UP IIS Conducts Islamic Psychology on Mental Health Webinar

In partnership with the International Center for Social Research, Peace & Development (ICSRPD) and the American Online University, the UP Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS) held a webinar on Islamic Psychology on Mental Health on February 4, 2026, featuring Dr. Mohamed Moustafa, Dean of the Islamic Psychology College in Türkiye, as the resource speaker.

Dr. Moustafa’s discussion centered on the importance of drawing from the Qur’an and the sunnah, as fundamental sources for dealing with the problems of mental afflictions. Contrary to Western psychology that is based on a purely empirical epistemology, Islamic psychology integrates Allah’s (SWT) revelations by tying human purpose with tawhidic balance to effect a well-being aligned with Islam. This is a response to the individualistic assumptions that undergird Western social sciences, which herald individual happiness as the highest good. 

As a field rooted in the sacred scriptures, Islamic psychology diverges from the aimed outcome of personal satisfaction and converges with the teachings of Islam. Thus, aside from an epistemological break, Dr. Moustafa adds that there is also a teleological separation from the Western sciences which are anchored on individualism. Indeed, on this very account, he asserts that Islamic psychology touches a deeper layer of the psyche than its purely positivist counterpart, as the Qur’an conveys:

                “Whether you conceal what is in your hearts or reveal it, it is known to Allah.” (Surah al-‘Imran, 3:29)

By providing a corrective to the implicit Western assumptions in general psychology, Dr. Moustafa explicates and realigns essential notions of well-being and purpose with Islam. Towards the end of his discussion, three questions were raised regarding the intersections between clinical psychology and Islamic psychology, the contemporary relevance of Islamic classical concepts of the self, and the place of forgiveness in Islam. The discussion ended after his reflective responses that centered on the importance of Islamic epistemological grounding and trusting the guidance of Allah (SWT) beyond the therapist’s professional expertise.

The webinar garnered more than a hundred participants from all over the country and from different fields such as the academe, government, civil society, among many others. The webinar was also graced by the introductory remarks of Dean Julkipli M. Wadi of the UP IIS and Engr. Ossama Al-Azzouni, President of the ICSRPD.

This initiative aligns with the Social Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, as it addresses the important issue of mental health in an Islamic perspective, contributing to the University’s commitment to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Additionally, Dr. Moustafa’s discussion fosters a deeper understanding both among Muslims and non-Muslims in Asia, a mandate central to the UP IIS, with a special emphasis on spiritual well-being.