Dhikr Therapy in Mental Recovery of Drug Addicts: An Islamic Psychospiritual Case Study

Drug addiction is an ongoing public health issue in Malaysia and requires a more comprehensive approach to recovery, especially involving the spiritual dimension. Dhikr therapy, practiced at Pondok Remaja Inabah (1) Malaysia, supplements the conventional treatment that mainly targets physical and behavioral issues. Although the effectiveness of recovery at this institution is often reported, empirical studies that describe in depth the mental experiences of trainees and the Islamic psychospiritual mechanisms that support recovery are still not widespread and systematically explained. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the mental state of trainees before and after dhikr therapy, the patterns of change that occur, and the Islamic psychospiritual mechanisms that contribute to mental recovery. This study uses a qualitative approach through a case study involving two drug trainees at PRI (1) Malaysia. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and literature review, then analyzed thematically. The study findings indicate that prior to dhikr therapy, the trainees exhibited an unstable mental state, addiction, cognitive impairment, and a sense of spiritual emptiness. After therapy, there was a gradual mental change towards stability of thought, self-awareness, and repentance. This pattern of change shows a transition from a state of addiction and loss of direction in life to the building of internal stability that focuses on clarity of thought and meaning in life based on Islamic values. The mental recovery of the trainees is driven by Islamic psychospiritual mechanisms in dhikr therapy, encompassing the construction of meaning in life, emotional stabilization, the formation of a new identity, and inner spiritual monitoring. This study contributes to the development of a mental recovery model based on Islamic psychospirituality and emphasizes the potential of dhikr therapy as a systematic guide in drug recovery.

