Islamic spirituality and social work interventions: The person-in-relation approach

Abstract

One of the essential roles of a social worker is providing counselling for clients who are in need of emotional/social support. The limbic system helps to explain the physiological and cerebral functions that influence human emotion and behaviour. The chapter written by Lewis et al., ‘Kits, Cats, Sacks, and Uncertainty: How the limbic brain’s structure poses problems for love’, helps explain the basis of the scientific and physiological interpretation of emotion and feeling. However, Islamic concepts and thoughts provide an alternative and starkly contrasting perspective on human emotion and behaviour. This article argues that by social worker practitioners understanding and incorporating these Islamic concepts and terms as part of therapeutic approach, interventions will be more readily received by Muslim clients and therapeutic interventions in particular could become more effective. Furthermore, the learning of Islamic concepts by social work practitioners is an ethical consideration: the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics has outlined that social workers must strive to demonstrate that social work practice meets the cultural and spiritual needs of clients. Through learning notions on relationships and spirituality as characterized in Islam, this in turn can help the social work practitioner in challenging any personal bias and assumptions relating to Muslim culture and Islamic faith. The person-in-relation therapy is one approach that allows social work practitioners to integrate Islamic concepts when working with Muslim clients.