Islamic Psychology Book Club
A Space to Read, Reflect, and Reclaim
3 Book Clubs to Choose from.
Theme of the Month:
Works by Dr. Malik Badri – The Father of Islamic Psychology
BOOK CLUB #1: Abū Zayd al-Balkhī’s Sustenance of the Soul
Translated and Annotated by: Dr. Malik Badri
Facilitator: Bela Khan (Solace’s Clinical Director and Assistant Professor of Psychology at International Open University)
More than a thousand years ago, Abū Zayd al-Balkhī was writing about the human mind in ways that still feel surprisingly familiar today. He wrote about fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, depression, obsessive thoughts, and the link between emotional and physical health. He also spoke about how our thoughts can shape the way we feel.
What makes this book so fascinating is how far ahead of his time Al-Balkhī was. Many of his ideas sound very close to what we now know as cognitive and behavioural approaches in psychology. But his view of the human being was not limited to the mind and body. For Al-Balkhī, the soul mattered too.
He understood well-being in a more complete way. The body, the mind, the emotions, and faith all affect one another. Over four weeks, we will explore his ideas together and ask what they can teach us about Islamic psychology today.
Session Details:
Week 1: Caring for the Soul – Explore Al‑Balkhī’s world and why psychological health matters as much as physical health.
Week 2: Understanding Anger and Anxiety – Learn how thoughts shape emotions and how to manage fear and panic.
Week 3: Depression and Experience of Loss – Understand different forms of sadness, grief, and Islam’s perspective on patience and hope.
Week 4: Obsessive Thoughts and Healing the Mind – Discover practical ways to counter recurring thoughts and nurture emotional resilience.
What Participants Will Gain:
By the end of the four weeks, participants will have a clearer understanding of Al-Balkhī’s approach to the human soul.
- They will explore how he understood anxiety, anger, sadness, depression, and recurring thoughts.
- They will also see how closely some of his ideas resemble modern psychological approaches.
- Most importantly, participants will reflect on a more complete view of well-being. One that includes the mind, the body, the emotions, and faith.
Who is it for?
No background in psychology is needed. This book club is for anyone who is curious about Islamic psychology and wants to understand how Muslim scholars thought about well-being long before modern psychology took shape.
Timings: 8 PM to 9.30 PM Makkah time
Month and Day: November and Saturdays
Duration: 4 weeks
Investment: $ 149 $129
Early bird price valid till 31st October 2026
Exclusive 20% discount for IOU community. Please email contact@solace-services.com for the coupon code to avail the discount.
Important Note: Recordings & resources will be provided. Attendance is not compulsory (but highly recommended). A certificate of participation will be provided.
For any inquiries, contact contact@solace-services.com
BOOK CLUB #2
Contemplation: An Islamic Psychospiritual Study
Author: Dr. Malik Badri
Facilitator: Hannah Morris (PhD Candidate and Assistant Professor of Psychology at International Open University)
When was the last time you truly stopped to reflect?
With zero distractions?
With full presence of the heart, mind, and soul?
Today’s world increasingly values the superficial. We’re constantly consuming information, but rarely pausing to look beyond the surface. Does this mean we have forgotten the importance of contemplation?
In Islam, reflection is not simply an intellectual exercise. It can be an act of worship. An act of worship that we have not engaged in for such a long time. What happens when we lose this reflective dimension of our lives?
In this book club, we’ll be looking at the relationship between psychology, spirituality, and human development by exploring Dr. Malik Badri’s ‘Contemplation: An Islamic Psychospiritual Study’. We will look at the Islamic understanding of contemplation and seek to discover how contemplation can deepen our understanding of ourselves, creation, and our relationship with Allah.
Session Details:
Week 1: Understanding contemplation – Explore the meaning of contemplation in Islam and how it differs from modern meditation and mindfulness.
Discussion focus: What makes contemplation specifically Islamic?
Week 2: Contemplation in Islamic thought – Reflect on what Islam encourages us to contemplate – creation, Qur’an, and the world around us.
Discussion focus: What does Islam encourage us to contemplate upon?
Week 3: The psychology of contemplation – Consider how contemplation shapes our thoughts, emotions, and self‑understanding.
Discussion focus: Can contemplation improve the way we think and live?
Week 4: From contemplation to transformation – Discover how contemplation can influence values, relationships, and responsibilities beyond reflection.
Discussion focus: How can contemplation make a difference in how we live?
Who is it for?
