Friendship in the Islamic Political Philosophy and Psychotherapy

The relation between the individual and the society is one of the most important issues, discussed by the fields of knowledge which deal with human beings. Islamic philosophy, in its normative aspect, puts a lot of emphasis on the accomplishment of happiness and successful life, and regards man as a social being which needs to establish proper social bonds to move through the stages of happiness and perfection. On the other hand, psychotherapy, as a field of scientific knowledge, emphasizes the importance of the social aspect of man, and considers the search for love and friendship, as a symbol of the realization of the humanity of the individual, to be a necessity for the health of the psyche and a healthy society.