CONCEPT OF MOTIVATION IN ISLĀM MOHAMED MAHMOOD AHMAD GAITH AL HOSANI DR. KATHY EHRENSPERGER AND DR. USMAN GHANI Statement: This research was undertaken under the auspices of the Unviersity of Wales Trinity Saint David and was submitted in partial fulfilment for the award of a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. June 2015 Motivation in Islām i DECLARATION I Mohamed Al Hosani declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion, takes on the topic, and does not represent the views of the University. Signature: Dated: STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote(s). Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed ………………………………………… (Candidate) Date ………………………………………… STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and abstract to be made available to outside organizations. Signed ………………………………………… (Candidate) Date ………………………………………… Motivation in Islām ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to thank Almighty Allāh the most gracious and most merciful, then I owe much too many people in the preparation of this thesis assistance, dedication, and support during the period of my study. It gives me great pleasure now to express my gratitude to these individuals. I really wish to express my profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to my supervision team, Dr. Kathy Ehrensperger and Dr. Usman Ghani, for their continuous encouragement, helpful criticism and invaluable suggestions throughout my period of study, without which this work could not have been completed. Their suggestions collectively refined my thoughts and moved my thinking forward. The benefits I have gathered from them are immeasurable. To them, I wish to extend my sincere thanks for their friendship, sincerity and scholarship. In addition, I would like to express my appreciation to the Zayed University, United Arab Emirate University and Almajid Library for providing me with the all required data and other useful information through which the advancement of my knowledge was made possible. Finally, I reserve my deepest appreciation and thanks to my parents, my beloved wife Umm-Abdulla for her relentless patience, understanding and encouragement during the period of my study. Also, I am grateful to my sons and daughters Alaa, Mariam, Aisha, Abdulla, Hamad, Aḥmad, Fatima, Ibrahem and Omar for their honest encouragement and support. Motivation in Islām iii ABSTRACT This research study aims to explore the concept of motivation from the Islamic perspective, which is explored to a poor extent. It seeks to shed light on Islām and how it motivates its followers to behave appropriately while fulfilling their needs and desires, guided by the Holy Qur’ān and Ḥadīth. A comprehensive literature review is conducted to study and understand the various perspectives presented by other scholars on human psychology and motivation specifically from the perspectives of Islām, Christianity and Jewish cultures. This study adopts a qualitative approach and focuses on gathering secondary data from a broad range of sources. The data collected is then analysed in an interpretative yet subjective manner. To achieve the aims of this research, the emphasis is laid on gathering both comprehensive secondary data from the religious journals and academic books. The evidence was gathered from the holy books of these religions which include Holy Qur’ān, Bible and Torah. From the findings of the research, it was concluded by the researcher that Islām significantly highlighted and differentiated from Christianity and Judaism in endorsing motivation among its followers. It is identified that Allāh created mankind to spread His word and to perform His actions. He motivated humans by offering them certain rewards and making them fearful of the consequences in case they fail to follow His commands. This thesis provides greater insight into the role played by Islām in motivating human beings to live a life in a way that is beneficial here on earth and in the afterlife. This study is expected to contribute further to the collective knowledge and understanding of motivation and human behaviour. Keywords: Islām, Holy Qur’ān, Ḥadīth, Prophet Muḥammad (P.B.U.H.), Motivation, Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Riyāḍ Uṣ-Ṣāliḥīn, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Imām Nawawī, Motivation Theories, Maslow Theory of Needs, Drive Theory, Intrinsic and Extrinsic Theory, Christianity, Judaism, Bible, Torah Motivation in Islām iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................ I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................II ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. III LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. VIII TRANSLITERATION ............................................................................................................ IX GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................. XI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 1.1. Background of the Research .................................................................................. 1 1.1.1. Islamic Concept of Motivation ....................................................................... 3 1.1.2. Concept of Motivation in Literature ............................................................... 9 1.2. Problem Statement ................................................................................................ 11 1.3. Aims of the Research ............................................................................................ 13 1.4. Objectives of the Research ................................................................................... 13 1.5. Research Questions .............................................................................................. 13 1.6. Significance of the Study ...................................................................................... 13 1.7. Limitations of the Research ................................................................................. 15 1.8. Research Methodology ......................................................................................... 16 1.8.1 Source Data ..................................................................................................... 16 1.8.2 Core Concepts ................................................................................................. 