The quantifiable machine-like understanding of the mind is seen as safe territory, whilst the unquantifiable can be somewhat daunting for those schooled in the scientific method as applicable to the field of psychology. In the Western psychology tradition the expectation has always been high that given time the riddle of human nature would be solved. Commendable efforts have been made by some great scholarly minds in advancing the understanding of the mind but many questions are left unanswered. Given the worldwide rise in rates of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, fear, and suicide to name a few, with trends predicting worse to come, it is abundantly clear that there is far more study urgently needed in order to understand human nature. In the case of those with psychological disorders, more effective support and therapies need to be developed to heal the afflicted. In traditional Western psychology, the machine-like understanding of the mind has neglected the “spiritual” dimension of human nature, but some Western psychologists are beginning to recognize what Muslims and those of faith have always believed regarding the human ‘spirit’ and its significance to human life. This marks the beginning of a hugely stimulating area of study that could bring hope to many – not just those suffering from psychological disorders – but help others understand what it is to be human, both during their best times and during their darkest hours.
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