Kerala: Row over Islamic Psychology

KOZHIKODE: The ‘Islamic Psychology’ programme, which was recently started by the Chair for Islamic Studies and Research (CISR) of Calicut University has raised many eyebrows. The contention is that there is no scientific base to Islamic Psychology as such and the programme would end up creating more quacks in the field of psychological counselling. According to sources, no university in the country is running such a programme. The programme has started hardly a month back with classes on Saturdays. The four-month programme has laid down plus-two as qualification.

“The programme is meant for teachers to equip them with additional skill in teaching. The certificate obtained after the programme will not entitle anyone to seek higher education or recognise them as a counsellor,” said CISR director-in-charge Dr A.I Rahmathulla. According to him, Islamic Psychology is neither an awareness programme nor certificate course, but comes in-between.

“It is based on the psychological aspects found in Quran and the life of Prophet,” he added. Those who complete the programme will be provided with a certificate in which the name of CISR under CU should be mentioned. “It is not the original CU certificate with university emblem which needs ratification from the academic council,” says CU vice-chancellor Dr K. Mohammad Basheer.

T.P. Jawad, a Kozhikode based clinical psychologist pointed out that it is unfortunate that different chairs of the university are providing psychology certificate at a time when quacks are rampant under the guise of counselling. There were complaints that people with fake PhD are running counselling courses without proper affiliation.