Dhikr Therapy, Mental Recovery, Drug Addiction, Islamic Psychospiritual, Inabah

1. Al-Quran. (2015). Bangi: Pustaka Darul Aman. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Abd Ghani, A., Maamor, S., Aziz, A. B., Razimi, M. S. A., Abd Wahab, N., Abdullah, N. S. N., & Elias, N. H. (2017). Kaedah Rawatan Penagih Tegar Dadah melalui Pendekatan Kerohanian: Kajian Kes di Pondok Remaja Inabah 1 Malaysia (PRI (1) M), Kedah. Journal of Advanced Research in Business and Management Studies, 7(1), 39-50. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah. (2015). Tasawuf Modern. Jakarta: Republika. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Alba, C., Siregar, Q. A., & Rachmawanti, R. (2020). Teknologi Spiritual Terapi Penyembuhan Korban Narkoba dan Peran Pondok Remaja Inabah (I) Malaysia dalam Pengembangan TQN di Negeri Malaysia. Jurnal Sosioteknologi, 19(1), 13-29. https://doi.org/10.5614/sostek.itbj.2020.19.1.2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Al-Ahmad, M. A. W. (2013). Syarah Doa dan Zikir Hisnul Muslim. Selangor: Al-Hidayah House of Publishers. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid Muhammad. (1967). Ihya’ Ulum al-Din. Kaherah: Dar ahya’I al-Kutub al-Arabiyyah. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Al-Hakim, Muhammad bin ‘Abd Allah. (1990). Al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihin. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Al-Jailani, Abdul Qodir. (2010). Al-Gunyah Li Thalibi Thariq Al-Haq ‘Azza Wa Jalla. Jogjakarta: Diva Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Al-Kurdi, Muhmmad Amin. (2013). Tanwir al-Qulub fi Mu’amalah ‘Allam al-Ghuyub (M. Nur Ali, Trans.). Bandung: Pustaka Hidayah. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Al-Mahalli, J. & Al-Sayuti, J. (1989). Tafsir al-Jalalayn. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Al-Qurtubi, Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ahmad. (2009). Tafsir al-Qurtubi- Al-Jami’ li Ahkam al-Quran. Kaherah: Dar al-Sya’b. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Al-Sya’rani, Abdul Wahhab. (1996). Al-Anwar al-Qudsiyyah fi Ma’rifah Qawa`id al-Sufiyyah. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Al-Thabari, Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Jarir Ibn Yazid. (2000). Tafsir Jami’ Al-Bayan Fi Ta’wil Al-Quran (Tafsir Al-Thabari). n.p.: Muassasah Ar-Risalah. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Arifin, A. S. T. (1983). Akhlaqul Karimah Akhlaqul Mahmudah Berdasarkan Mudawamatu Dzikrullah. Tasikmalaya: Yayasan Serba Bhakti. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Bensaid, B., Machouche, S., & Tekke, M. (2021). An Islamic Spiritual Alternative to Addiction Treatment and Recovery. Al-Jami'ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 59(1), 127-162. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2021.591.127-162 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Busetto, L., Wick, W., & Gumbinger, C. (2020). How to Use and Assess Qualitative Research Methods. Neurological Research and Practice, 2(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-020-00059-z [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Chand, S. P. (2025). Methods of Data Collection in Qualitative Research: Interviews, Focus Groups, Observations, and Document Analysis. Advances in Educational Research and Evaluation, 6(1), 303317. https://doi.org/10.25082/aere.2025.01.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Chowdhury, A., & Shil, N. C. (2021). Thinking ‘Qualitative’ Through a Case Study: Homework for a Researcher. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 5(2), 190-210. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/11280 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Crouch, M., & McKenzie, H. (2006). The Logic of Small Samples in Interview-based Qualitative Research. Social Science Information, 45(4), 483-499. https://doi.org/10.1177/0539018406069584 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Donkoh, S., & Mensah, J. (2023). Application of Triangulation in Qualitative Research. Journal of Applied Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 10(1), 6-9. https://doi.org/10.15406/jabb.2023.10.00319 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Drug Information Book. (2016). Retrieved from: http://www.adk.gov.my [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Drug Information Book. (2024). Retrieved from: http://www.adk.gov.my [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Ghazali, M. (1996). Tujuan Hidup Para Sufi. Selangor: Al-Hikmah Sdn Bhd. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Ibn Katsir, Abul Fida’ Ismail bin Umar bin Katsir Al-Qurasiy Ad-Dimasyqi. (1999). Tafsir Al-Quran Al- ‘Azhim (Tafsir Ibnu Katsir). n.p.: Dar At-Thaybah. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Ibrahim, N., Rahman, S. M. H. S. A., & Azhar, M. H. M. (2018). Adoption of Tarekat Qadiriyah Wa Naqsyabandiyah (TQN) in Sufism as Psychospiritual Treatment for Drug Addiction and Alcohol. Jurnal Qalbu, 5, 163-189. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Ibrahim, N., Rahman, S. M. H. S. A., & Azhar, M. H. M. (2021). Pengamalan al-Ṭarīqah al- Ṣūfiyyah Sebagai Motivasi Spiritual Bagi Penagihan Dadah. Jurnal Usuluddin, 49(1), 129-150. https://doi.org/10.22452/usuluddin.vol49no1.5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Ismail, N. A. H., Haris, R., Kassim, S. K., & Mat, M. Z. A. (2022). A Study on Islamic Psycho-Spiritual Therapy on Recovered Adolescent Addicts. SYAMIL: Journal of Islamic Education, 10(2), 159-179. https://doi.org/10.21093/sy.v10i2.5653 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Jajat, B. & Baedowi, A. (2003). Transformasi Otoritas Keagamaan: Pengalaman Islam di Indonesia. Jakarta: Gramedia. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Kiger, M. E., & Varpio, L. (2020). Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Data: AMEE Guide No. 131. Medical teacher, 42(8), 846-854. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2020.1755030 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Mansor, A. B. A., Yassin, K. M., & Ahmad, S. (2023). The Influence of Zikir Method on The Quality of Zikir Tarekat Qodiriyah Naqsyabandiyah in Pondok Remaja Inabah (1) Malaysia. Russian Law Journal, 11(4s), 14-27. https://doi.org/10.52783/rlj.v11i4s.799 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Mansor, A. B. A., Yassin, K. M., & Ahmad, S. (2024). Islamic Psychospiritual Approach in Drug Rehabilitation Therapy Based on Inabah Philosophy. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 22(2), 166-182. https://doi.org/10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.0013 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Mansor, A. B. A., & Zain, A. M. (2025). Islamic Psychospiritual Approach in Forming University Students' Ethics: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(9), 6186-6201. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.909000505 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Moser, A., & Korstjens, I. (2018). Series: Practical Guidance to Qualitative Research. Part 3: Sampling, Data Collection and Analysis. European Journal of General Practice, 24(1), 9-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2017.1375091 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Naeem, M., Ozuem, W., Howell, K., & Ranfagni, S. (2023). A Step-by-step Process of Thematic Analysis to Develop a Conceptual Model in Qualitative Research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231205789 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Othman Lebar. (2018). Penyelidikan Kualitatif Pengenalan Kepada Teori dan Metode (Edisi Kedua). Tanjung Malim: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Ponelis, S. R. (2015). Using Interpretive Qualitative Case Studies for Exploratory Research in Doctoral Studies: A case of Information Systems Research in Small and Medium Enterprises. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 10, 535. https://doi.org/10.28945/2339 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Sa’ari, C. Z., & Borhan, J. T. (2006). Psikospiritual dan Metodologi Pengaplikasiannya dalam Kehidupan, dalam Koleksi Kertas Kerja Isu Semasa: Menghurai Permasalahan Islam Semasa. Putrajaya: JAKIM [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Sa’ari, C. Z. (2019). Psikospiritual Islam: Konsep Dan Aplikasi. Journal of Syarie Counseling, 1(1), 43-51. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Sa’ari, C. Z., Muhsin, S. B. S., Rahman, S. M. H. S. A., Abidin, M. S. Z., & Chik, H. (2025). Islamic Psychospiritual as the Main Pillar of Strengthening the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Component. Journal of Cultural Analysis and Social Change, 10(3), 1525–1539. https://doi.org/10.64753/jcasc.v10i3.2626 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Sayyid Qutb. (2000). Tafsir Fi Zilalil Quran di Bawah Bayangan Al-Quran. (Yusoff Zaky Haji Yacob, Trans.). Kota Bharu: Pustaka Aman Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. Silverman, D. (2011). Interpreting Qualitative Data, 4th Edition. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Star, J., Ringaert, L., & Larcombe, L. (2025). Qualitative Methods Case Study: Using MAXQDA in Indigenous HIV Journey Mapping Research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251356667 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Yousiph, T., Patterson, C., & Moxham, L. (2025). Qualitative Case Studies in Suicide Research: a Novice Researcher’s Reflections. Nurse Researcher, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.7748/nr.2025.e1961 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Aristotelian Ethics and Moral Development: A Critical Evaluation
• Decolonising Africa’s Higher Education against violence and social injustices.
• The African Child as a Technological Citizen
• Mathematics as Ontological–Cognitive Participation: Reconstructing Ethical and Metaphysical Foundations within a Humanized Mathematical Universe
• Reason–Emotion Integration in the Context of Artificial Intelligence: The Implications of Aristotle’s Conception of Happiness for Youth Moral Education