Islamic Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Islam: Cultural and Clinical Dialogues

by Sabah Siddiqui (editor), Ian Parker (Editor)

This pioneering volume brings together scholars and clinicians working at the intersection of Islam and psychoanalysis to explore both the connections that link these two traditions, as well as the tensions that exist between them.



Uniting authors from a diverse range of traditions and perspectives, including Freudian, Jungian, Lacanian, Object-Relations, and Group-Analytic, the book creates a dialogue through which several key questions can be addressed. How can Islam be rendered amenable to psychoanalytic interpretation? What might an ‘Islamic psychoanalysis’ look like that accompanies and questions the forms of psychoanalysis that developed in the West? And what might a ‘psychoanalytic Islam’ look like that speaks for, and perhaps even transforms, the forms of truth that Islam produces?



In an era of increasing Islamophobia in the West, this important book identifies areas where clinical practice can be informed by a deeper understanding of contemporary Islam, as well as what it means to be a Muslim today. It will appeal to trainees and practitioners of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, as well as scholars interested in religion and Islamic studies.

Genres: Psychoanalysis

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2018

Reviews

[Yassir Morsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edited by Ian Parker and Sabah Siddiqui, this excellent edited book emerges as a timely and deep exploration of the intersections between Islam and psychoanalysis. With its diverse collection of essays, the book offers a nuanced examination of the complex relationships between these two fields, challenging conventional narratives and inviting readers to consider the deeper connections and tensions that exist within and between Western and Islamic modernities.
The contributors to this volume, including scholars and practitioners, engage with various topics that span Islam's political, cultural, and psychological dimensions and its interaction with psychoanalytic thought. I enjoyed how many authors refused to settle for simplistic discourses such as one's built on hybridity or synthesis. I was worried that like plenty of "Islamic psychology" this would just be a case of translating key western terms into Islamicate ones; instead, the book always aims to delve into the contradictions and inconsistencies that characterise the encounter zones where Islam and psychoanalysis meet, clash, and have the potential to decolonize one another.
On this, Robert K. Beshara's chapter stood out, "Decolonizing Psychoanalysis/Psychoanalyzing Islamophobia," Beshara explores how psychoanalytic concepts can be rethought and applied to understand the unconscious underpinnings of Western perceptions and prejudices against Islam. Beshara’s chapter also aims to challenge and deconstruct the colonialist frameworks that have historically shaped the discourse on Islam, advocating for a radical qualitative approach to address these complex issues.
Together, the book does not shy away from addressing the increasing Islamophobia in the West, offering insights into how clinical practice can be informed by a deeper understanding of contemporary Islam and the lived experiences of Muslims today.
This important book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intercultural and transcultural dialogues between faith and scientific rationality. It is a real contribution to the field, shedding new light on the enduring trouble of understanding belief systems and the ethical imperatives that arise from our interconnected world. I enjoyed this book; granted, I am a psychotherapist and a political theorist who focuses on the politics of Arab/Muslim world, so it is kind of written for me as an audience.