A comparative study of the concept of spiritual intelligence in terms of psychology and Islam

Studies have shown that there is a relationship between the spirituality and life purpose، the life satisfaction and health. In the last two or three decades، spirituality pays much attention to the mental health and the spirituality has also been considered another part of mental health or human health. One of the factors that plays a key role in mental health is spiritual intelligence. Today، psychologists consider the importance of religious and spiritual concerns in their work، whether in general or more specific in the case of psychotherapy. Therefore، it is necessary to investigate carefully the concept of spiritual intelligence in Islam and psychology. The aim of this study was to explain the concept of spiritual intelligence in Islam and psychology، to use the Islamic authentic sources such as Quran and the authentic books of hadith and to study the perspectives of psychologists carefully. Psychology and Islam do not use only one concept to describe the exact meaning of spiritual intelligence but they use some symptoms and characteristics to its interpretations. The certain words and methods are used in Islamic teachings and concepts that have the homogeneity and similarity in some cases and sometimes there is no the same perspective. Certainly there are common and similar elements in the strategies of spiritual intelligence growth in psychological and Islamic approaches. In some areas، there are different strategies in the growth of spiritual intelligence the present study showed that in the light of Islamic teachings can be achieved to more sustainable growth، development and prosperity.