16 1.8.3 Approach ......................................................................................................... 17 1.8.4 Non-Islamic Concepts ..................................................................................... 18 1.8.5 Chapter Outline ............................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 23 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 23 2.2 Motivation – An Overview ......................................................................................... 23 2.2.1 Definition of Motivation ............................................................................... 25 2.2.2 Meaning of Motivation - Islamic Perspective .............................................. 26 2.2.3 Negative and Positive Motivation ................................................................ 29 2.3 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................ 31 2.3.1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory .......................................................... 31 2.3.2 Alderfer’s Hierarchy of Motivational Needs ................................................ 33 2.3.3 Modern Theory of Motivation ...................................................................... 34 2.4 Motivation from an Islamic Perspective .............................................................. 35 2.5 History of Motivation in Islām ............................................................................. 45 Motivation in Islām v 2.6 Early Muslim Physicians as a Motivator ............................................................. 47 2.7 Islām a Way of Motivation ................................................................................... 49 2.7.1 Heaven as a Positive Motivator ................................................................... 50 2.7.2 Hell as a Negative Motivator ....................................................................... 52 2.8 Types of Motivation .............................................................................................. 54 2.8.1 Types of Motivation in Islām ........................................................................ 54 2.8.1.1 Social Motivations ........................................................................................ 55 2.8.1.2 Economic Motivation .................................................................................... 59 2.9 Religious Motivation: An Actual Stimulating Force for Defence ...................... 63 2.9.1 Strong Belief System ..................................................................................... 63 2.9.2 Patience ........................................................................................................ 65 2.10 Motivation in the Life of Prophet Muḥammad (P.B.U.H.) ................................. 66 2.10.1 Marriage with Khadījah ............................................................................... 67 2.10.2 The First Revelation ..................................................................................... 68 2.10.3 The First Muslims ......................................................................................... 69 2.10.4 Invitation to Islām ......................................................................................... 71 2.10.5 Bottom Line .................................................................................................. 72 2.11 Role of Teachers in Islām .................................................................................... 79 2.12 The Concept of Rewards and Punishments in Religion ..................................... 81 2.12.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 81 2.12.2 Punishment and Western Perspective .......................................................... 82 2.12.3 Concept of Reward in Islām ......................................................................... 84 2.12.4 Muḥammad (P.B.U.H.) on Reward .............................................................. 88 2.12.5 Punishment as per Muḥammad (P.B.U.H.) .................................................. 90 2.13 Concept of Motivation in Christianity ................................................................. 93 2.13.1 Reasons and Motives .................................................................................... 94 2.13.2 False Motives of the Believer ....................................................................... 95 2.13.3 The Real Reasons the Believer ..................................................................... 96 2.13.4 Christian’s Belief of how to Motivate Individuals ........................................ 98 2.14 A Jewish Psychology of Motivation ................................................................... 103 2.15 Motivation and Religious Coping ...................................................................... 107 2.16 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................... 112 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS OF THE RESEARCH .............................................................. 113 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 113 3.2 Christian’s Belief of how to Motivate Individuals ............................................ 113 Motivation in Islām vi 3.2.1 The Right Path ............................................................................................ 113 3.2.2 Motivation towards One True God ............................................................. 114 3.2.3 Result-Oriented Action ............................................................................... 114 3.2.4 Showing Unconditional Love ..................................................................... 115 3.3 Motivation to Follow the Pillars of Īmān .......................................................... 115 3.3.1 Pillars of Īmān ............................................................................................ 116 3.4 Relevance of Islamic Perspective of Motivation with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory ................................................................................................................. 118 3.5 Relevance of Islamic Perspective of Motivation with Two-Factor Theory ...... 121 3.6 Contemporary Motivation Theories vs. Islamic Concept of Motivation .......... 125 3.6.1 Drive Reduction Theory ............................................................................. 