At the completion of the course the student will be able to:
a) Understand the value of personal experiences in the past, in the present and for the
future contributing to personal satisfaction and happiness.
b) Understand the importance of emotional and cognitive states as well as positive
interpersonal behavior which could make one’s life more meaningful.
Overview of Positive Psychology
Introduction
a) Positive Psychology in Historical Context including Islamic Perspective (Al-Ghazali
and Happiness – Alchemy of Happiness and contribution of Farabi
c) Traits of Happy People including Islamic concepts what is highlighted in Shariah like
wisdom (hikmah), gratitude (shukr), knowledge (ilm), forgiveness (maghfirah), love
(hub), patience (sabr), abstinence (taqshaf), obedience (taea), striving (alsaey), prayer
(duea’) repentance (toba) and others.
Classification and measurement of human strengths
a) Moving from the classification of Illness to 21st century classification of human
strengths
b) The Gallup Themes of Talent
c) The Values in Action (VIA)
d) The Search Institution’s 40 Developmental Assets
e) Self-report measures of well-being
Positive Emotions
a) Significance of Emotions in Islam (Role of Fitrah in Complete Psychological
Configuration including cognitive and emotional components)
b) Determinants of well-being, e.g., age, gender, money, work satisfaction, social
support, faith, self-esteem, etc. This Section must include Islamic Religiosity,
Subjective-Well-being and Health.
