A Tale of Resilience and Faith: Understanding Grief Through Islamic Coping Mechanisms

Year 2024, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 169 - 186, 01.06.2024

Metin Çınaroğlu

https://doi.org/10.37898/spiritualpc.1403670

Abstract

This study investigates the interplay between religious cognition within Islamic beliefs and the psychological experience of grief, focusing on Ms. H.B., a 72-year-old mother who faced the heartrending loss of her three children to heart disease. It explores the role of Islamic tenets—tawakkul (reliance on God), Qadr (divine decree), and Yaqin (certainty)—in shaping her coping strategies amidst such profound losses. The case of Ms. H.B. was particularly chosen for its rich narrative that encapsulates both the depth of personal tragedy and the strength of religiously-informed resilience, offering invaluable insights into the mechanisms of spiritual coping. This study emphasizes how Ms. H.B.'s reliance on her faith facilitated a unique pathway to acceptance and trust, challenging traditional concepts of psychological resilience. It prompts a re-evaluation of the cross-cultural applicability of these religious principles and their integration into mental health practices, highlighting the supportive role of faith-based communities in providing solace and strength during times of extreme adversity. Ms. H.B.'s poignant narrative underlines the intricate connection between religious faith and psychological fortitude, advocating for an integrated perspective that respects the synergistic relationship between spiritual and mental health. Conducted within an Islamic context, this research contributes to ongoing discussions within the domains of psychology, theology, and sociology, shedding light on the complex dynamics of faith, acceptance, and endurance in the face of life's most challenging circumstances.

Keywords

Spiritual Psychology, Profound losses and Grief, Islamic coping, Tawakkul, Qadr, Yaqin, Coping mechanisms

A Tale of Resilience and Faith: Understanding Grief Through Islamic Coping Mechanisms

Abstract

Bu çalışma, İslami inançlara dayalı dini kavrayış ile yas psikolojisi deneyimi arasındaki etkileşimi incelemektedir; odak noktası, üç çocuğunu kalp hastalığına kaybeden 72 yaşındaki bir kadın olan H.B.’dir. İslami ilkeler olan Tevekkül (Allah’a güven), Kader (ilahi takdir) ve Yakīn (kesinlik)’in, bu derin kayıplar karşısında başa çıkma stratejilerini nasıl şekillendirdiğini araştırır. H.B.'nin özel olarak seçilmesi, kişisel trajedinin derinliği ve dini dayanıklılığın gücü bakımından zengin bir hikâyeyi barındırması ve manevi başa çıkma mekanizmalarına dair içgörüler sunması açısından önemlidir. Bu çalışma, H.B.'nin inancına olan bağlılığının, geleneksel psikolojik dayanıklılık kavramlarına meydan okuyan, benzersiz bir kabullenme ve güven yolunu nasıl kolaylaştırdığını vurgular. Bu, söz konusu dini ilkelerin kültürlerarası uygulanabilirliğini ve zihinsel sağlık uygulamalarına entegrasyonunu yeniden değerlendirilmesini teşvik eder ve aynı zamanda, aşırı sıkıntılı zamanlarda destek sağlamada inanç temelli toplulukların destekleyici rolünü ön plana çıkarır. H.B.'nin etkileyici hikâyesi, dini inanç ile psikolojik dayanıklılık arasındaki karmaşık bağlantıyı vurgular, manevi ve zihinsel sağlık arasındaki sinerjik ilişkiye saygı duyan bütünleşik bir perspektif benimsemeyi savunur. İslami bir bağlam içinde yürütülen bu araştırma, psikoloji, ilahiyat ve sosyoloji alanlarındaki devam eden tartışmalara katkıda bulunmayı amaçlar ve hayatın en zorlayıcı durumları karşısında inancın, kabullenmenin ve dayanıklılığın karmaşık dinamiklerine ışık tutar.

Keywords

Maneviyat Psikolojisi, Kayıp ve yas, İslami başa çıkma, Tevekkül, Kader, Yakīn

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