Islamic Psychology Study Group
The Indonesian society, which is predominantly Muslim, is already familiar with the term diseases of the heart. This concept originates from a verse in the Holy Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 10, which means: “In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increases their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] lie.” The heart referred to here is not the physical heart (liver), nor the cardiovascular organ (heart), but rather the spiritual heart, known as qolbu.
Scholars and religious teachers (ulama and ustadz) have long discussed issues related to the heart (qolbu), though primarily in moral and religious contexts. There is a need to elevate the concept of diseases of the heart as a psychological framework and to explore its relationship with mental health. This study aims to identify and classify diseases of the heart as a comprehensive psychological concept and provide foundational thought to develop a psychopathy framework from an Islamic psychology perspective. This topic is highly relevant in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, with a focus on Target 3.4—non-communicable diseases, which include the promotion of mental health. Through this research, it is hoped that a deeper understanding of the diseases of the heart will be achieved, contributing to improved mental health and overall wellbeing.
This study employs the Maqasid approach, a research method rooted in Islamic scholarship. This approach integrates knowledge sources from the Quran, Hadith, classical scholarly works, contemporary scientific research, and empirical studies while combining them with Western psychological research methods.
The findings of this study reveal five classifications of diseases of the heart:
- Desires and Greed: Uncontrolled physical desires (e.g., excessive eating and sexual urges) and the desire to accumulate worldly wealth (greed, avarice, fear of poverty, and fear of death).
- Negative Verbal and Physical Behaviors: This includes lying, gossiping, cursing, slandering, deceit, arguing, blaming others, mocking (bullying), boasting, revealing secrets (ifsha’ al-siir), false promises, as well as negative thoughts toward others, suspicion, and unfounded jealousy.
- Negative Emotions: This category includes anger, resentment, hatred, annoyance, envy, hostility, fear, anxiety, worry, disappointment, heartbreak, and deep regret.
- Negative Character Traits: Such traits include arrogance, excessive pride, showing off, desiring praise, feelings of superiority, seeking reputation, and egotism.
- Negative Spirituality: Hypocrisy, rejecting fate (qadar), excessive attachment to worldly matters, high ego, and associating partners with God (shirk).
Two key findings highlight the relationship between diseases of the heart and mental health:
- The diseases of the heart are often symptoms of certain mental disorders. For example, negative emotional categories like anger are key symptoms in several mental health diagnoses, such as Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder. Excessive suspicion, another disease of the heart, is also a symptom of Paranoid Personality Disorder and Paranoid Schizophrenia.
- The diseases of the heart are common among mentally “normal” individuals. These issues are often linked to negative character traits, such as arrogance, envy, hatred, and resentment toward others. Such diseases are frequently found in people from all walks of life, including those in positions of power. For instance, arrogant government officials or wealthy individuals, and religious scholars or academics (professors) who boast about their knowledge, enjoy showing off, and seek praise.
The results of this study were presented at the Islamic Psychology Summit held on October 27-28, 2024, organized by the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the International Association of Muslim Psychologists (IAMP) and the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT).
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