A model for counselling based on the teaching of al-Ghazali

Abstract

The evolution of the Counselling profession is facing rising challenges in relation to ubiquitous generational trends escalating the world over. As such new paradigms may have to be tapped into. Emerging religiously oriented therapies were shown to have significant impacts on clients with religious backgrounds. In particular Islamic Counselling is beginning to attract critical acclaim amongst Muslim therapists though presumably it arguably lacked full grown conceptual and procedural frameworks that match with western Counselling models. In this respect Al- Gazali’s legacy has long since been regarded as the main vein of Islamic Counselling: intellectually sound, spiritually pure, balanced in thought and on the whole a gold mine for those seeking well-being. Hence, the present qualitative study empirically explored the major teachings of Al-Ghazali and proposed a model for the entire humanity. Content analysis was used to outline the study while thematic analysis procedures were utilized in deducing the main elements of religious from Al-Ghazali’s comprehensively written work, The Revival of Religious sciences (Ihya-Uluumu-Din). The four-volume text was read extensively and portions relevant to the study were highlighted, coded, and collapsed to themes. Based on the themes, this study proposes a model tailored towards better spiritual and rational empowerment, better behavioural functioning, and establishes rules and ethical principles, such as not withholding any information necessary for the client’s recovery. The Al-Ghazali-based model would allow the client to become more intensely involved in his or her own recovery. Furthermore, the proposed model suggests occasional supplications for the client as a way of establishing rapport, exploration of the client’s soul, how psychological problems could be overcome or prevented through abstinence, and purifying diseases of the heart through exhibiting the corresponding good deed. More importantly, it was discovered that there are some similarities between the Al-Ghazali-based model and the western-oriented model in terms of ethical practices, methods of establishing rapport, and of therapeutic goals and objectives. Therefore, the present study offers significant implications for religious/spiritual Counselors, associations across the world and other stakeholders.