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Gratitude and Wellbeing: Cultivating Islamically-Integrated Pathways to Health and Wellness

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Toward a Positive Psychology of Islam and Muslims

Part of the book series: Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology ((CAPP,volume 15))

Abstract

Gratitude is an emotion and state of being that recognizes a positive outcome as the result of external factors, thereby prompting internal and external responses of appreciation. As a positive psychology intervention (PPI), gratitude not only encourages positive affect and savoring of positive life experiences, it is associated with a reduction in psychological distress, improved sleep, better relationships, more engagement at work, and fewer physical ailments. In Islam, shukr (gratitude) is a fundamental virtue which, along with sabr (patience), provides a formula for Muslim wellbeing. In this chapter, we review the positive psychology literature on gratitude and define the concept of shukr from an Islamic perspective. We also provide suggestions for increasing gratitude through Islamically-integrated PPIs and discuss how such interventions can provide useful tools for Muslim wellness.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Green is considered a blessed color by many Muslims as it represents the importance of nature in Islam and as such, is a prominent color in many flags of Muslim majority nations (Kamla et al., 2006). Greener spaces are also associated with higher levels of wellbeing and an increased sense of community (Whitburn et al., 2019).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Houston Community College, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX, USA

    Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi

  2. Al Narjis Dis, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ali Al-Seheel

  3. University of Chicago, Woodside, CA, USA

    Kate Bridges-Lyman

  4. University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Rabia Dasti

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    Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi

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Pasha-Zaidi, N., Al-Seheel, A., Bridges-Lyman, K., Dasti, R. (2021). Gratitude and Wellbeing: Cultivating Islamically-Integrated Pathways to Health and Wellness. In: Pasha-Zaidi, N. (eds) Toward a Positive Psychology of Islam and Muslims. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 15. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72606-5_10

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