Bagus Riyono, Tazkiya Therapy in Islāmic Psychotherapy
Abstract
This review critically examines Tazkiya Therapy in Islāmic Psychotherapy (Riyono, 2024), a Qur’anic-rooted, multidimensional framework developed by Bagus Riyono. The model positions spiritual purification (tazkiya) at the center of psychological well-being, conceptualizing therapeutic change as a knowledge-mediated process in which cognitive engagement with Divine signs informs emotion, behavior, and the cultivation of the soul. It integrates classical Islamic constructs with contemporary psychological theory and provides seven theoretical frameworks, case vignettes, and “empathetic directives” for clinical application. Strengths include conceptual coherence, practical accessibility for Muslim clinicians, and emphasis on the heart (qalb) and soul (rūḥ, nafs) as primary loci of transformation. Limitations involve the relative lack of empirical validation, insufficient therapist qualification guidelines, underdeveloped methodological operationalization, limited adaptation for non-Muslim clients, and need for deeper engagement with classical Islamic scholarship. In summary, Riyono’s work contributes significantly to Islamic psychotherapy, offering a theologically grounded and psychologically structured model while highlighting directions for future research and professional training.
Keywords
- Tazkiya therapy
- tazkiya
- Islamic psychotherapy
- Qur’anic-based therapy
- Qur’anic guidance
- Islamic psychology
- spiritual purification
- spiritual healing
- therapist training
- therapeutic models
- multidimensional well-being
- Muslim mental health
Thanks
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Psychology of Religion
Journal Section
Book Review
Authors
Sondoss Aldimasi
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Türkiye
Publication Date
February 24, 2026
Submission Date
November 18, 2025
Acceptance Date
November 25, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: 55