شخصیت سازی میں نفسیاتی نظریات: احادیثِ صحیح بخاری کا تحقیقی و تقابلی مطالعہ

Personality Development in Psychological Theories: An Analytical and Comparative Study of the Ahadith of Sahih al-Bukhari

Abstract

Personality development is a fundamental subject in psychology, education, and social sciences, as it directly influences human behaviour, emotional stability, moral judgment, and social interaction. Modern psychological theories; such as psychoanalytic, behavioural, humanistic, and social learning theories have attempted to explain personality formation through empirical and scientific frameworks. While these theories provide valuable insights into human behaviour, they often remain limited by their materialistic orientation and lack sufficient emphasis on moral accountability and spiritual dimensions.

Islamic teachings, particularly the Prophetic traditions preserved in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, present a holistic and ethically grounded framework for personality development. This research article aims to explore the concept of personality development in light of selected aḥādīth from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and to examine their relevance within the context of contemporary psychological theories. The study adopts an analytical and comparative methodology, analyzing key themes such as intention (niyyah), self-control, emotional regulation, moral character, patience (ṣabr), gratitude (shukr), hope and fear, and consistency in action.

The findings of this study reveal that Islamic teachings approach personality development as an integrated process involving the purification of the self (tazkiyat al-nafs), ethical conduct (akhlāq), emotional balance, and social responsibility. Unlike modern psychology, which often separates internal motivation from external behavior, the Prophetic model emphasizes the unity of intention and action, assigning moral value to both. The aḥādīth of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī demonstrate remarkable alignment with contemporary psychological concepts such as emotional intelligence, resilience, positive psychology, and social learning, while simultaneously offering a deeper moral and spiritual foundation.

Furthermore, this study highlights the role of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a complete psychological and moral role model, whose life provides practical guidance for balanced personality development. The research concludes that Islamic teachings do not negate modern psychological theories; rather, they complement and enrich them by providing ethical direction and spiritual purpose. Integrating Islamic principles of personality development into modern psychological discourse and educational systems may contribute to the formation of morally conscious, emotionally stable, and socially responsible individuals..