Rūḥ between Revelation and Psychology: Integrating Scientific Qur’anic Exegesis and Transpersonal Psychology

Abstract

The Qur’anic concept of rūḥ remains a central yet epistemologically complex issue in Islamic thought because it concerns life, consciousness, morality, and transcendence while exceeding complete human understanding. This study develops an integrative conceptual model of rūḥ by bringing scientific Qur’anic exegesis into dialogue with Robert Frager’s transpersonal psychology. A qualitative library-research design was employed using thematic Qur’anic interpretation, qualitative content analysis, conceptual mapping, and source triangulation. Classical, modern, and scientifically oriented interpretations of Q.S. al-Isrāʾ [17]:85 were examined alongside literature on Sufi psychology, transpersonal psychology, consciousness, and spiritual development. The findings identify three dimensions of rūḥ: ontological, as an immaterial and transcendent principle of life; epistemological, as a reality whose essence remains beyond complete human knowledge; and functional, as a source of consciousness, moral agency, spiritual orientation, and human transformation. Functional correspondences emerged between these dimensions and transpersonal concepts such as self-transcendence, psycho-spiritual integration, meaning-making, emotional regulation, and moral development. Nevertheless, Qur’anic metaphysics and psychological theory remain epistemologically distinct. Transpersonal psychology may explain spiritual experience and development but cannot determine the revealed ontological status of rūḥ, while preserving the epistemic authority of revelation. The proposed non-reductive framework contributes to Qur’anic studies, Islamic psychology, spiritual education, counselling, and mental-health research.