Tawakal as Islamic Psychotherapy: Reconstructing Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah's Concept in Madārij al-Sālikīn for Generation Z's Digital-Era Mental Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21111/tasfiyah.v10i2.28Keywords:
Generation Z, Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah, Islamic Psychotherapy, Mental Health, TawakalAbstract
Generation Z's growing exposure to social media and digital technology has been linked to elevated rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness, prompting scholars to explore both conventional and faith-based therapeutic responses. Prior research on tawakal (trust in God) and mental health has examined Islamic therapeutic methods and psychological measures of surrender to God, yet none has systematically analysed Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah's own conceptualisation of tawakal in Madārij al-Sālikīn as a psychotherapeutic framework calibrated to the digital-era mental health challenges confronting Generation Z. This study addresses that gap by examining how Ibn Qayyim's concept of tawakal can be reconstructed into a model relevant to Generation Z's digital-era mental health. Employing a qualitative library research design, the study analyses Ibn Qayyim's primary and secondary works through documentary techniques, descriptive-analytical methods, and source triangulation. Findings show that Ibn Qayyim's tawakal, understood through the Sufistic stages of takhallī, taḥallī, and tajallī, offers a structured pathway for reducing digital-related psychological distress while strengthening faith and spiritual resilience. As an Islamic psychotherapeutic technique, tawakal instils profound spiritual values, fostering inner peace, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose amid pervasive digital connectivity. This study contributes a spiritually grounded, culturally sensitive framework that bridges classical Islamic psychology with contemporary mental health needs, offering practitioners an alternative or complementary approach for Generation Z clients navigating the psychological pressures of the digital age.
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