A Thematic Analysis of Ibn al-Qayyim s Treatise: The Excellence of Patience and Gratitude

Abstract

Psychology has long remained curious about the mysterious world of human emotions. Questions like what emotions are, how they influence our health and reality, and why we feel the way we do have drawn significant attention across centuries. Before the birth of psychology as a formal discipline, the topic of human emotions was extensively discussed and written about, including in the works of early Muslim philosophers and theologians such as Ibn al-Qayyim, a celebrated 14th-century Muslim jurist. Ibn al-Qayyim offered profound insights on self-control, emotional regulation, patience, and resilience reminiscent of modern therapeutic interventions. This paper attempts to thematically analyze Ibn al-Qayyimâ s twenty recommendations for acquiring emotional self-regulation, drawing from his work, The Excellence of Patience and Gratitude. The discovery of this manuscript reveals that Ibn al-Qayyimâ s twenty recommendations parallel modern-day cognitive behavioral techniques, such as cognitive appraisal, visualization, and behavioral modification. Moreover, this research also highlights Ibn al-Qayyimâ s pivotal role in developing a unique psycho-spiritual model of emotional regulation grounded in faith.