Muslim Professional Well-Being: Integrating Meaningful Work, Psychological Well-Being, and Al-Ghazali's Sa’adah
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Rising work demands raise concerns about professionals’ psychological well-being and the alignment of work with spiritual values. Objective: This study aims to develop a Muslim Professional Well-Being Model by integrating meaningful work, Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being (PWB), and Al-Ghazali’s concept of sa’adah. Methods: An Integrative Literature Review approach was employed to examine literature on meaningful work, psychological well-being, sa’adah, and Islamic psychology. The analysis involved data reduction, thematic categorization, conceptual comparison, and theoretical synthesis. Results: The findings indicate that the three concepts converge on meaning and purpose in life, personal growth, and contribution to others. However, sa’adah extends the understanding of wellbeing by incorporating God-centeredness, purification of the soul, moral character development, and orientation toward maslahah, dimensions that are not explicitly accommodated in modern psychological well-being models. Based on this synthesis, the Muslim Professional Well-Being Model positions meaningful work as a source of meaning in professional life, PWB as optimal psychological functioning, and sa’adah as a spiritual and moral orientation. Their integration conceptualizes Muslim professional wellbeing as a condition characterized by meaningful professional life, optimal psychological functioning, spiritual alignment with Allah, moral integrity, and contribution to maslahah. Conclusion: This model extends the conceptualization of wellbeing within Islamic psychology and provides a foundation for future empirical research and more holistic human resource development practices.
Institutions: University of Indonesia, University of Oxford
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225007120