benajiba
Affiliation:
Ibn Tofail University
Joshua Bernstein
Affiliation:
A. T. Still University of Health Sciences
MoezAlIslam E. Faris
Affiliation:
Applied Science Private University
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Summary

Muslims structure their everyday lives and religious practices around Allah, believing that whatever happens, it is His will. Islam enables Muslims to cope with everyday life, especially when challenges occur, assisting in reducing levels of anxiety and reactive depression. The use of the Qur’an and Islamic teachings and guidance promotes positive religious coping, which is positively associated with desirable mental health and well-being indicators. Western psychiatry and psychology are attempting to move away from a biomedical model of care, but they still struggle to incorporate Islamic teachings and guidance and positive religious coping in treatment planning. Designing culturally competent mental health services involves accommodating and addressing Islamic beliefs and practices of Muslim patients to increase positive religious coping and develop more culturally congruent care.

Keywords

Islammental healthHoly Qur’anMuslims
Type
Chapter
Information
Contemporary Islamic Perspectives in Public Health , pp. 80 - 85
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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