“Stress is like a cancer. It beats people, defeats them, and makes them very tired, sick, and depressed. Because of all this, efforts, money, abilities, and competencies are wasted, and we must do something about it,” said Dr. Muhammad Mahmud Mustafa during a lecture held on November 7, 2024, via Zoom and organized by the Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and American Open University. Facilitated by Prof. Julkipli M. Wadi, the Dean of UP IIS, the meeting aimed to enhance the knowledge of IIS faculty and staff on Islamic Psychology and to explore potential collaborations with the Islamic Psychology College (IPC).
Dr. Mustafa, who serves as the Dean of IPC, is also the founder of the Humanitarian Association for Research Support in Psychological Guidance in Turkey and the Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Center of Psychotherapy in Istanbul. He has authored nearly 50 books and more than 10 peer-reviewed scientific papers, in addition to supervising several master’s and doctoral theses. IPC operates as an online educational and research institution affiliated with the American Open University (AOU) under administrative accreditation. The collaboration between UP IIS and IPC will be facilitated smoothly through an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UP IIS and AOU.
During the meeting, Dr. Mustafa highlighted fundamental principles of Islamic Psychology, emphasizing the inherent psychological stability of individuals and the need to address exceptions that lead to disorders. He discussed the role of psychological support in enhancing academic performance, marriage, and general relationships, aligning these practices with the principles of conventional psychology. Additionally, he stressed the importance of integrating the Qur’an and Sunnah as foundational sources of knowledge in the field.
Dr. Mustafa and Prof. Wadi also outlined areas of potential collaboration to further the development of Islamic Psychology. These include recommending students interested in specializing in Islamic Psychology and involving UP IIS as part of a “Review Committee” to evaluate IPC students’ research outputs, such as publications, theses, and dissertations. Another focus is identifying MA students or faculty members from UP IIS who are proficient in Arabic and English and have an interest in Islamic Psychology to form the pioneering group of Muslim Filipino academics who will teach the IPC curriculum in the Philippines. Furthermore, they proposed recommending research papers authored by UP IIS students, faculty, and staff for publication under IPC’s research and publication initiatives.
Both institutions expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership, anticipating strengthened academic, research, and publication efforts. This collaboration holds great promise for advancing Islamic Psychology and fostering a deeper understanding of the discipline in the Philippines.
