معرفت

The Status of Resorting to God in the Light of the Words of Imam Sajjad(a)(2)

Ayatollah Allamah Mohammad Taghi Misbah

Abstract

When man faces a disaster or danger, he asks God for help. Asking aid from God only in times of distress indicates weakness of man's faith. A real monotheist always has a need of God, the Almighty and asks Him for help. In this part of the supplication by Imam Sajjad(a) he shows his adherence to God, out of fear of the harm in this world and punishment in the next world but because he has a need of God at all times. Imam Sajjad seeks access to God through angels and the righteous servants of God in utter meekness and humility and asks God to show kindness to him for the sake of them. This paper elaborates on this point at length.

Key words: supplication, seek access (to), other-worldly punishment, the concern of God's friends.

The Psychological Effects of Pilgrimage upon Man's Sanity and Life

Israfil Sobhani/Rahim Mirderikvandi

Abstract

Pilgrimage has been one of the Muslims' religious rituals since the Kaaba was built. Islam is a comprehensive and realist school that considers all human needs; worldly and other-worldly, physical and spiritual, rational and intellectual, emotional and personal and social. Some thinkers believe that pilgrimage has an undeniable effect on a pilgrim's spirit and body. The mechanism of this effect can be shown as follows: since pilgrimage is a combination of tendency and cognition and its main origin is man's heart it directs his desire and will and influences his behavior. Providing a clear picture of pilgrimage and pilgrimage places, and referring to the models, the paper analyzes the psychological principles of pilgrimage and its cognitive, emotional and behavioral influences, and touches on the religious environment, spiritual and psychological growth, tranquility, boosting of hope reducing anxiety, preparing the ground for repentance, reducing the rate of crime and corruption, social support and exposing man to a good example.

Key words: pilgrimage, sanity, personal effects, social effects, cognition, behavior. 

The Role of Religious Identity in Self-Control

Hamid Rafiei Honar

Abstract

In modern psychology, one's ability which controls one's behavior, thoughts, emotions and unpleasant shocks is presented in a frame referred to as self-control. Self-control prepares the ground for achieving the goals which people have set for themselves and which are in congruence with social rules. The aim of this paper is to show how religious injunctions effect self-control among those who maintain religious identity. Religious identity, on the one hand, refers to the common characteristics of the followers of a certain religion; and on the other hand, it takes care of the difference between religious people and irreligious groups. The research method is a descriptive- analytic, and the researcher investigates, classifies and analyzes the Islamic doctrines of self-control and then summarizes the  findings as follows: Islam prepares the ground for improving self control among those who maintain religious identity in four ways: having aims and criteria, specifying the meaning of control, establishing the motives of control and supervising behaviors.

Key words: self-control, religious identity, motivation, supervision, Islam.

Spiritual Health in the Eyes of the Quran and Sahifah Sajjadiyyeh

 Fatemeh Sadat Bitarafan / Fariburz Sedighi Arfaeii

Abstract

Recently, thinkers, specially Muslim scholars brought up the question of spirituality in their discussion of health. Today, thinkers consider that without spirituality health has a fundamental defect. The main aim to this paper is to bring out the constituents of spiritual health in the doctrines of Islam. Using of a descriptive-analytical method and referring to the two invaluable sources i.e. The Quran and Sahifah Sajjadiyyeh, the paper attempts to identify these constituents. The findings of research show that Islam has a basic role in promoting the health of its followers, and there is a strong relationship between faith and sanity. The origin of spiritual health in Islamic culture is the reality of heart or soul which is distinct from body and has an independent character. According to the Quran and Sahifah Sajjadiyyeh the constituents of spiritual health are cognitive, aspect, emotional aspect, practical aspect and efficiency.

Key words: health, spiritual health, constituents of spiritual health, Quranic verses and narrations, the Quran, Sahifah Sajjadiyyeh.

Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorders Based on the System of Four -Fold Relations by Considering the Hadith of ˮForces of Reason and Ignoranceˮ

Masume Sadat Rahnamaii /  Sayyed Ali Mohammad Musavi /Mohammad Reza Jalali

Abstract

Many psychological disorders are ascribed to mental and behavioral confusions in a person’s function in four-fold relations. Referring to the well-known Hadith of forces of ˮreason and ignoranceˮ, we understand that the features mentioned in this Hadith concerning the role of reason and healthy life, on the one hand, and ignorance and miserable life on the other hand, represent a turning point in regulating the four-fold relations and combating the causes of disorder in these relations. Using a descriptive – analytical method and a documentary approach, referring to religious sources and psychological texts and reviewing the Hadith of ˮforces of reason and ignoranceˮ, this paper seeks to analyze the role of rationality in regulating the four-fold relations as well as the role of ignorance in deteriorating these relations, and the ways to treat and reduce the effect of abnormalities. The research results show that in order to be able to live a good and healthy life, one needs to establish close relations with God, people, environment and himself. The results also show that, in most cases, psychological disorders result from man's inability to foster the four-fold relations. Therefore, the more regulated the relations, the easier and more effective the way of overcoming psychological disorders.

