The Concept of the Soul in Al-Ghazali's Thought as a Basis for the Development of Modern Psychological Theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58988/nafsana.v1i1.1239Keywords:
Al-Ghazali, Soul, Modern PsychologyAbstract
This study examines the concept of the soul in the thought of Al-Ghazali as a conceptual basis for the development of modern psychological theory. Using a library research approach with conceptual and philosophical-hermeneutic analysis, this study analyzes Al-Ghazali's works alongside contemporary literature in psychology, Islamic philosophy, Sufism, and Islamic psychology. The findings indicate that Al-Ghazali's concept of the soul represents an integrative and multidimensional psychological system comprising nafs, qalb, 'aql, and rūḥ. These four dimensions interact dynamically in shaping cognition, emotion, motivation, self-regulation, personality development, moral behavior, mental health, and spiritual orientation. The study demonstrates that nafs can be contextualized with personality and self-regulation, qalb with emotional and moral regulation, 'aql with cognitive processes and decision-making, and rūḥ with meaning, transcendence, and spiritual well-being. The proposed conceptual model expands modern psychology by integrating biological, psychological, moral, and spiritual dimensions into a holistic framework. Although limited by its conceptual and literature-based nature, this study contributes to positioning Al-Ghazali's thought as a dialogue partner in contemporary psychological theory rather than merely as a historical intellectual legacy. Future research should empirically examine the relationships among these dimensions and their relevance to psychological well-being and mental health.
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