Recovering historical Muslim scholarship on "Depression": An Islamic Liberation Psychology approach

There has been a call for a decolonised approach to psychology, particularly for populations that have lost their voice as a result of colonisation. Such an approach necessitates a shift in focus from the ahistoricism of Western psychology to a psychological perspective that acknowledges the historical contributions of these populations. This change can be facilitated through MartinBaró’s (1996) Liberation Psychology framework, which proposed three urgent tasks for psychology: the recovery of historical memory, de-ideologising everyday experience, and utilising the people’s virtues. Using the Liberation Psychology framework and focusing on the first task, this paper aims to empower Muslims by recovering Islamic historical scholarship on concepts related to depression. It begins by introducing Martin-Baró’s Liberation Psychology and its evolution beyond the Latin American context. Then, by examining Islamic scriptures, Islamic mental health articles, and original works of historical Muslim scholars, the discussion turns to how psychological sufferings such as sadness and sorrow were conceptualised during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. An overview of historical Muslim scholars’ contributions to the understanding of
depression during the golden age of Islam and their resemblance to contemporary approaches will then be presented. The theme of holistic healing, including the connection between mental health and physical health, is prevalent in Islamic scholarship on depression. Finally, this paper will discuss the implications of such knowledge in relation to Western psychology. It is anticipated that such knowledge could enhance interventions in clinical settings and promote religiously and culturally sensitive strategies to meet the unique needs of Muslim individuals and communities.