Religious Beliefs and Human Nature — Part 1 of 3
This is Part 1 of a three-part series on religious beliefs as a cognitive strategy in psychotherapy.
Human Nature and Faith
Human beings instinctively search for a source of strength and support to achieve psychological stability and security. Sensing their own vulnerability and the existence of a supreme creative power, people throughout history have adopted beliefs to draw closer to the divine — even when those beliefs fell outside the bounds of reason or logic.
It is worth noting that even today, certain human communities — particularly those who have not received the Abrahamic revelations — continue to practice rituals and hold beliefs they are devoted to. As Muslims, we have been honored by God with the religion of Islam: a way of spiritual, psychological, and intellectual worship, and a complete way of life.
God says in the Quran, in Surah Sad 38:72: "So when I have fashioned him and had a spirit of My Own ˹creation˺ breathed into him, fall down in prostration to him." The human being carries within them something of the divine spirit — they are born with an innate disposition toward faith. Yet this nature is shaped by the environment in which they live. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Every child is born upon the fitrah (innate nature). It is his parents who make him Jewish, Christian, or Zoroastrian."
The Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, began his life searching for God through this innate nature — knowing that there must be a Creator of this universe. As the Quran describes, he observed the stars, the moon, and the sun, before declaring: "I have turned my face towards the One Who has originated the heavens and the earth—being upright—and I am not one of the polytheists." (Al-An'am, 6:76-79).
Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, began his life seeking the secret of this universe, retreating to the Cave of Hira to worship, reflect, and commune with the Creator.
The Strength of Faith in the Face of Hardship
God sent the prophets with miracles to guide humanity. Those who believed faced severe trials, yet they endured — offering their lives as testament to their faith. The story of the People of the Trench in Surah Al-Buruj 85:8 illustrates this: "who they resented for no reason other than belief in Allah—the Almighty, the Praiseworthy"
Equally powerful is the story of Pharaoh's sorcerers who came to believe in Moses, and who, when threatened with death, declared: "They responded, “By the One Who created us! We will never prefer you over the clear proofs that have come to us. So do whatever you want! Your authority only covers the ˹fleeting˺ life of this world." (Taha, 20:72).
In both examples, the strength of conviction was extraordinary. Their certainty in God's justice and reward enabled them to endure extreme hardship.
The Quran: An Address to the Soul, Mind, and Self
The Quran is a book of faith, knowledge, and guidance. It organizes human life, addressing the soul first, then the intellect and the conscience, refining behavior and character — enabling the human being to achieve psychological balance and happiness in this life and the next.
God says: "And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy for the believers" (Al-Isra). And: "Ta-Ha. We have not revealed the Quran to you to cause you distress" (Ta-Ha).
And: "If We had sent down this Quran upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and splitting apart from fear of God" (Al-Hashr).
When a person embraces Islam, they adopt a new system for living — a comprehensive transformation: religious, social, intellectual, and psychological. This is evidence that the word of God produces a genuine reaction in the individual's cognitive function, thoughts, and emotions, leading to real change in behavior.
We can conclude that belief — the article of faith — serves as the foundational basis for behavioral change. And religious beliefs function as both preventive and therapeutic: when any setback occurs, its impact is lessened by the presence of a strong faith foundation.
Einstein said: "Faith is the strongest and noblest result of scientific research. Faith without knowledge walks with a limp; knowledge without faith feels its way in the dark."
The Story of Humanity: The Creation of Adam
God says: "I am placing a successor on earth" (Al-Baqarah). "We have certainly created the human being in the best of forms" (At-Tin). "Indeed, We offered the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they ˹all˺ declined to bear it, being fearful of it. But humanity assumed it, ˹for˺ they are truly wrongful ˹to themselves˺ and ignorant ˹of the consequences˺" (Al-Ahzab).
These verses speak of the beauty of Adam's creation — the human being — of God's honoring of humanity, and of the responsibility entrusted to us. Would such a being be left without instruction or guidance? Particularly regarding psychological and social life?
We must therefore study the Quran carefully to access its psychological and educational meanings. To understand the Quran, we must first understand the Arabic language and its eloquence — to grasp what God's words mean and to be able to apply them correctly.
→ Continue reading: Part 2 — Psychology Theories and the Islamic Perspective
