Episode 15 – The Islamic Pursuit of Happiness | Karim Serageldin

In this episode, we look at the relationship between Islam and psychology with Karim Serageldin. A wide variety of topics are explored including the problems with mainstream psychology, an Islamic conception of the self, depression, happiness, and the importance of one's relationship with Allah.

Karim, the founder of Noor Human Consulting, has a BA in psychology & religion and an MA in east-west psychology with a specialization in spiritual counseling. He is a certified life and relationship coach with years of teaching and community outreach experience. He consults with leading scholars of Islam and is working on his own theory of Islamic psychology for Muslims in the west. Karim is also the Host of his own podcast show called 'Coffee with Karim'!

Host - Tanzim

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Karim's online presence:

https://www.facebook.com/CoffeewKarim/

https://coffeewithkarim.com/

http://www.noorhumanconsulting.com

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1:30 Introduction and about Karim and his work

11:00 Mainstream psychology; issues with it and how it conceives the human compared to Islam. Materialist conception of the self. Problem of consciousness. Free will.

26:00 Religion and spirituality within mainstream psychology. Importance of Islamic understanding of the self.

33:00 Depression; what it is, and how it can be handled, and the Islamic approach.

45:40 Taking knowledge from all sources and the benefit of having multi dimensional knowledge and perspectives.

49:30 Importance of self-care; physically, mentally etc. Eating good food and relation to Islam

58:15 - More on depression and dealing with it. Is it enough to just do Islamic rituals. Importance of addressing deeper issues.

1:07:50 Discussion of those who seek happiness or well-being without regard to any moral constraints; 'whatever makes you happy' kind of thinking. Islam not about whatever makes you happy. How one can harm one's one self.

1:15-50 - Happiness; it's definition and how it isn't a good goal to have.

1:21:00 - The importance of one's relationship with Allah to achieving a good state. Islam being the foundation for everything.

1:25:50 - More on happiness and what kind of state we should be aiming for in this world. How often what we think is difficult leads to good.

1:30:05 If you could meet any 3 people, who would they be?