Integrating Self-Compassion into Islamic Counseling: Evidence from a Systematic Literature Review

Emeliya Hardi; Mazita Ahmad

doi:10.32939/ijcd.v8i1.7294

Authors

Emeliya Hardi Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
Mazita Ahmad Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32939/ijcd.v8i1.7294

Keywords:

self-compassion, Islamic counseling, mental health, psychological well-being, systematic literature review

Abstract

Self-compassion has been increasingly recognized as a vital factor in promoting mental health, while Islamic counseling emphasizes the integration of spiritual values into the therapeutic process. However, research combining these two paradigms remains limited, and no comprehensive synthesis has systematically examined their conceptual relationship or potential integration within clinical practice. This study aimed to synthesize the existing literature on self-compassion and Islamic counseling to explore their integrative potential in supporting mental health. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search within the Scopus database yielded 53 peer-reviewed articles that met the established inclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using thematic and narrative synthesis to identify core themes, conceptual alignments, and research gaps. The findings indicate that self-compassion fosters enhanced emotion regulation, resilience, and adaptive coping, while Islamic counseling promotes psychological well-being through the spiritual principles of rahmah (compassion), muhasabah (self-reflection), tawakkul (trust in God), and tazkiyat al-nafs (purification of the soul). Furthermore, the review revealed a robust conceptual alignment between the psychological mechanisms of self-compassion and the core tenets of Islamic counseling. These findings establish a solid conceptual foundation for developing an integrative Islamic counseling model that incorporates self-compassion, ultimately contributing to more holistic, culturally responsive mental health interventions for Muslim populations

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