125 3.6.2 Incentive Theory ......................................................................................... 126 3.6.3 Arousal Theory ........................................................................................... 128 3.6.4 Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Theory ................................................. 130 3.7 The Ideology behind Islamic Theories of Motivation ....................................... 133 3.8 Study of Human Motivation with Regards to Nafs ........................................... 140 3.9 Summary of Theoretical Relevancy with Concept of Motivation in Islām ...... 146 3.10 Purpose of Creating Man and Motivation for Believers to Perform Good Deeds . ............................................................................................................................. 147 3.10.1 Purpose of Creating Mankind .................................................................... 147 3.10.2 Motivation for Believers to Perform Good Deeds ...................................... 152 3.11 Concept of Hell and Heaven as Motivator ........................................................ 153 3.12 Faith as a Motivator ........................................................................................... 155 3.13 Love of Allāh and Prophet Muḥammad (P.B.U.H.) as a Motivator ................. 158 3.14 Motivation in Judaism ........................................................................................ 159 CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION ................................................................................................ 165 4.1 Psychology and Religion: A Point of Convergence .......................................... 168 4.2 Promise of Allāh for Good Doers as a Motivator .............................................. 179 4.2.1 Speaking the Truth ...................................................................................... 179 4.2.2 Honesty, Reliability and Keeping the Promise ........................................... 180 4.2.3 Sacrifice ...................................................................................................... 182 4.2.4 Helping Poor .............................................................................................. 182 4.2.5 Compassion and Forgiveness ..................................................................... 185 4.2.6 Being Kind to Old and Weak ...................................................................... 186 4.2.7 Serving Parents .......................................................................................... 187 4.3 Fear of Allāh as a Motivator .............................................................................. 189 Motivation in Islām vii 4.4 Misguided Motivation ......................................................................................... 191 4.5 Motivation Stories in Islām ................................................................................ 192 4.6 Motivation in Islamic Battles ............................................................................. 192 4.6.1 The Battle of Badr ...................................................................................... 192 4.6.2 Battle of ’Uḥud ........................................................................................... 196 4.6.3 The Battle of Khanndaq (Trench) ............................................................... 200 4.6.4 Battle of Ḥunayn ......................................................................................... 204 4.6.5 The Battle of Khaybar ................................................................................ 207 4.7 Motivation in Immigration from Makkah to Al Madīnah ................................ 208 4.7.1 Establishment of Brotherhood .................................................................... 211 4.7.2 Migration of Muslims to Al Madīnah ......................................................... 212 4.8 Islamic Model of Motivation – Hidden Perspectives ......................................... 213 4.8.1 Muḥāsabah ................................................................................................. 214 4.8.2 Murāqabah ................................................................................................. 215 4.8.3 Mutāba‘ah .................................................................................................. 216 4.8.4 Mujāhadah .................................................................................................. 216 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 219 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................. 224 Motivation in Islām viii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: MASLOW’S NEED HIERARCHY MODEL ............................................. 32 FIGURE 2: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ĪMĀN AND OTHER MOTIVES AND CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR (ALAWNEH, 1999) ......................... 37 FIGURE 3: MATERIALISTIC AND SPIRITUAL MOTIVATION ........................... 38 FIGURE 4: INDICES OF TOTAL MOTIVATION....................................................... 39 FIGURE 5: THE ISLAMIC MODEL OF MOTIVATION ............................................ 42 FIGURE 6: THEORY OF MAQĀṢID AL SHARĪ‘AH ................................................. 119 FIGURE 7: INTERTWINE LOOP MODEL OF ISLAMIC MOTIVATION ........... 135 FIGURE 8: NAFS AND SOUL ....................................................................................... 141 FIGURE 9: NAFS, ‘AQL AND SOUL............................................................................ 141 FIGURE 10: BASIC LEVELS OF NAFS ...................................................................... 143 FIGURE 11: PURPOSE OF CREATING MAN........................................................... 149 FIGURE 12: LINKING ĪMĀN WITH OTHER MOTIVES ........................................ 157 Motivation in Islām ix TRANSLITERATION The following system has been followed in the transliteration of Arabic words used in the text: Arabic Letter Name Trans. Notes  Consonants ء Ḥamzah ’ ا ‘Alīf a ب bā’ b ت tā’ t ث thā’ th The sequence ﮫﺗ is written t′h ج jīm j ح ḥā’ ḥ خ khā’ kh The sequence ﮫﻛ is written k′h د dāl d ذ dhāl dh The sequence هد is written d′h ر rā’ r ز zāy z س sīn s ش shīn sh The sequence ﮫﺳ is written s′h ص ṣād ṣ ض ḍād ḍ ط ṭā’ ṭ ظ ẓā’ ẓ ع ‘ayn ‘ Different from hamza غ ghayn gh ف fā’ f ق qāf q