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A committee of volunteer psychologists and scholars of Shariah should be formed to develop standardised tools of psychiatry based on the foundations of Islamic and scientific principles of treatment, a consultant psychiatrist has suggested. |
Dr Tahir Shaltut, a consultant psychiatrist at Hamad Medical Corporation, was delivering a lecture on ‘The Contribution of Muslims in Psychiatry’, hosted by Muhammad bin Hamad Al-Thani Centre for Muslim Contribution to Civilisation, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies- Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
The lecture started by highlighting the contributions of Muslim scholars in the fields of psychology and in particular psychiatry. The lecture also included an introduction of the points of convergence between the Islamic concepts of psychology and psychiatric terminologies.
Shaltut mentioned examples of Muslim scholars who so eloquently wrote on psychology such as the physician al-Razi, who attributed the physical diseases to psychological factors, and Ibn Sina who treated physical illnesses by tracing their roots to psychological factors and by providing psychological support.
He pointed out that Ibn Sina used the concepts of community and positive psychology as well as the so-called family and behaviour treatments. Dr Shaltut elaborated on the principle of satisfaction or contentment and its impact on treatment as well as the importance of the method of interaction with the patient and the importance of rehabilitation.
He stressed that the Islamic psychological modes of treatments are aligned with contemporary medical practices. Shaltut explained that the rich Islamic lifestyle with its concepts which include collaboration, synergy and harmony and is based on affection, mercy and consolation, is compatible with modern methods in psychiatry.
The lecture was followed by a question and answer session involving professors of the Faculty of Islamic Studies and the audience.
The event was chaired by Dr Dheen Mohamed, a professor at the Muhammad bin Hamad Al-Thani Centre for Muslim Contribution to Civilisation. The Centre, directed by Dr Aisha Yousef al-Mannai, aims to highlight Muslim contribution to civilisation through the publication of translations of the great books of Islamic civilisation in various aspects of religion, law, science, sociology and humanity.
