Often described as a precocious genius, Abu Zayd al-Balkhi wrote one of the earliest "self-help " books with the intention of giving the average person a guide to better their mental health. Whereas the term "mind-body-soul " is often referred to as a "new-age " concept, a close examination of al-Balkhi's 9th century article "Sustenance of the Body and Soul " makes it clear that it was Islam-inspired beliefs and practices that motivated his holistic conceptualization of wellness. Furthermore, al-Balkhi 's book is unique in that he purposely and with foresight wrote it in simple Arabic for the layperson to immediately grasp. Yet, unlike many self-help books available today, al-Balkhi 's book is backed by clinical evidence and is replete with therapeutic treatments that are relevant for both physicians and the patients alike. Also unique is al-Balkhi 's breakdown of mental illnesses into four categories: depression, phobias, anger, and obsessions that provide simple to understand, yet scientifically accurate diagnostic classifications and were embedded within the cultural context of his time. Al-Balkhi promoted the concept of holistic mind-body-soul wellness nearly a millennium before western psychology caught up and the transhistorical relevance of his findings still rings true today. This review of al-Balkhi life and works doubles as a historical reflection of the Islamic intellectual heritage that contributed to the field we today call psychology, as well as helps correct the erroneous, yet all too common, Eurocentric depiction of the history of psychology by providing substantive evidence for non-Western contributions to the field that can no longer be accidentally neglected nor conveniently denied.
展开▼
