Examining the Dimensions of Psychological Evolution Resulting from Suffering from the Perspective of the Holy Quran by the Method of Thematic Analysis
Document Type : مقاله پژوهشی
Authors
1 Ph.D. Student in Psychology, Semnan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran.
2 Associate Professor of Psychology, Tehran Markaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor of Psychology, Semnan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran
10.22084/qss.2025.30432.1099
Abstract
In contemporary psychological research, much attention is devoted to positive emotions, which sometimes leads to the neglect of the importance of suffering in human life. However, suffering and negative emotions can impart significant meanings and lessons, acting as catalysts for personal growth and psychological transformation. Therefore, rather than disregarding suffering, it is essential to analyze and examine it, leveraging these experiences for psychological development. This study aims to explore the role of suffering in psychological transformation by analyzing the verses of the Holy Quran as a comprehensive source. The research follows a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Data analysis was conducted using MAXQDA software, which led to the identification of 167 initial codes. From these, two overarching themes, five organizing themes, and ten basic themes were extracted. The relationships between these themes were presented in the form of a model. The findings revealed that, according to the Quran, suffering can lead to psychological transformation by influencing individuals' attitudes and behaviors, resulting in positive cognitive, spiritual, behavioral, emotional changes, and increased hope for life. These changes are facilitated by factors such as reflective thinking, moral awareness, self-awareness, spiritual experience, understanding the meaning of life, the cultivation of adaptive behaviors, spiritual connection, hope for divine forgiveness, hope for divine reward, and hope for God's grace.
Keywords
* The Holy Quran
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36. Sadri Afshar, G., Hakemi, N., & Hakemi, N. (2002). Contemporary Persian Dictionary. Tehran: Mo‘aser.
37. Saliba, M. (1987). Philosophical Dictionary. (M. S. Darreh Bidi, Trans.). Tehran: Hikmat.
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41. Tabatabai, M. H. (2020). Al-Mizan Interpretation. Qom: Islamic Publications.
42. Tabarsi, F. b. H. (1993). The Collection of Statements in Quranic Interpretation. Tehran: Nasir Khosrow Publications.
43. Tarihi, M. b. F. (1996). Majmaol-bahrain. Tehran: Mortazavi Bookstore.
44. Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Target Article: "Posttraumatic Growth: Conceptual Foundations and Empirical Evidence". Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.
45. Teodorescu DS, Siqveland J, Heir T, Hauff E, Wentzel-Larsen T, Lien L. . (2012). Posttraumatic growth, depressive symptoms,posttraumatic stress symptoms, post-migration stressors andquality of life in multi-raumatized psychiatric outpatients with a refugee background in Norway. Health Qual Life Outcomes; 10 (84): 84-99.
46. Wang, P. T. P. (2012). The meaningcentered approach to resilience: A review and future directions. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 14(3), 211-224.
47. Yalom, I. (2021). The gift of therapy (S. Habib, Trans.). Tehran: Qatreh. (Original work published 2001).
48. Zolfaghari, A. (2020). Psychological and educational functions of pain and suffering from the perspective of the Holy Quran. Quranic Studies Quarterly, 11(43), 465-478.
49. Zamora ER, Yi J, Akter J, Kim J, Warner EL.(2017). Kirchhoff AC.Having cancer was awful but also something good came out:Post-traumatic growth among adult survivors of pediatric andadolescent cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing; 28: 21-7.
1. Anvari, H. (2002). The Great Sokhan Dictionary. Tehran: Sokhan. first edition.
2. Abedi Jafari, H., Taslimi, M. S., Faghihi, A., & Sheikhzadeh, M. (2011). Thematic analysis and thematic network: A simple and effective method for explaining patterns in qualitative data. Jihad Management Thought Journal, 5(2), 151-198.
3. Asgari, Z., Norouzi, R. A., & Mohammadi, R. (2017). From pain to gain: Analyzing three approaches to the educational role of suffering. Educational Sciences and Psychology Journal, Alzahra University, (1), 51-71.
4. Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice Hall.
5. Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006), “Using thematic analysis in psychology”, Qualitative Research in Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 2, Kingdom: AltaMira Press.
6. Bulman, J, Snyder, R, & Rebuiding, SS. (1999). Assumtions after traumatic life events,coping . The Psychology of what works.
7. Chun S, Lee Y. . (2008). The experience of posttraumatic growth forpeople with spinal cord injury. Qualitative Health Research;18(7): 877-90.
8. Dehkhoda, A. A. (1998). Loghatnameh-ye Dehkhoda [Dehkhoda Dictionary]. Tehran: University of Tehran.
9. Dadsetan, P., Naderi, M. A., & Agha Mohammadian Sharabaf, H. R. (2011). A new function for children's websites: Preparing a foundation for developing operational thinking features (classification, seriation, conservation, and reversibility) from Piaget's theory perspective. Library and Information Research Journal, 1(1), 153-174.
10. Dewey, J.(1993). How we think: A Restatement of the Relation of Reflective Thinking to the educative Process. Boston:D.c. Health and Company.
11. Feyz Kashani, M. (1994). Good Ethics. (M. B. Saeedi, Trans.). Tehran: Payam-e Edalat.
12. Farahidi, K. b. A. (1989). Aleyn. Qom: Hijrat.
13. Fallah, R., Kashmir, F., Lotfi, F., & Akbari, M. (2012). Post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. 8th International Breast Cancer Congress.
14. Fredrickson, J. (2019). Co-creating change: Effective dynamic therapy techniques (E. Khalighi Sigaroudi, Trans.). Tehran: Arjmand. (Original work published 2013).
