The Therapy of the Heart: Ibn ʿArabi’s Sufi Psychology in Addressing Modern Spiritual and Mental Crises

Abstract

This article examines psycho-Sufism as a holistic therapeutic framework derived from Islamic mysticism, with a particular focus on Ibn ʿArabi’s conception of the heart as the core of spiritual and psychological transformation. Responding to the limitations of modern psychology that often marginalize spiritual dimensions, this study argues that Sufi psychology offers an integrative approach capable of addressing contemporary mental and existential crises. Employing library research with historical and analytical methods, this article analyzes Ibn ʿArabi’s primary works especially al-Futuhat al-Makkiyyah and Fusus al-Hikam alongside relevant secondary literature. The findings reveal that the heart, in Ibn ʿArabi’s thought, functions as the locus of divine manifestation (tajalli) and the primary medium for attaining maʿrifah, understood as direct, experiential knowledge of God. Psychological distress is interpreted as the result of spiritual veiling caused by excessive attachment to materiality and the domination of lower desires. The study further demonstrates that psycho-Sufi therapy, grounded in practices such as tazkiyah al-nafs, riyadah, dhikr, and ethical transformation, operates not merely as a curative model but as a transformative process leading toward inner integration and spiritual maturity (al-insan al-kamil). This approach contributes to contemporary discourse by positioning Ibn ʿArabi’s Sufi psychology as a viable conceptual and practical alternative for integrating spirituality into mental health frameworks. Ultimately, psycho-Sufism is proposed as a meaningful bridge between classical Islamic spirituality and modern psychological paradigms.