Psychospiritual Dynamics of Repentance: An Islamic Psychological Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23917/ajip.v2i1.14260Keywords:
Interpersonal Dynamics, Intrapersonal Dynamics, Repentance, Transpersonal DynamicsAbstract
Repentance is an endeavor to return to one’s primordial nature (fiṭrah) as a servant of Allah, initiated through seeking divine forgiveness and repairing one’s relationship with others. This study examines the multidimensional dynamics of repentance (tawbah) from the perspective of Islamic psychology by integrating theological concepts with contemporary psychological research. A library research design using a narrative review and Conceptual Narrative Analysis was employed to synthesize scholarly sources published between 2016 and 2025, alongside selected classical Islamic texts. The findings indicate that repentance is a dynamic, multilayered process involving intrapersonal, transpersonal, and interpersonal dimensions. The intrapersonal dimension encompasses moral emotions such as guilt, remorse, self-forgiveness, commitment, and spiritual fear. The transpersonal dimension reflects spiritual realignment through increased God-consciousness, ritual worship, and transformative spiritual engagement. The interpersonal dimension manifests in relational repair through apology, reconciliation, and restitution. Together, these dimensions form an integrative model demonstrating that repentance is not a singular act but a sustained psychospiritual transformation restoring the self, the divine connection, and social harmony. This study contributes a theoretically grounded and culturally embedded framework that may inform Islamic psychotherapy, religious counseling, and moral rehabilitation practices.
Downloads
References
Abdalla, M. (2025). Exploring tarbiyah in Islamic education: A critical review of the English-and Arabic-language literature. Education Sciences, 15(5), 559. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15050559
Abdullah, S. (2022). The role of tawba (Repentance) in social work with Muslim clients. In H. Schmid & A. Sheikhzadegan (Eds.), Exploring Islamic Social Work: Between Community and the Common Good (1st ed., pp. 233–248). Springer International Publishing Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95880-0_14
Absar, A. A. (2020). Restorative justice in Islam with special reference to the concept of Diyya. Journal of Victimology and Victim Justice, 3(1), 38–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/2516606920927277
Abu-Nimer, M., & Nasser, I. (2013). Forgiveness in the Arab and Islamic contexts: Between theology and practice. Journal of Religious Ethics, 41(3), 474–494. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12025
Abu-Raiya, H., Sasson, T., Pargament, K. I., & Rosmarin, D. H. (2020). Religious coping and health and well-being among Jews and Muslims in Israel. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 30(3), 202–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2020.1727692
Al-Owidha, S. M. S. (2024). Islam and Psychoanalysis: Exploring the Intersection of Sufism and Psychoanalytic Self-Psychology. European Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 16(2), 418–439. https://doi.org/10.24204/ejpr.2024.4458
Al-Qardhawi, Y. (2018). At-Taubah ila Allah (I. M. Hakim, Ed.). Safina. (Original work published 2000).
Alkouatli, C. (2018). Pedagogies in becoming Muslim: Contemporary insights from Islamic traditions on teaching, learning, and developing. Religions, 9(11), 367. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9110367
Alsuhaymi, A. O., & Atallah, F. A. (2025). The Role of Ritual Prayer (Ṣalāh) in Self-Purification and Identity Formation: An Islamic Educational Perspective. Religions, 16(11), 1347. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16111347
Ameer, S., Ghayas, S., & Adil, A. (2025). Taqwa, Spiritual Shame, and Divine Forgiveness in Islam. Foundation University Journal of Psychology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.33897/fujp.v9i1.827
Amin, Z., & Khan, R. A. (2024). The Abolition of Punishment: A Comparative and Research-Based Study between Islamic Sharia ‘h and Positive Laws. Journal of Political Stability Archive, 2(4), 405–431. https://doi.org//10.63468/
An-Nawawi. (2014). Riyadhus shalihin dan penjelasannya. Ummul Qura.
Andrabi, A. A. (2025). Human Psychology and Spiritual Development: An Islamic Perspective. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 7(3), 1–10.
Aprilianti, E. (2024). Integrating Islamic psychological principles in enhancing students’ academic resilience. Nusantara Journal of Behavioral and Social Science, 3(2), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.47679/202446
Bahmani, F., Amini, M., Tabei, S. Z., & Abbasi, M. B. (2018). The concepts of hope and fear in the Islamic thought: Implications for spiritual health. Journal of Religion and Health, 57(1), 57–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0336-2
Bakri, S., Wahyudi, M. A., & Andriyani, I. N. (2025). Sufism and mental health: A phenomenological exploration of the experiences of followers of sufi quantum therapy in Indonesia. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(7), 2025219.