15. Freud, S. (2022). Beyond the pleasure principle (H. Vijeh, Trans.). Tehran: Behjat. (Original work published 1920).
16. Frankl, V. (2018). Man's search for meaning (K. Parsai, Trans.). Tehran: Tamaddon Elmi. (Original work published 1946).
17. Glasser, W. (2003). poice theory: A new psychology of personal freedom. HarperCollins.
18. Heidarzadeh, M., Rasouli, M., Shahbalaghi, F., Alavi, M. H., Mirzaei, H. R., & Tahmasebi, M. (2015). Dimensions of post-traumatic growth in cancer survivors. Comprehensive Nursing and Midwifery Journal, (76), 32-42.
19. James, W. (1902). The varieties of religious experience: A study in human nature. Longmans, Green & Co.
20. Jung, C. G. (1953). Psychological aspects of the personality. Princeton University Press.
21. Jalali, T. (2007). Farhang-e Jalali [Jalali Dictionary]. Tehran: Akhtaran.
22. Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
23. Moghimi, P. (2021). Pieces of a coherent whole. Tehran: Binesheno.
24. Manson, M. (2018). The subtle art of not giving a f ck (M. Bashiri, Trans.). Tehran: Milkan. (Original work published 2016).
25. Mulla Sadra, S. M. (2003). Al-shawahid al-rububiyyah fi al-manhaj al-sulukiyyah [Divine Witnesses in Spiritual Paths] (Edited by M. M. Mohaqqeq Damad). Tehran: Bonyade Hekmate Sadra Foundation.
26. Makarem Shirazi, N. (2007). Bargozideh tafsire nemuneh [Selected Interpretation of Nemuneh]. Tehran: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah.
27. Morris BA, Shakespeare-Finch J, Scott JL. Posttraumatic growth after cancer: the importance of health-related benefits and newfound compassion for others. Support Care Cancer. 2012; 20(4): 749-56.
28. Orlofski, J. (2001). The psychology of forgiveness: Implications for therapy and health. Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 211–229.
29. Pargament, K. I. (1997). The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. Guilford Press.
30. Rahimi, R., Heidarzadeh, M., & Hasanzadeh, R. (2015). Post-traumatic growth in patients with myocardial infarction. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, (2), 44-52.
31. Rest, J. R. (1986). Moral development: Advances in research and theory. New York: Praeger.
32. Seif, A. (2007). Modern Educational Psychology: The Psychology of Learning and Teaching. Tehran: Virayesh.
33. Senge, P. (2010). The dance of change (H. Akbari & M. Soltani, Trans.). Tehran: Ariana Ghalam. (Original work published 1999).
34. Seligman, M. (2010). Learned helplessness theory in positive psychology (R. Karimi, Trans.). Tehran: Danjeh.
35. Sadeghnia, M., & Naeiji, M. B. (2015). The educational and ethical functions of suffering in Jewish theology. Religious Studies Quarterly, (6), 89-116.
36. Sadri Afshar, G., Hakemi, N., & Hakemi, N. (2002). Contemporary Persian Dictionary. Tehran: Mo‘aser.
37. Saliba, M. (1987). Philosophical Dictionary. (M. S. Darreh Bidi, Trans.). Tehran: Hikmat.
38. Smith A, Joseph S, Das Nair R. . (2011). An interpretative phenomenologicalanalysis of posttraumatic growth in adults bereaved bysuicide. Journal of Loss and Trauma; 16(5): 413-30.
39. Stein CH, Petrowski CE, Gonzales SM, Mattei GM, Majcher JH,Froemming MW, et al. A matter of life and death: Understandingcontinuing bonds and post-traumatic growth when young adultsexperience the loss of a close friend. Journal of Child and FamilyStudies. 2018; 27(3): 725-38.
40. Suhrawardi, S. (2001). Majmu‘eh-ye mosannafat-e Sheikh al-Ishraq [Collected Works of Sheikh al-Ishraq] (Vol. 2, Edited by S. H. Nasr). Tehran: Institute for Cultural Studies and Research.
41. Tabatabai, M. H. (2020). Al-Mizan Interpretation. Qom: Islamic Publications.
42. Tabarsi, F. b. H. (1993). The Collection of Statements in Quranic Interpretation. Tehran: Nasir Khosrow Publications.
43. Tarihi, M. b. F. (1996). Majmaol-bahrain. Tehran: Mortazavi Bookstore.
44. Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Target Article: "Posttraumatic Growth: Conceptual Foundations and Empirical Evidence". Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.
45. Teodorescu DS, Siqveland J, Heir T, Hauff E, Wentzel-Larsen T, Lien L. . (2012). Posttraumatic growth, depressive symptoms,posttraumatic stress symptoms, post-migration stressors andquality of life in multi-raumatized psychiatric outpatients with a refugee background in Norway. Health Qual Life Outcomes; 10 (84): 84-99.
46. Wang, P. T. P. (2012). The meaningcentered approach to resilience: A review and future directions. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 14(3), 211-224.
47. Yalom, I. (2021). The gift of therapy (S. Habib, Trans.). Tehran: Qatreh. (Original work published 2001).
48. Zolfaghari, A. (2020). Psychological and educational functions of pain and suffering from the perspective of the Holy Quran. Quranic Studies Quarterly, 11(43), 465-478.
49. Zamora ER, Yi J, Akter J, Kim J, Warner EL.(2017). Kirchhoff AC.Having cancer was awful but also something good came out:Post-traumatic growth among adult survivors of pediatric andadolescent cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing; 28: 21-7.
)
Volume 3, Issue 2
March 2025Pages 222-249
- Receive Date: 19 January 2025
- Revise Date: 23 February 2025
- Accept Date: 02 March 2025