Ravanshenasi & Din

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the concept of “self-actualization” in psychology and the notion of the “Perfect Human” in the Holy Quran. To this end, psychological perspectives on self-actualization were reviewed and categorized into four main groups: behaviorist and cognitive approaches, psychoanalytic and neo-Freudian approaches, humanistic psychology, and positive psychology. Subsequently, by analyzing key Qur’anic terms such as faith (īmān), sincerity (ikhlāṣ), piety (taqwā), saints (awliyā’), and the righteous (ṣāliḥīn), the characteristics of the Perfect Human in the Quran were identified. The findings indicate that both perspectives emphasize the development and flourishing of human potential, moral virtues, social concerns, and positive interpersonal relations. However, the fundamental distinction lies in their ultimate goals and foundations: psychology associates self-actualization with individual fulfillment, psychological well-being, and social relationships, whereas the Quran asserts that attaining perfection is only possible through faith, servitude, and connection with God. Moreover, the Quran provides a wide range of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations that serve as powerful incentives for human growth and transcendence. These results highlight the potential for developing an integrative model that combines Qur’anic teachings with psychological findings to address the complex needs of contemporary humans in education, psychotherapy, and social development.