Islamic scholarly perspectives on mental health: implications for care, ethics, and regulations

Background The interplay between Islamic teachings and interpretation of mental health disorders is currently unclear, despite Islam's Shariah principles pertaining to humanitarianism and care of vulnerable individuals. Aim To explore authentic Islamic beliefs pertaining to mental health disorders. Methods Focus group discussion with six scholars from five diverse religious schools of thought ( n = 30) within Muslim societies of Pakistan (Ahl-e-Sunnah including Barelvi, Deobandi, Salafi, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Ahle Tashee) using purposive sampling technique were conducted. Thematic analysis was undertaken utilising NVIVO-12 plus. Results Six principal themes and corresponding sub-themes emerged and included: 1) traditional categorization of mental illness in the context of Islamic teachings, 2) aetiology of mental illness from an Islamic perspective, 3) pre-requisites of Shari‘ah's obligations with reference to mental health, 4) legal aspects of voluntary admission of individuals in the context of Shari‘ah, 5) legal aspects of involuntary detention of individuals without capacity in the context of Shari'ah and 6) treatment strategies for mental disorders from a Shari'ah perspective. Conclusion The study emphasizes an inherent alignment between Shari‘ah teachings and care of individuals with mental disorders, utilising a holistic, compassionate approach. A greater understanding of these principles offers a progressive pathway towards integrating mental health care within Muslim societies, dispelling misconceptions and fostering a more supportive environment for individuals with mental disorders.