Letting go in Islamic psychology: integrating ikhtiar, tawakkal, and acceptance
Nikmah Rochmawati, Siti Nur Lailatul Qodriyah, Mohammad Dzul Fahmi Al Ghozali, Siti Aisyah Panatik
Empathy Jurnal Fakultas Psikologi June 30, 2026 DOI: 10.12928/empathy.v9i2.32208 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Literature review Longitudinal Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Peer-reviewed studies on letting go within ACT and Islamic psychology, published 2016-2026 |
| Keywords | Islam Psychological intervention Patience Flexibility engineering Empirical research Conceptualization Conceptual framework Foundation evidence Transcendental number Applied psychology Qualitative research |
| Key findings | Argues that Islamic concepts of ikhtiar, tawakkal, sabr, and ridha correspond with psychological flexibility in ACT, extending it through religiosity-based meaning-making. Notes a predominance of qualitative and conceptual studies with limited empirical and longitudinal research, and calls for future experimental and psychometric work. |
Abstract
This literature review examines the current state of research on the concept of letting go within the framework of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Islamic psychology. While previous studies have explored letting go as psychological acceptance and emotional regulation in Western psychotherapy, there remain gaps in understanding its integration with spiritual and transcendental dimensions, particularly within Muslim populations. The review synthesizes empirical and conceptual findings from peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2026, retrieved from DOAJ, Scopus-indexed journals, and other relevant scientific databases. Major themes identified include ikhtiar as purposeful effort, tawakkal as reliance on God, sabr as patience in adversity, and ridha as spiritual acceptance of outcomes. The review highlights that these constructs correspond with psychological flexibility in ACT, while also extending it by incorporating religiosity-based meaning-making processes. Methodological trends indicate a predominance of qualitative and conceptual studies, with limited empirical and longitudinal research. Theoretically, the integration of Islamic psychology and ACT offers a culturally grounded expansion of acceptance-based models. Practically, the findings provide a foundation for developing culturally sensitive psychological interventions for Muslim populations. This review underscores the need for future research employing experimental designs, longitudinal approaches, and psychometric instrument development within the domain of Islamic psychological flexibility.