Ben Yair, Y., Ronel, N., & Enright, R. (2025). Theological-sensitive therapy: The eight keys to forgiveness based on Jewish scriptures. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 12(3), 287–301. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000371
Bippus, A. M., & Young, S. L. (2020). How to say “I’m Sorry:” Ideal apology elements for common interpersonal transgressions. Western Journal of Communication, 84(1), 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2019.1610787
Brush, B. L., Mcgee, E. M., Cavanagh, B., & Woodward, M. (2001). Forgiveness: A concept analysis. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 19(1), 27–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/089801010101900104
Cesur, H. (2025). Retributive punishment: Between vindication and healing. International Review of Victimology, 31(2), 185–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/02697580241309352
Choe, E., McLaughlin, A., McElroy-Heltzel, S. E., & Davis, D. E. (2019). Forgiveness and religion/spirituality. In J. Everett L. Worthington & N. G. Wade (Eds.), Handbook of forgiveness (2nd ed., pp. 107–116). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351123341
Chowdhury, S. (2021). Islamic theology and the problem of evil. American University in Cairo Press.
Cohen, A. I. (2020). Apologies and moral repair: rights, duties, and corrective justice. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003023647
Dhami, M. K. (2016). Effects of a victim’s response to an offender’s apology: When the victim becomes the bad guy. European Journal of Social Psychology, 46(1), 110–123. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2145
Ding, W., Xie, R., Sun, B., Li, W., Wang, D., & Zhen, R. (2016). Why does the “sinner” act prosocially? The mediating role of guilt and the moderating role of moral identity in motivating moral cleansing. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1317. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01317
Djalaluddin, M. M., Mas’ ud, B., Sumardi, D., Bararah, I., & Kamus, K. (2023). The Implementation of Ta’zīr Punishment as an Educational Reinforcement in Islamic Law. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Dan Hukum Islam, 7(1), 399–417. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v7i1.15101
Dollahite, D. C., Marks, L. D., & Barrow, B. H. (2019). Exploring relational reconciliation processes in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim families. Family Relations, 68(5), 517–533. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12371
Exline, J. J., Wilt, J. A., Stauner, N., Harriott, V. A., & Saritoprak, S. N. (2017). Self-forgiveness and religious/spiritual struggles. In L. Woodyatt, J. Everett L. Worthington, M. Wenzel, & B. J. Griffin (Eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Self-Forgiveness (1st ed., pp. 131–145). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60573-9_10
Fajar, D. A., & Saepulrohim, A. (2025). Spiritual Transformation and Mental Fortification: An Analysis of Tariqat Al-Rifa’iyah’s Contribution to the Psychological Development of Da’i from Zuhud to Shaja’ah. Ilmu Dakwah: Academic Journal for Homiletic Studies, 19(1), 165–190. https://doi.org/10.15575/idajhs.v19i1.45446
Fawwas, I. (2025). An Analysis of Criminal Sanctions for Adultery Under Islamic Law and the National Legal System: A Study of Legal Pluralism in Indonesia. SYARIAT: Akhwal Syaksiyah, Jinayah, Siyasah and Muamalah, 2(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.35335/7ckykk29
Fincham, F. D. (2022). Towards a psychology of divine forgiveness. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 14(4), 451–461. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000323
Fincham, F. D., May, R. W., & Carlos Chavez, F. L. (2020). Does being religious lead to greater self-forgiveness? The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(3), 400–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1615109
Fisher, R. J. (2018). Social-psychological processes in interactive conflict analysis and reconciliation 1. In H.-W. Jeong (Ed.), Conflict resolution (1st ed., pp. 81–104). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429444142
Floro, B. M. (2025). Restoring Inner Peace: Transformative Healing Through Psychological Reconciliation for Victims of Armed Conflict and Human Rights Violations. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 4(5), 2007–2018. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v4i5.134
Ghorbani, N., Watson, P. J., Kashanaki, H., & Chen, Z. J. (2017). Diversity and complexity of religion and spirituality in Iran: Relationships with self-compassion and self-forgiveness. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 27(4), 157–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2017.1340100
Grunenberg, M., Esch, C., Toussaint, L. L., Maes, J., & Kals, E. (2026). Sincerity of apologies: do it right or don’t do it at all. International Journal of Conflict Management, 37(1), 7–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCMA-03-2025-0078
Hall, J. H., & Fincham, F. D. (2005). Self-forgiveness: The stepchild of forgiveness research. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(5), 621–637. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2005.24.5.621
