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23-02-2023 | Plague | PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLORATION

Islamic Civilizations and Plagues: The Role of Religion, Faith and Psychology During Pandemics

Authors: Rania Awaad, Merve Nursoy-Demir, Abdullah Khalil, Hosam Helal

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 2/2023

Abstract

The current study seeks to analyze Muslim experiences of communicative diseases with a focus on the psychosocial impacts and public, communal, and personal responses of Muslim populations throughout history. By examining a selection of plague outbreaks between the 8–19th centuries across the lands broadly defined as the Islamic Mediterranean (Varlık, 2017), the guidelines and coping mechanisms that Muslims extracted from their traditional sources are highlighted. This historical perspective contributes to a better understanding of the psychological and social aspects of pandemics for the Muslim community, specifically for the role played by faith and spirituality as determinants of psychological well-being in Muslims’ perceptions and responses. We suggest that such an understanding is especially useful for contemporary mental health practitioners working with Muslim patients through the global COVID-19 pandemic.

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Title: Islamic Civilizations and Plagues: The Role of Religion, Faith and Psychology During Pandemics
Authors: Rania Awaad
Merve Nursoy-Demir
Abdullah Khalil
Hosam Helal
Publication date: 23-02-2023
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Plague
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 2/2023
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01765-z

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Islamic Civilizations and Plagues: The Role of Religion, Faith and Psychology During Pandemics

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