HUMAN EMOTIONAL LEVELS: HAWKINS SCALE THEORY AND ITS CORRELATION WITH THE CONCEPT OF NAFS IN THE QUR'AN



Authors (s)


(1) * Ira Bariroh   (Universitas Nurul Jadid, East Java, Indonesia)  
        Indonesia
(2)  Ainul Yakin   (Universitas Nurul Jadid, East Java, Indonesia)  
        Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


This study aims to analyze the relationship between David R. Hawkins emotional consciousness level theory and the concept of nafs in the Quran. In transpersonal psychology, Hawkins maps human consciousness through the map of consciousness, placing emotions along an energy spectrum from the lowest (shame, guilt, fear) to the highest (love, peace, enlightment). Meanwhile, the Quran discusses human spiritual dynamics through the concept of nafs, which comprises levels such as nafs al-ammarah, nafs al-lawwamah, and nafs al-muthmainnah. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach, employing comparative-conceptual analysis and tematic (maudhu’i) exegesis of Quranic verses related to nafs. The result reveal a progressive correpondence between Hawkins levels of consciousness theory and the Quranic concept of nafs, especially regarding human spiritual evolution from egoistic impulses toward divine awareness. The integration of these two perspectives offers an important contribution to developing an Islamic-based spiritualpsychology paradigm that is both scientific and transdental.

Keywords

Hawkins Scale, Human Emotion, Nafs, Quran, Spiritual Consciousness



Full Text: PDF



References


Akbar, K. (2022). The Concept of Tazkiyatun Nafs in the Qur'an and Its Relevance to Mental Health (A Study of M. Quraish Shihab's Tafsir al-Misbah). In Braz Dent J. (Vol. 33, Issue 1). Prof. KH. Saifuddin Zuhri State Islamic University.

Aprilia, N. P., Surahman, C., & Sumarna, E. (2024). The Concept of Tazkiyah al-Nafs in the Qur'an and Its Implications for Islamic Religious Education. TAZKIR: Journal of Social and Islamic Sciences Research, 2(10).

Bakour, B. (2022). Special Issue From the Department of Fundamentals. Al Hikmah International Journal, 5(4). alhikmah.my/index.php/article/view/297/432

BENDECK SOTİLLOS, S. (2021). Bridging Psychologies: Islam and Secular Psychotherapy. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, 6, 95–99. https://doi.org/10.37898/spc.2021.6.2.143

Hawkins, D. R. (2025). Power vs. Force (Hidden Factors of Human Behavior) (M. Lubis (ed.); Second). CV Jiwa Jawa Jaya.

Hidayatulloh, T., Saputra, H., & Saumantri, T. (2023). The Role of the Roudhoh Al-Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Developing Islamic Intellectual Tradition and Religious Moderation in Indonesia. Dialogue, 46(1), 38–52. https://doi.org/10.47655/dialog.v46i1.702

Ishomuddin, K., Rizquha, A., & Mubaroq, M. S. (2023). Management Hifdzil Al-Qur’an In Improving Santri’s Memorization In Islamic Boarding Schools. Managere: Indonesian Journal Of Educational Management, 5(2 SE-Articles), 208–218. Https://Doi.Org/10.52627/Managere.V5i1.214

Kamarul Zaman, R., Nasir, K., Muhammad Saleh, M., & Ab Hamid, N. S. (2022). Psychological Well-Being Control Based on Psychospiritual Concepts in the Quran: An Analysis. Abqari Journal, 27, 115–129. https://doi.org/10.33102/abqari.vol27no1.526

Lahav, N., & Neemeh, Z. A. (2022). A Relativistic Theory of Consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(May). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.704270

Miller, J. A. (2025). Merton's Unity of Action and Contemplation in Transpersonal Perspective. Religions, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020147

Murni, Tammulis, & Arsyad, A. (2024). The Concept of al-Nafs in the Qur'an According to Ibn Kathir's Book. Al-Munir: Journal of Qur'anic Sciences and Tafsir, 17, 302.

Mustaqim, A. (2014). Research Methods for the Qur'an and Tafsir (First). Idea Press Yogyakarta.

Nanda Nurlina, & Bashori Bashori. (2025). The Concept of "Nafs" in the Qur'an: A Semantic Analysis of Psychological and Spiritual Dimensions in the Process of Character Formation. Semantik: Journal of Research in Educational Sciences, Language, and Culture, 3(3), 200–214. https://doi.org/10.61132/semantik.v3i3.1819

Rizal, A. (2022). Tazkiyah Al-Nafs as Therapy for Modern Societal Problems. Jurnal Al-Aqidah, 14(2), 120–128. https://doi.org/10.15548/ja.v14i2.4705

Suhermanto, S., & Jasri, M. (2024). Kiai Kampung and Transformational Leadership: A Model for Non-formal Education to Improve Community Quality of Life. Journal of Pesantren and Diniyah Studies, 1(2), 165-174.

Shihab, M. Q. (2002). Tafsir al-Misbah: Messages, Impressions, and Harmony of the Qur'an. Lentera Hati.

Sudarsa, A. A. M., Sudina, I. G. N., & Sugata, I. M. (2025). An Integrative Model of Human Consciousness Based on the Pancamaya Kosha, the Seven Chakras, and a Philosophical-Reflective Map Towards Holistic Health. ACINTYA, 1(2), 265–281.

Us'an, & Suyadi. (2023). A Neuroscientific Review of the Concept of Nafs (Anger, Lawwamah, and Mutmainnah) According to Al-Ghazali and Its Relevance to Islamic Education. Islamadina: Journal of Islamic Thought, 24(2), 201. https://doi.org/10.30595/islamadina.v24i2.13027

Vaismoradi, M., Jones, J., Turunen, H., & Snelgrove, S. (2016). Theme development in qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 6(5). https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v6n5p1




Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025/10/20 Bariroh