Harmonizing the aging self through breath dhikr: A study of the dzikir nafas sadar Allah community in Kediri, Indonesia
Psikis Jurnal Psikologi Islami June 29, 2026 Ach. Shodiqil Hafil, Wijaya Wijaya, Ach. Fatayillah Mursyidi et al.
A structured practice combining breathwork and Islamic remembrance (Dzikir Nafas Sadar Allah) improved psychological, spiritual, and physiological outcomes in elderly Muslims. Thirty participants aged 58–87 completed an eight-week program with three 45-minute sessions weekly. Significant improvements with large effect sizes were found across measures of depression, anxiety, stress, sleep quality, quality of life, heart rate variability, and cortisol levels. Thematic analysis revealed a Triple Pathway Model: physiological regulation through breath control, cognitive-spiritual anchoring through the utterance "Hu-Allah" fostering mindfulness and continuous remembrance, and social support from the community group. This integrates contemplative neuroscience with Islamic spiritual concepts of self-purification.