Konseling Islam Berbasis Akhlaq Karimah dalam Transformasi NPD: Implementasi Tazkiyah Al-Nafs sebagai Pendekatan Terapeutik

Abdul Karim; Ahmad

doi:10.55352/bki.v5i2.2221

Authors

Abdul Karim, S.Sos., M.A Universitas KH Mukhtar Syafaat
Ahmad Syamsul Muarif, S.Sos., M.A Universitas KH Mukhtar Syafaat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55352/bki.v5i2.2221

Abstract

This research is motivated by the phenomenon of increasing Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) in the digital era that encourages self-obsession and narcissistic behavior, while secular Western therapeutic approaches have not fully aligned with the spiritual values of the Muslim community. The main objective of this research is to develop an Islamic counseling model based on akhlaq karimah (good character) in transforming NPD through the tazkiyah al-nafs approach. The method used is a qualitative research with an instrumental case study design, with participants being six students and alumni of the Darussalam Blokagung Islamic Boarding School aged 18-35 years who have NPD characteristics based on the NPI-16. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, participant observation for 3-4 months, and document analysis, then analyzed using thematic analysis with an inductive-deductive approach. The results of the study show four main themes of transformation: decreasing narcissistic characteristics through spiritual awareness, increasing akhlaq karimah (good character), the strategic role of Islamic boarding school spiritual guidance, and the dynamics of the tazkiyah al-nafs process which includes the stages of takhalli, tahalli, muhasabah, and tajalli. These findings indicate that Islamic counseling based on noble character is effective in systematically and sustainably transforming egocentric orientations toward theocentric ones. Based on these results, this study concludes that the Islamic counseling model using the tazkiyah al-nafs framework is capable of producing deeper and more meaningful personality transformation than conventional approaches. The implications of this research are expected to provide an alternative, culturally appropriate therapeutic approach for the Muslim community and enrich the development of an evidence-based, contemporary Islamic psychological framework.

References

Alyedreessy, M. (2023). The Muslim narcissist: An Islamic guide to understanding, surviving and healing from narcissistic and spiritual abuse. Islamic Psychology Press.

Awaad, R., Ali, S., & Kouser, T. (2023). Muslims and mental health services: A theoretical framework for culturally sensitive practice. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 24(2), 187-203. https://doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0011.203

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Buzdar, M. A., Tariq, R. U., Jalal, H., & Nadeem, M. (2018). Does religiosity reduce narcissistic personality disorder? Examining the case of Muslim university students. Journal of Religion and Health, 57(5), 1734–1750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0628-9

Elzamzamy, K. (2021). Contemporary scholarship on classical Islamic psychology: A scoping review. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 15(2), 45–72. https://doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0015.202

Hamjah, S. H. (2022). Tazkiyah al-nafs dalam proses konseling Islam dari perspektif al-Ghazali. Ibn Khaldun International Journal of Economic, Community Empowerment and Sustainability, 4(2),78-92. https://ejournal2.uikabogor.ac.id/index.php/IIJECES/article/view/17

Haque, A. (2013). Outlining a psychotherapy model for enhancing Muslim mental health within an Islamic context. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 23(3), 230-249. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2012.712000

Iqbal, N., & Skinner, R. (2021). Islamic psychology: Emergence and current challenges. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 34(3–4), 570–590. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2020.1814692

Koenig, H. G. (2020). Religion, spirituality, and mental health: Research findings and implications for clinical practice. World Psychiatry, 19(2), 161–162. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20745

Narimani, M., & Sadeghieh, A. (2024). Comparing narcissism in the Quran with psychology: A conceptual analysis. Journal of Applied Studies in Social and Moral Sciences, 15(2), 123-145. https://ajsm.atu.ac.ir/article_16771.html

Rais, H. (2021, September). The propose on tazkiyah al-nafs approach by Sheikh Said Hawwa for women rehabilitation centre. In International Conference on Islamic Psychology and Mental Health (pp. 156–170). Islamic University of Indonesia Press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355147506_The_Propose_on_Tazkiyah_Al-Nafs_approach_by_Sheikh_Said_Hawwa_for_Women_Rehabilitation_Centre

Rothman, A. (2021). Developing a model of Islamic psychology and psychotherapy: Islamic theology and contemporary understandings of psychology. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003104377

Rothman, A., & Coyle, A. (2018). Toward a framework for Islamic psychology and psychotherapy: An Islamic model of the soul. Journal of Religion and Health, 57(6), 2377–2396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0651-x

Semnani Hosseini, S., Janbozurgi, M., Fatemeh, S.M., & Ansari, H. (2024). Developing a treatment protocol for narcissistic personality disorder based on multidimensional spiritual therapy and Islamic sources. Journal of Islamic Psychology, 8(1), 45-62. https://islamicpsy.rihu.ac.ir/article_2146.html

Stanford Medicine. (2025). Muslim mental health and Islamic psychology. Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab. https://med.stanford.edu/mmhip.html

Sulaiman, A. H. (2022). Pendekatan tasawuf di antara calon praktisi konseling Islam. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(12), 234–248. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2022.612018

Suleiman, O. (2022). Vocabulary of a narcissist: A Quranic perspective on arrogance and humility. Yaqeen Institute Research. https://yaqeeninstitute.org/omar-suleiman/vocabulary-of-a-narcissist-khutbah

Tanhan, A. (2019). Acceptance and commitment therapy with Muslim clients: An Islamic psychology perspective. Journal of Religion and Health, 58(6), 1991-2005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00897-x

Wisconsin Muslim Journal. (2025, January 14). Gaslighting, manipulation, and narcissism in the Muslim community. Wisconsin Muslim Journal. https://wisconsinmuslimjournal.org/https-islamichorizons-net-gaslighting-manipulation-and-the-whole-shebang/