Key words: psychological disorder, reason, ignorance, system of four-fold relations, prevention, treatment.

The Effect of Trust in God in Treatment of Sadness according to the Quran and Hadiths

Ali Malakutinia / Zeinab Sadat Nikuee Ruzbahani

Abstract

Deep and long lasting sadness is among the mental and behavioral illnesses which cause harm to man's body, soul and behavior. The treatment of this illness has been of special concern to Muslim thinkers and researchers in the field of psychology. The Quran and Hadith consider “trust in God” as the only way of treating sadness. An important question is raised here; how can trust in God contribute to treating sadness and bringing happiness? Using a research- based method and content-analysis, this paper explains the concept of trust in God and its role in treating sadness. After investigating Islamic texts (the Quran and Hadith) it reaches the conclusion that trust in God brings about a change in a person's thought pattern and affects his emotions and behavior, which leads to patience in times of hardship, asceticism before desires, and vim and vigor at work. Thus, building up trust in God in man contributes to the release of feeling of sadness.

Key words: trust in God, reliance in God, sadness, treating sadness, happiness, hardships of life, the Quran and Hadith.

The Effects and Consequences of Sin in the Light of Religion and Psychology

Mohammad Zarei Tupkhane / Ozra Yari Sharifi

 Abstract

This research aims at investigating the effects of sin in the light of religion and psychology. Using a descriptive-analytical approach and studying religious texts and psychology, the paper reviews the role of sin in the descent of affliction and shows the relation between sin and affliction, and it considers that people's acquaintance with the relation between sins and affliction make them refrain from committing sins. The findings of the research show that the effects of committing sins are as follows; change in blessings not responding to supplication, unfortunate outcome of work, vengeance, psychological damages, loss of self-esteem, fall-off in the degree of happiness and descent of affliction.

Key words: sin, affliction, unfortunate outcome, vengeance, psychological damage.

The Ways of Treating Jealousy in the Eyes of Islam and Psychology

Shahaboddin Zolfaghari / Batul Najarian / Zakiyah Najariyan

Abstract

Jealousy is one of the common and serious problems in life and in social relations. Due to the importance of the problem of jealousy, religion has taken special care of it. There is no vice which has so much negative individual, social and spiritual consequences as jealousy. The harmful effects of jealousy to which in Islamic traditions and education have referred, show the necessity of taking actions for treating this illness. Due to the importance of this issue, this paper which uses a descriptive-analytical approach seeks to investigate the ways of treating jealousy in the light of Islam and psychology. Taking into account the causes, roots and grounds of jealousy, the most important findings of the research indicate that the proper procedure for treating jealousy involves strengthening faith, having a positive knowledge of one's features and abilities and correcting one’s attitudes by using practicable and efficient means

Key words: jealousy, cure, Islam, psychology.

Extrasensory Perception in the Eyes of Islam and Psychology

Navid Khakbazan / Rahim Mirderikvandi

Abstract

In his life, man faces perceptions which are beyond his apparent sense. Some of them have strong relationship with reality and faith, just as faith, in many cases, is regarded as the condition for the development of extrasensory perceptions which lead man towards truth and reality. The subject of extrasensory perceptions is considered one of the branches of meta-psychology and it has been of special interest to many psychologists, philosophers, physicists, biologists, theologians and even common people. The present paper aims at investigating the topic of extrasensory perception and elaborating on its different dimensions on the basis of Islamic resources including Quranic verses, infallible Imams' hadiths and Muslims scholars’ words. Furthermore, it elucidates the way extrasensory perception is applied and the differences between extrasensory perception and miracle and delusion. It is a descriptive research in terms of aim and it uses a library-based method for gathering the data. The research findings indicate that Islamic resources regard extrasensory perception as a reality and as one of the characteristics which distinguishes man from and other creatures.

Key words: extrasensory perception, meta-psychology, telepathy, telekinesis, déjà vu, prophecy, clairvoyance, overhearing.