Skip to main content
Log in

Applying Qur’anic Metaphors in Counseling

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In recent years there has been increased attention to the importance of appropriate and relevant counseling interventions with culturally and religiously diverse populations. In accordance with the fact that Muslims rely on Qur’anic verses when answering the larger questions of life, “metaphor therapy” comes across as a technique that counselors can employ with Muslim clients. Although several authors have suggested the use of therapeutic metaphors from various religious texts in a broad manner, relatively little has been published on the application of metaphors from the Qur’an in counseling. This article explains the value of Qur’anic metaphors as therapeutic tools in counseling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The term ‘Surah’ signifies a chapter in the Qur’an. There are a total of 114 ‘surahs’ consisting of several verses or ‘ayat’ and of varying lengths, with titles derived from a name or quality discussed in the text, or from the first letters or words of the surah. The metaphor of ‘ashes scattered by strong winds on a stormy day’ is the eighteenth verse in the chapter titled after the prophet, Ibrahim

References

  • Al-Issa, I. (1995). The illusion of reality and reality of illusion. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 166(3), 368–373.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Azzollini, S.C., & González, F.F. (1997). In Queralto J. M. (2006). Metaphors in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychology. See http://www.papelesdelpsicologo.es/english/1343.pdf.

  • Barker, P. (1985). Using metaphors in psychotherapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charteris-Black, J. (2003). Speaking with forked tongue: a comparative study of metaphor and metonymy in English and Malay phraseology. Metaphor and Symbol, 18, 289–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charteris-Black, J. (2004). Corpus approaches to critical metaphor analysis. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dawood, N. J. (1990). The Qur’an. (translation). London: Penguin Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwairy, M. (2006). Counseling and psychotherapy with Arabs and Muslims: A culturally sensitive approach. New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Embler, W. (1966). Metaphor and meaning. Deland: Everett/Edwards.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erickson, M. H. (1983). Healing in hypnosis. The seminars, work shops and lectures of Milton H. Erickson, Vol. 1. E. L. Rossi, O. M. Ryan, A. F. Sharp (Eds.) New York: Irvington.

  • Erickson, M. H., & Rossi, E. L. (1979). Hypnotherapy: An exploratory casebook. New York: Irvington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esparza, D. P. (2001). Therapeutic metaphors & clinical hypnosis. hypnogenesis. See http://www.hypnos.co.uk/hypnomag/esparza.html.

  • Fox, R. (1989). What is meta for? Clinical Social Work Journal, 17, 233–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hynes, A. M., & Hynes-Berry, M. (1986). Bibliotherapy, the interactive process. Boulder: Westview.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopp, S. B. (1971). Guru: Metaphors from a psychotherapist. Palo Alto: Science and Behavior Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopp, R. R. (1995). Metaphor therapy: Using client-generated metaphors in psychotherapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopp, R. R., & Jay, M. (1998). Metaphoric language, metaphoric cognition, and cognitive therapy. Psychotherapy, 35, 306–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lankton, C. H., & Lankton, S. R. (1989). Tales of enchantment: Goal oriented metaphors for adults and children in therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littman, S. K. (1985). Foreword. In P. Barker (Ed.), Using metaphors in psychotherapy (pp. vii–viii). New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyddon, W. J., Clay, A. L., & Sparks, C. L. (2001). Metaphor and change in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 79, 269–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, J., & Crowley, R. (1986). Therapeutic metaphors for children and the child within. New York: Brunner Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, S. (Ed.). (1982). My voice will go with you: The teaching tales of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. New York: W.W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royce, J. R., & Powell, A. (1983). Theory of personality and individual differences: Factors systems and processes. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urdang, L., & Flexner, S. B. (1968). Random house dictionary of the English language. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeig, J. K. (1980). Teaching seminar with Milton. H. Erickson. M.D. New York: Brunner/Mazel Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuniga, M. E. (1992). Using metaphors in therapy: Dichos and Latino clients. Social Work, 37, 55–60.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaima Ahammed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ahammed, S. Applying Qur’anic Metaphors in Counseling. Int J Adv Counselling 32, 248–255 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-010-9104-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-010-9104-2

Keywords

Navigation