AN INVESTIGATION INTO AL-BALKHI'S CONCEPTUALIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE BOOK ‘SUSTENANCE OF THE SOUL’

Abstract

Mental health is an important issue today because it can affect a person's daily life as an individual and their contribution to the community. The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as the main source of diagnosing mental disorders today is from the American Psychiatric Association which came from the research of American students and animals as subjects of the research. It is culture-bound since it cannot be applied to all nations. As a Muslim, the Qurʾān and Ḥadīth (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)) influenced the Muslims’ personality and traits. It also had special values that may be contrary to American culture. Therefore, the need to explore Islamic Psychology as a solution for Muslim mental health nowadays is significant. This study explores the concept of mental health as recorded by al-Balkhi in his book 'Sustenance of the Soul'. In this book, al-Balkhi explained the strategy for maintaining mental health. The concept of mental health based on the book 'Sustenance of the Soul' is a treatise based on scientifically proven practices and with an Islamic perspective. Al-Balkhi also classified mental disorders into four main categories. He explained the symptoms for each category and the treatments. Al-Balkhi's concept of mental health can be a great tool to develop Islamic Psychology since it is derived from the early Muslim scholars.

Keywords: Mental Health, Al-Balkhi, Sustenance of the Soul.