GRIEF REACTIONS AND COPING STRATEGIES OF PROPHET YA’QUB IN THE LIGHT OF THE NOBLE QURAN: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

Grief is a commonly recognised emotion experienced by individuals and communities due to the Covid 19 pandemic. It is a great challenge to accept and adjust to the drastic changes following the loss of a loved one. Islam has provided practical solutions to this problem by presenting Prophet Ya’qub as an exemplary figure as he applied effective grief management strategies to deal with the loss of his son(s). The aim of this study is therefore to examine Prophet Ya’qub's grief reactions and coping strategies through his narratives with his sons. This study uses a qualitative approach with content analysis to analyse selected texts of Surah Yusuf and relevant commentaries; contemporary and Islamic works on grief were also evaluated. The key components of the transactional model of stress and coping were examined in relation to the coping resources and responses of the Prophet Ya’qub. As a result, this study identifies three grief responses: beautiful patience, crying and silent melancholy, and three coping styles: emotion-focused, spiritual-focused, and problem-focused, which Prophet Ya’qub employed. Finally, it discusses how his personality traits, high level of emotional intelligence and positive religious coping strategies led to resilience and post-traumatic spiritual growth. These grief coping strategies of Prophet Ya’qub can be incorporated into Islamic grief counselling conducted for grieving Muslims to achieve psychological well-being.