Hanin Hamjah, S., Mat Akhir, N. S., Ismail, Z., Ismail, A., & Mohd. Arib, N. (2017). The application of Ibadah (worship) in counseling: Its importance and implications to Muslim clients. Journal of Religion and Health, 56(4), 1302–1310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0122-6
Harris, K. A., Howell, D. S., & Spurgeon, D. W. (2018). Faith concepts in psychology: Three 30-year definitional content analyses. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 10(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000134
Heim, S. M. (2022). Monotheism and forgiveness. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108642682
Hendricks, J. J., Cazier, J., Nelson, J. M., Marks, L. D., & Hardy, S. A. (2023). Qualitatively exploring repentance processes, antecedents, motivations, resources, and outcomes in Latter-day Saints. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 45(1), 61–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/00846724221133137
Horowski, J. (2024). The Christian concept of forgiveness and religious education facing the problem of individualism. British Journal of Religious Education, 46(1), 71–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2023.2262773
Huda, M., & Salem, S. (2022). Understanding human behavior development with spirituality: Critical insights into moral flourishing. Ulumuna Journal of Islamic Studies, 26(2), 238–268. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v26i2.535
Husain, S. M. (1969). Effect of tauba (repentance) on penalty in Islam. Islamic Studies, 8(3), 189–198. http://www.jstor.org/stable/20832952
Hussain, A. (2020). Islāmic Perspective of Inter-Religious Dialogue: A Study of Faith Based Reconciliation. Al-Milal: Journal of Religion and Thought, 2(2), 151–162. https://doi.org/10.46600/almilal.v2i2.151
Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah. (1999). Madarijus-Salikin: Pendakian menuju Allah – Penjabaran kongkret “Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in” (2nd ed.). Pustaka Al-Kautsar.
Iwai, T., de França Carvalho, J. V., & Islam, G. (2023). How transgressor’s moral identity leads to high‐quality apologies: The positive effects of guilt. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62(3), 1486–1505. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12644
Jaakkola, E. (2020). Designing conceptual articles: four approaches. AMS Review, 10(1), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0
James, W. (2003). Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature, Centenary Edition (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203398470
Jerome, A., Allen Heath, M., Williams, M., Winters, R., & Cutrer-Párraga, E. A. (2023). Traversing trauma: Resilient women’s religious and spiritual stories of hope and strength. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 54(2), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000491
Jones, M. D., & Flaxman, L. (2023). The afterlife book: heaven, hell, and life after death. Visible Ink Press.
Keskin, Z. (2025). Quranic Concepts in Islamic Psychology and Spirituality: Application in the Modern World (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003494614
Khalil, A. (2018). Repentance and the Return to God: Tawba in Early Sufism. Suny Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781438469133
Khalil, A. (2023). Atonement, Returning, and Repentance in Islam. Religions, 14(2), 168. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14020168
Khan, S. R. (2024). Forgiveness in Islam: A Pathway to Positive Religious Coping. The Journal of Arts, Sociology and Humanities (The JASH), 2(2), 59–83. https://thejash.org.pk/index.php/jash/article/view/36
Khan, W. A., & Sheharyar, K. A. (2025). Psychological Effects of Religious Guilt in Muslim Communities: A Study of Guilt, Shame, and Social Acceptance from an Islamic and Sociological Perspective. Al-Aasar, 2(1), 679–688. https://al-aasar.com/index.php/Journal/article/view/274
Khofifah, S. (2025). Bridging Transpersonal Psychology and Islamic Spirituality: A Holistic Approach to Human Spiritual Development. AL-FALASIFAH: Journal of Philosophy and Islamic Studies, 1(1), 31–39.
Khosla, I., Khosla, S., & Khosla, M. (2020). Does religious commitment facilitate forgiveness? a study on Indian young adults. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 8(2), 1020–1027. https://doi.org/10.25215/0802.121
Khosravi, Z. (2018). Guilt and shame in religious education. Talim, 2(1), 5–22. https://doi.org/10.12738/talim.2018.1.0100
Khoury, A. C. (2022). Forgiveness, Repentance, and Diachronic Blameworthiness. Journal of the American Philosophical Association, 8(4), 700–720. https://doi.org/10.1017/apa.2021.41
Kirkup, P. A. (1993). Some religious perspectives on forgiveness and settling differences. Mediation Quarterly, 11(1), 79–94. https://doi.org/10.1002/crq.3900110109
Koole, S. L., Meijer, M., & Remmers, C. (2017). Religious rituals as tools for adaptive self-regulation. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 7(3), 250–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2016.1156562
Downloads
Submitted
Accepted
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Fadhil Maliky Islah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
