Islamic Approaches to Grief and Bereavement: Healing through Faith and Spirituality

Abstract

This paper examines Islamic approaches to grief and bereavement, focusing on how faith and spirituality serve as vital resources for emotional healing. In Islam, the experience of loss is acknowledged as a natural part of life, with the Qur’an and Prophetic traditions offering guidance on patience (sabr), acceptance of divine will (qadr), and remembrance of Allah as coping mechanisms. The study highlights practices such as prayer, du‘a, Qur’anic recitation, and community support, which provide comfort and resilience during times of mourning. It also explores how Islamic perspectives on death emphasize hope in the hereafter, encouraging positive meaning-making and psychological adaptation. By integrating these spiritual principles with contemporary bereavement psychology, the paper demonstrates how Islamic coping strategies foster resilience, reduce pathological grief, and promote long-term emotional well-being.