Psych in Islam - PART ONE: The Creator, the Created and the Purpose of Our Existence

In this episode, moderator Robert Andaluz is joined by co-host Aida Maravilla for a rich conversation exploring what Islam says about human identity, purpose, and daily living. Drawing from Dr. Utz's book Psychology Through an Islamic Lens, they dive deeper into the first chapter and examine four powerful Quranic verses that frame Allah as the Creator, Sustainer, and the One in whose hand is all dominion.In This Episode You'll Hear About:The Islamic vs. secular understanding of human nature and psychologyWhat it means that Allah created us and everything we doA clarifying note on divine attributes — why Allah's "hand" is not to be taken literallyHow remembering our place in creation leads to humility and purposeWhy worship in Islam goes far beyond ritual prayerLiving with tawakkul — trusting Allah's plan while still doing your bestRuh Report — Islamic Psychology in the NewsQatar's Ministry of Public Health released a new booklet: Hajj: A School of Psychology and Behavioral Development, focused on mental well-being, patience, humility, and self-control during pilgrimage. Download that booklet here. Researchers are proposing a new framework blending Islamic psychology with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), aiming to make faith-sensitive therapy more accessible within mainstream healthcare systems like the NHS. Read that story here.Scholars are pushing to expand Islamic psychology beyond one-on-one therapy into schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers, serving younger and older populations. Read a research paper from Alkaram Institute on that here.  If you'd like to follow along with us as we go through Utz's book, get a free pdf copy here. Quranic Verses ReferencedQuran 39:62-63 — Allah is the Creator of all things and the Maintainer of everythingQuran 67:1 — Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the Dominion, and He is over all things competentQuran 23:88 — In Whose Hand is the realm of all things, and He protects while none can protect against HimQuran 37:96 — Allah created you and that which you doKey TakeawaysWe are part of something far greater than ourselves — recognizing this is the beginning of humility.Having a soul, free will, and moral discernment is a gift, not a given.Doing things for Allah's sake transforms ordinary actions into acts of worship.We exist to praise Allah — not only in prayer, but in every choice, intention, and effort.Life is an adventure; we plan and strive, but ultimate power belongs to Allah alone.Connect & Follow If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who is seeking clarity, healing, or a deeper understanding of themselves and their Creator.FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @psychinislam AND YOUTUBE! @psychinislam