Self-Efficacy as a Mechanism in Sufi Psychotherapy for Psychological Disorders based on the Tazkiyat al-Nafs Approach: A Gadamerian Hermeneutic Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64420/ijcp.v3i2.574Keywords:
Psychological disorders, Self-efficacy, Sufi psychotherapy, Tazkiyat al-Nafs ApproachAbstract
Background: The escalating prevalence of psychological disorders highlights the limitations of conventional psychotherapy in addressing existential distress and spiritual alienation, creating an urgent need for an integrative psychospiritual framework. Objective: This study aims to examine self-efficacy as a core psychospiritual mechanism within Sufi psychotherapy based on the Tazkiyat al-Nafs approach in al-Ghazālī’s Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn. Methods: A qualitative interpretive design employing Gadamerian hermeneutics was adopted, analyzing classical textual fragments (ibārah) through the iterative hermeneutic circle and the fusion of horizons between Sufi thought and modern psychological theories. Results: Tazkiyat al-Nafs practices (muḥāsabah/self-reflection, dhikr/remembrance of God, controlling hawā/worldly desires, ṣabr/patience, and tawakkul/trust in God) reconstruct self-efficacy from an autonomous cognitive appraisal into a transcendentally grounded capacity for emotional regulation, impulse control, and psychological resilience. Conclusion: Sufi psychotherapy addresses psychological disorders by shifting agency from ego-centric self-reliance to a purified qalb (heart), generating resilient self-efficacy through the synergy of human effort (mujāhadah) and divine empowerment (tawfīq). Originality/Value: This study strengthens the conceptual foundation of Islamic Psychology and Sufi Psychotherapy by uncovering the operational mechanisms of Tazkiyat al-Nafs regarding the reconstruction of transcendent self-efficacy in psychological disorders, which has remained underexplored. These findings enrich existing empirical evidence while serving as a strategic reference for psychotherapists, counselors, and mental health clinicians in developing spiritually responsive interventions.
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