Ḥamīd Rafīʿī Hunar, Dār-āmadī bar Ravān-shināsī-yi Ārizūhā bā Rūykard-i Islāmī (An Introduction to the Psychology of Wishes with an Islamic Approach), 1st ed., 1 vol., Qom: Dār al-Ḥadīth Publications, 1397 SH (2018 CE), 157 pp.
The book Dār-āmadī bar Ravān-shināsī-yi Ārizūhā bā Rūykard-i Islāmī (An Introduction to the Psychology of Wishes with an Islamic Approach), authored by Ḥujjat al-Islām Dr. Ḥamīd Rafīʿī Hunar, is an insightful academic work exploring the concept of wishes (ʾamal) through both psychological and Islamic lenses. Published in 1397 SH (2018 CE) by the Research Institute for Islamic Ethics and Psychology, in cooperation with Dār al-Ḥadīth, the book critically engages with frequently used but often vague concepts such as mayl (desire), raghbat (inclination), and rajāʾ (hope).
These concepts, the author argues, are central to human motivation but are rarely subjected to rigorous psychological analysis, especially within an Islamic framework. The book proposes a model in which ʾamal is not merely a passive longing but an active psychological mechanism, influenced by rationality or ignorance, and guided—or misguided—by one’s spiritual and cognitive orientation.
Dr. Ḥamīd Rafīʿī Hunar began his seminary studies in 1375 SH (1996). Later, he enrolled at the Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, where he completed his BA in psychology in 1385 SH (2006). He earned his MA in Clinical Psychology in 1390 SH (2011), with a thesis titled Sākht-i Miqyās-i Khud-Mahārgarī bar Asās-i Manābiʿ-i Islāmī (Developing a Self-Control Scale Based on Islamic Sources). He completed his PhD in General Psychology in 1397 SH (2018).
Dr. Rafīʿī Hunar is active as a university lecturer in various psychology fields, including personality psychology, psychometrics, Islamic psychology, and counseling techniques. His dual expertise allows him to work at the intersection of religious thought and scientific analysis, a position from which this book benefits greatly.
The primary objective of this book is to offer a functional psychological model of ʾamal (aspiration or hopeful wishing) from an Islamic perspective. In both everyday usage and scholarly discourse, the terms related to desire are often conflated or misunderstood. Dr. Rafīʿī Hunar contends that Islam does not categorically reject or endorse wishes but instead encourages a nuanced, balanced view depending on the kind and function of one’s aspirations.
Using a descriptive-analytical methodology, he sets out to:
- Define the concept of ʾamal as distinct from mayl, munyah, rajāʾ, and ṭamaʿ (greed).
- Explore ʾamal in Qurʾānic and ḥadīth literature.
- Develop a theoretical model explaining the mechanisms and psychological outcomes of aspirations.
The result is a conceptual map that highlights the dual nature of ʾamal: when guided by ʿaql (reason), it becomes a constructive force; when driven by jahl (ignorance), it turns into delusional ambition (ṭūl al-ʾamal).
The book comprises an introduction and three chapters:
Chapter One: Conceptual Clarification of Wishes
This chapter presents a comparative analysis of psychological terms, starting with raghbat and ārizū in both Western and Islamic contexts. The author then explores the roots of mayl and raghbat in classical Islamic sources, delving into the semantic differences between ʾamal and munyah.
He further examines how Islamic texts distinguish between these concepts not just lexically but functionally. The chapter establishes the groundwork for analyzing ʾamal as an operative psychological construct with theological and ethical dimensions.
Chapter Two: Functional Model of ʾamal in Islamic Sources
This core chapter begins with a deep dive into Qurʾānic verses and Prophetic narrations, identifying how ʾamal appears in theological contexts. The author maps out its correlations and contrasts with other motivational terms like rajāʾ (hope) and ṭamaʿ (greed), as well as with its opposites.
The model proposed by the author distinguishes between three primary states:
- Basṭ al-ʾamal: expansion of aspiration.
- Qaṣr al-ʾamal: appropriate curtailing of aspirations.
- Ṭūl al-ʾamal: excessive and unrealistic wishful thinking.
Chapter Three: Outcomes and Mechanisms
This final chapter addresses the consequences of different types of ʾamal. First, it explores how ṭūl al-ʾamal can lead to denial of death, procrastination, and ethical negligence. The author then analyzes the complex relationship between ambitious goals and life satisfaction, showing that unregulated ambitions may decrease contentment.
The chapter concludes with practical strategies to achieve qaṣr al-ʾamal. These include cognitive tools such as self-reflection, emotional strategies like gratitude, and behavioral methods including regular spiritual practice and ethical discipline. These mechanisms, rooted in Islamic teachings, aim to help individuals manage and moderate their aspirations for healthier psychological outcomes.
This book is a significant contribution to both Islamic thought and psychology. Dr. Rafīʿī Hunar succeeds in creating a rare interdisciplinary work that is at once theologically sound and psychologically rigorous. Unlike previous works such as Farhang-nāmih-yi Ārizū by Āyatullāh Muḥammadī Riyshahrī, which serves as a comprehensive reference of narrations on wishes, this book offers a theoretical framework and practical applications.
The author’s use of classical sources—especially grade “A” and “B” ḥadīths—gives the model strong religious legitimacy. His linguistic analysis, independent of Farhang-nāmih-yi Ārizū, further ensures that the work stands on its own scholarly foundation.
However, the book would benefit from a broader comparison with modern Western psychological theories on motivation and aspiration—such as Snyder’s Hope Theory or Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy. Integrating such perspectives would have made the model more universally accessible and empirically testable.
The book is clear, coherent, and well-structured. Each chapter builds logically on the previous one, and the work as a whole is accessible to scholars, practitioners, and students. At 157 pages, the text is compact yet rich in insight, ideal for both academic and applied contexts.
Dār-āmadī bar Ravān-shināsī-yi Ārizūhā bā Rūykard-i Islāmī encourages readers to rethink the role of aspiration in their lives—not as an unqualified good or a spiritual vice, but as a complex, multidimensional process requiring balance, intention, and guidance. It is a recommended read for anyone engaged in Islamic psychology, ethical counseling, or spiritual development.