No background in psychology is needed. This book club is for anyone who wants to learn the art (and worship) of contemplation and who intends to incorporate its barakah in improving their emotional, mental, familial, and spiritual health.
Timings: 10 AM to 11.30 AM Makkah time
Month and Day: November and Saturdays
Duration: 4 weeks
Investment: $ 149 $129
Early bird price valid till 31st October 2026
Exclusive 20% discount for IOU community. Please email contact@solace-services.com for the coupon code to avail the discount.
Important Note: Recordings & resources will be provided. Attendance is not compulsory (but highly recommended). A certificate of participation will be provided.
For any inquiries, contact contact@solace-services.com
BOOK CLUB #3:
The Dilemma of Muslim Psychologists
Author: Dr. Malik Badri
Facilitator: Zarina Hassem (Solace Counselor and Senior lecturer of Psychology at International Open University)
Written in 1979 by Dr. Malik Badri – widely recognized as the father of Islamic psychology – The Dilemma of Muslim Psychologists is a groundbreaking work that challenges Muslim scholars and practitioners to critically examine their reliance on secular psychological theories. Drawing on the famous “lizard’s hole” hadith, Dr. Badri warns against blind imitation and calls for an authentic, faith‑rooted approach to understanding the human mind.
Dr. Badri explains, through analysing differing sub-fields of psychology, how secular frameworks often distort human nature when divorced from spirituality. Yet the book is not merely critical – it offers solutions, showing how psychology can be reconciled with Islamic principles and used in service of faith and human dignity.
Session Details:
- Week 1 – The Lizard’s Hole & Western Psychology: Explore the Prophet’s warning about imitation and how it applies to psychology’s secular roots.
- Week 2 – Role of the Muslim Psychologist: Examine Muslim psychologists’ roles across sub‑fields and the distinction between Muslim and Islamic psychology.
- Week 3 – Freud & Psychoanalysis in Islam: Analyze Freud’s theories through Dr. Badri’s critique and their relevance to Muslim lives.
- Week 4 – Dealing with the Dilemma: Discuss Dr. Badri’s proposed solutions and brainstorm the future of Islamic psychology.
Who is it for?
No background in psychology is needed. If Islamic Psychology interests you, then this book club is for you. If you are a student of psychology, then this is a must-attend. If you are a mental health professional, then this book club will give you a renewed outlook on the need for Islamic psychology and what can be done to further the vision of Dr. Badri.
Timings: 12 PM to 1.30 PM Makkah time
Month and Day: November and Saturdays
Duration: 4 weeks
Investment: $ 149 $129
Early bird price valid till 31st October 2026
Exclusive 20% discount for IOU community. Please email contact@solace-services.com for the coupon code to avail the discount.
Important Note: Recordings & resources will be provided. Attendance is not compulsory (but highly recommended). A certificate of participation will be provided.
For any inquiries, contact contact@solace-services.com
Facilitator of Abū Zayd al-Balkhī’s Sustenance of the Soul
Bela Khan is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the International Open University, known for integrating Islamic principles with psychological approaches. Having extensively studied the Quran, Hadith, and Fiqh from various schools, she offers a unique approach to psychology through the divine lens of Islam, making it meaningful and relatable to Muslims worldwide. She is also serving as the Clinical Director of Solace, an Islamic mental health service. Her Islamically Integrated Life Coaching (IILC) course empowers individuals to help others overcome daily life challenges and lead more purposeful lives. Graduates of this course are working globally, inspiring meaningful change in their communities.
Register for Her Book Club
Facilitator of Contemplation: An Islamic Psychospiritual Study
Hannah Morris is originally from the UK and is working as a Senior Lecturer and Instructor at the International Open University (IOU). She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Masters in Health Psychology and is currently completing her PhD. She has over 10 years of experience working in health and social care settings in the UK, USA and Ireland. She has primarily worked in secure psychiatric hospitals housing adults with enduring mental health problems and forensic histories, and in residential settings for children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional difficulties.
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Facilitator of Dilemma of Muslim Psychologists
Zarina Hassem is a South African psychologist who has been practising and teaching in the field of psychology for over 20 years. She was trained in psychology at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Zarina also majored in English literature in her studies and writing and reading have always been something that she is passionate about. She has written two fictional books with the aim of getting Islamic psychological messages across to a general audience. In addition, she has co-authored a book on dealing with trauma in Islamic counselling and currently working on research and writing in the field.
Register for Her Book Club