Synthesis of the Concept of Maqamat Sufiyah Nawawi al-Bantani and Modern Psychology in Efforts to Treat Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Abstract

This paper explores the potential of integrating Sufi spiritual practices with modern psychology in addressing Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). The study begins by situating NPD as a contemporary mental health concern, influenced by social and cultural factors such as the rise of social media. While Heinz Kohut’s self-psychology—through its four therapeutic pillars of empathy, creativity, humor, and wisdom—offers an established psychological approach to NPD, this paper argues that these concepts resonate closely with the maqamat (spiritual stages) of Nawawi al-Bantani, a prominent Sufi scholar. Using a qualitative-descriptive method and textual analysis of al-Bantani’s works which refer to his books such as: Salālim al-Fuḍalāʾ, Naṣāʾiḥ al-ʿIbād, Marah Labid and Marāqī al-ʿUbūdiyyah, as primary source; then referring to supporting literature on Sufism, psychopathology, and Islamic psychotherapy from scholarly journals, monographs, and commentaries as secondary one. the paper identifies four maqamat—qana’ah, muhasabah, shuhbah, and mahabah—as practical principles capable of reducing narcissistic tendencies such as superiority, excessive need for recognition, and lack of empathy. The synthesis demonstrates that while Kohut provides a clinical framework, al-Bantani contributes a spiritual foundation that reinforces psychological healing. The conclusion emphasizes that integrating maqamat with self-psychology produces a holistic therapeutic model that addresses both psychological and spiritual dimensions, offering a more comprehensive path toward self-balance, humility, and healthy interpersonal relations.