ABSTRACT
Islam is a monotheistic, world religion whose constituents include a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe united by their common Islamic faith that includes beliefs, values and core practices. With the growth of Muslims globally and the rise of Muslim migrants in different countries, there has been a corresponding rise in the need for mental health service provision and delivery as a result of the psychosocial effects of migration, prejudice, discrimination, Islamophobia and microaggressions. In addition to the psychosocial issues they face, Muslims are also subjected to social isolation, discrimination, racism, poor housing conditions, lowered employment status and poor educational opportunities which are related to mental health problems. Despite the extent and nature of mental health problems in the Islamic community, most Western or Eurocentric-oriented practitioners are not fully cognisant of Islamic values and beliefs, and the conceptions of mental health problems from an Islamic perspective. Consequently, it is important for mental health practitioners to be culturally sensitive to the patients’ beliefs, values and practices of Islam and to have an awareness of the impact of these on the psychological well-being of Muslims. This chapter will enable the reader to have a basic understanding of the principles of the Islamic faith and the Islamic culture, beliefs and practices of Muslim communities.
