Spiritual Intelligence
Spiritual Intelligence is a type of mental ability through which an individual resolves spiritual and value-based problems in their life and gives meaning to their existence.[1] Five characteristics have been enumerated for it: connection to a Divine being, entering states of spiritual consciousness, perceiving Divine presence in daily life, finding meaning in crises, and performing virtuous behaviors such as forgiveness and empathy.[2]
It is said that the concept of spiritual intelligence was first introduced by Robert Emmons, an American psychologist, in the International Journal for the Psychology of Religion and was subsequently expanded by researchers such as Danah Zohar, an American-British author and researcher.[3]
By examining this concept, some Muslim researchers have compared it with Qur'anic and hadith teachings.[4] According to them, concepts such as lubb (core/intellect), Aql (intellect), Hikma (wisdom), Qalb (heart), and its synonyms such as fu'ad and af'ida (meaning the source of human thought, consciousness, and emotions) in the Qur'an and Hadith, guide man towards the truth and prevent deviation; thus, they are linked to spiritual intelligence.[5]
Furthermore, considering the characteristics mentioned for spiritual intelligence, some researchers believe that the attributes described for believers in the Qur'an and hadith—such as Khushu' and Khudu' (humility) before God, avoidance of vain talk (laghw), Infaq (charity), fulfillment of promises, chastity, and the observance of prayer—are signs of their possession of a high level of this type of intelligence.[6]
Notes
- ↑ Zohar, "Spiritual Intelligence: A New Paradigm for Collaborative Action", Web: the systems thinker.
- ↑ Emmons, "Is Spirituality an Intelligence? Motivation, Cognition, and the Psychology of Ultimate Concern", pp. 9-13.
- ↑ Watts and Dorobantu, "Is There 'Spiritual Intelligence'? An Evaluation of Strong and Weak Proposals", p. 1.
- ↑ See for example: Suhrābī, "Hūsh-i maʿnavī az manẓar-i Qurʾān wa riwāyāt", p. 38; Waḥīdī Mihrjardī, "Maʿnākāvī-yi hūsh-i maʿnavī dar āmūza-hā-yi Qurʾānī-riwāyī", pp. 178-179.
- ↑ Suhrābī, "Hūsh-i maʿnavī az manẓar-i Qurʾān wa riwāyāt", p. 38; Waḥīdī Mihrjardī, "Maʿnākāvī-yi hūsh-i maʿnavī dar āmūza-hā-yi Qurʾānī-riwāyī", pp. 174, 178-179.
- ↑ Suhrābī, "Hūsh-i maʿnavī az manẓar-i Qurʾān wa riwāyāt", pp. 35-36; Waḥīdī Mihrjardī, "Maʿnākāvī-yi hūsh-i maʿnavī dar āmūza-hā-yi Qurʾānī-riwāyī", p. 173.
References
- Emmons, Robert A. "Is Spirituality an Intelligence? Motivation, Cognition, and the Psychology of Ultimate Concern". The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. 16 November 2009.
- Suhrābī, Farāmarz. "Hūsh-i maʿnavī az manẓar-i Qurʾān wa riwāyāt". Pazhūhishnāma-yi Maʿārif-i Qurʾānī. No. 30, Ādhar 1396 Sh.
- Waḥīdī Mihrjardī, Shahāb al-Dīn et al. "Maʿnākāvī-yi hūsh-i maʿnavī dar āmūza-hā-yi Qurʾānī-riwāyī". Dūfaṣlnāma-yi Kitāb-i Qayyim. No. 30, Bahār wa Tābistān 1403 Sh.
- Watts, Fraser and Marius Dorobantu. "Is There 'Spiritual Intelligence'? An Evaluation of Strong and Weak Proposals". MDPI. February 2023.
- Zohar, Danah. "Spiritual Intelligence: A New Paradigm for Collaborative Action". Web: the systems thinker. Accessed: 4 November 2025.
- Zohar, Danah and Ian Marshall. Spiritual Intelligence, The Ultimate Intelligence. London, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2001.