Deanship of Graduate Studies Discusses Ph.D. Research Proposal on Spiritual Pain

The Deanship of Graduate Studies at the Main Center of the Islamic University of Minnesota held an academic seminar session at the College of Islamic Studies, Department of Islamic Studies in English, to discuss a Ph.D. research proposal submitted by researcher Wael Metwally, entitled “Spiritual Pain between the Islamic Sunni Perspective and Modern Scientific Approaches: An Analytical Comparative Study.”

The proposed study addresses the concept of spiritual pain, a topic that has received increasing attention in contemporary psychological and human sciences research. It seeks to explore the understanding of spiritual pain within Sunni Islamic thought by analyzing its theological and educational foundations, while also examining and comparing it with modern scientific approaches that investigate the spiritual and psychological dimensions of human experience.

The study aims to provide a comprehensive analytical comparison that highlights the similarities and differences between the Sunni Islamic perspective and contemporary scientific theories regarding the interpretation of spiritual pain, its effects, and methods of addressing it. In doing so, it seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of the concept and promote greater integration between Islamic studies and modern human sciences.

During the seminar, the researcher presented the study’s objectives, research questions, and methodological framework. Members of the committee engaged in a scholarly discussion of the proposal and offered a range of academic observations and recommendations aimed at refining the research design and strengthening its scientific and methodological foundations.

The review committee was chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Manal Mustafa, Head of the Department of Islamic Studies in English, and included Dr. Majdoleen Nawasrah and Dr. Hamza Yaqoub as committee members.

This seminar reflects the ongoing efforts of the Deanship of Graduate Studies at the Islamic University of Minnesota to support high-quality academic research and encourage interdisciplinary studies that bridge Islamic and human sciences. Such initiatives contribute to addressing contemporary issues through a balanced scholarly approach that combines authenticity with modernity and strengthens the role of research in advancing both Islamic and human knowledge.