Spirituality and Psychology

“How Can I Ever Trust Again?” Navigating Betrayal

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.[1] -Brene Brown Case study Kathleen had never loved anyone the way she loved...

Sarah Sultan and Najwa Awad

Faith & Certainty | In Pursuit of Conviction

Abstract Muslims trying to hold on to their faith in environments hostile to Islam—or to religion in general—often find themselves struggling to achieve a calming sense of certainty for the beliefs they hold...

Dr. Zohair Abdul-Rahman

“Why Bother Living if the Future is Filled with Pain?” Reclaiming Our Thoughts

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. -Albert Camus[1] Case Study Aliya was in her last year of college and lived at home with her parents. Silence in her home always...

Najwa Awad and Sarah Sultan

“I Should’ve Gotten Over It by Now”: Surviving the Impact of Grief on Faith

Should you shield the valleys from the windstorms, you would never see the beauty of their canyons.[1] – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Case Study Khadeejah’s best friend, Amina, passed away in a sudden car accident...

Najwa Awad and Sarah Sultan

why-do-bad-things-always-happen-to-me-hero-image

“Why Do Bad Things Always Happen to Me?” Breaking the Cycles of Negativity

We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them. -Albert Einstein Case Study Muadh is a 52-year-old man who is very well respected in his local Muslim community. On the outside looking in...

Najwa Awad and Sarah Sultan

Devil in the Details: An Analysis of the Dark Side of the Self

Abstract The ability to distinguish between right and wrong is an essential skill in the life of a Muslim. But what makes something good or evil may often come down to a very subtle distinction—the devil really is...

Dr. Zohair Abdul-Rahman and Anonymous Guest Author

Your Lord Has Not Forsaken You: Addressing the Impact of Trauma on Faith

Giving a Voice to Unbearable Pain When you hear the word “trauma,” images of a soldier in combat, holding on to dear life while people all around him are being violently killed, may come to your mind. Or maybe you...

Najwa Awad and Sarah Sultan

Souls Assorted: An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality

Note Find your spiritual personality by taking our quiz here. Abstract Having a sense of belonging to a faith community has a strong impact on an individual’s conviction and commitment to belief. Among the first signs...

Dr. Zohair Abdul-Rahman and Dr. Nazir Khan

The Power of Motivation

Abstract Motivation is at the root of our conscious thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It provides the basis for experiences of happiness and joy as well as anxiety and sorrow. It strongly affects our judgments and...

Dr. Zohair Abdul-Rahman

How to be a Mindful Muslim: An Exercise in Islamic Meditation

Introduction How can we have more control over our thoughts in this time of information overload and anxiety? Exercising mindfulness, or muraqabah, can help discipline our minds in order to handle the current situation...

Anonymous Guest Author

Silhouette of a Muslim in deep contemplation surrounded by tranquil settings

The Lost Art of Contemplation

Introduction Modern psychology involves the study of human cognition, affect, and behavior. These three phenomena represent fundamental components of the human experience. They are also deeply connected to the Islamic...

Dr. Zohair Abdul-Rahman

Clinicians, Imams, and the Whisperings of Satan

Introduction Waswâs al-qahri, which means ‘overwhelming whisperings’ in Arabic, is a complex mental health disorder found in Muslim populations. Waswâs al-qahri is a presentation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)...

Najwa Awad

Spirituality and Psychology

“How Can I Ever Trust Again?” Navigating Betrayal

Faith & Certainty | In Pursuit of Conviction

“Why Bother Living if the Future is Filled with Pain?” Reclaiming Our Thoughts

“I Should’ve Gotten Over It by Now”: Surviving the Impact of Grief on Faith

“Why Do Bad Things Always Happen to Me?” Breaking the Cycles of Negativity

Devil in the Details: An Analysis of the Dark Side of the Self

Your Lord Has Not Forsaken You: Addressing the Impact of Trauma on Faith

Souls Assorted: An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality

The Power of Motivation

How to be a Mindful Muslim: An Exercise in Islamic Meditation

The Lost Art of Contemplation

Clinicians, Imams, and the Whisperings of Satan

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