Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 304

4th ASEAN Conference on Psychology, Counselling, and Humanities (ACPCH 2018)

The Need Analysis of Islamic Counseling Approach in Solving

Students’ Problem
Nik Rosila Nik Yaacob Nor Shafrin Ahmad
Universiti Sains Malaysia Universiti Sains Malaysia
[email protected] [email protected]

Rashidah Md Hasan
Universiti Sains Malaysia

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to report on the need analysis study on the way to solve students’ problems in
school from teachers’ and students’ perspective. The finding is important for researcher in order to develop an Islamic
counseling module as an alternative approach in counseling practice. Data is collected by using a simple questionnaire
that has been distributed to 198 school teachersand 462 students from nine schools in Northern Peninsular Malaysia.
Descriptive analysis shows majority teachers agree that Islamic knowledge delivery is suitable to solve students’
problem, whereas students prefer art therapy.

Keywords: Problem solving, students, teachers

Introduction beliefs; emotional regulation, customary traits, helps

Currently, Malaysian society is experiencing social seeking behaviors, language, and familial influence.
changes such as industrialization, stressful Studies showed that both religion and spirituality can be
environmental, spiritual and mental disorders issues, effective therapeutic intervention in counseling process.
family structure transformation and illegal immigration. Ivey et.al (2002) held that the issue of spirituality and
Crime rates have also tremendously increased over the religion should not be undermined. Their survey showed
years. This situation makes counseling highly significant. that 60 percent or more students openly said religion and
Malaysia is similar to United States, which the spirituality are important to them and a source of
counseling services began in the schools. The strength. Wulf (1997) reported that students with high
development of counseling services inMalaysia is closely consciousness to their religious principles and spirituality
related to the history of guidance and counseling in the appear to be more effective in coping with psychological
schools. Hence, it is imperative to analyze the well being and stress.Having said this, Islamic
development according to periodical phases. We counseling has been identified as an alternative approach
observed the development of school counseling service in dealing with students’ problem.
in Malaysia which was commencing in three phases. The
onset of the first phase was in 1963, when the Literature Review
government, particularly the MOE realized the
importance of school counseling in building the mind of Islamic Counseling Approach
the youth from school level which was concurrent with Counseling in Islam is based on the concept that
the building of the newly independent nation. The task began hisbah triggered by Allah SWT and practiced until
of school counselors was mainly to cater the vocational the days of friends. Hisbah referring to instigation to
guidance to these youths. However, the progress was not good and forbidding the evil (commanding the good and
without challenges due to the lack of local expertise in forbidding the evil) which focuses more on marketing
counseling, formal counseling courses and financial and economics as to prevent businessmen hoarding
resources (Scorzelli, 1987). goods and sell them at high prices (Kamal, 1995). The
Counseling, when practiced is constantly challenged concept of hisbah is to ensure the welfare of the
by the questions of relevance (Corey, 1997), community was subsequently applied in the field of
compatibility, or challenges because people of different counseling, which also aims to ensure harmonious
socio-demographic backgrounds may hold different relationship between one to another in the
views and respond differently to the conventional (e.g. community.Counseling is a process of professional that
Westernised) counseling principles. Similarly, when it is aims to help individuals understand themselves and the
practiced in a particular group such as the Malays, environment (Rasool, 2016; Kamal, 1995). Unlike
several factors need to be considered as they may western counseling, Islamic counseling is not only
influence the practice of counseling especially related to focused on the development of intrapersonal and healthy
this group of people. The factors include religious interpersonal but also be counseled, encouraged and in

Copyright © 2019, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press. 406

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 304

punitive, particularly when dealing with cases that cause experienced teachers are not particularly effective, and
slip beliefs (Azmi, 1993). Rasool (2016)refers counseling some novice teachers are dynamic and effective.
from Islamic perspective as a process between a However, by and large, a more experienced teaching
professional with the client until the outbreak of the workforce offers numerous benefits to students and
exploration of the relationship of humanity and the schools, including greater individual and collective
occurrence of potential clients to expand internal human effectiveness in improving student outcomes as well as
resources to accept the truth (haq) and owe it to yourself greater stability and coherence in instruction and
to achieve the pleasure of Allah. A relation between relationship-building—the core work of schools(Corey,
individuals with human humanity and compassion 1997; Susanna, 2014). With regard to the respondent in
relationship between man and God is a major milestone this research, it seems that most of them have adequate
in the process of counseling. experience in teaching as more than 50 percent involve in
Construction of Islamic counseling model is based on teaching for 15 – 20 years.
the principles in the teaching of Islam that includes faith,
worship, human understanding, knowledge and faith (al- Table 1. Data from school teachers
Ghazali, 1998; Utz, 2011). Al-Attas (1995) believes there
are seven ideas in the view of Islam that is universal; the Data from teachers (n=198) Percentage (%)
divine Revelation or the Qur'an, creation, nature spirits, Gender
the concept of deen (religion), and moral values and the male 74.4
meaning of happiness. Human existence from the female 25.3
perspective of Islam is to worship Allah by performing Teaching experience
all lofty. Each individual was organized to keep the 1 – 10 years 32.3
human relations and maintain good relationship with 15 – 20 years 53.0
God. Thus, some of the basic principles of Islam should More than 21 years 14.6
be understood that the concept of worship, the concept of Attending counseling courses
monotheism, morality and basic human nature. Islamic Attending 39.4
counseling approach will focus on the client's ability to Not attending 60.6
understand themselves as inheritors of God, realizing her Method to solve problem
potential, grateful to God and self-improvement through Self-reflection 43.4
self-reflection (Rasool, 2016). Islamic knowledge delivery 72.2
Based on the abovepremise,the researcher intends to Story-telling 66.7
develop an Islamic counseling module which consists of Checkliston Islamic practice 53.5
several method or technique in intervention process. For
this purpose, the need analysis study is carried out to With regard to counseling courses that have been
obtain information and response from teachers and attended by teachers, Table 1 shows 60.6 percent
students on the preferable method in solving students’ respondent not attending any counseling courses or
problem. training neither in school nor outside the school setting,
compare to 39.4 percent teachers who attendssuch
Methods courses and trainings.It is critical for counselors and also
school teachers to gainawareness of the counseling
A simple set of questionnaire is used to collect the process as well as learn effectiveskills needed to make an
data. Sample of this study consist of 198 school teachers effective way in handling students’ problems. Without
and 462 school students.Descriptive analysis is used toto appropriatetraining, teachers report feeling helpless and
analyze the data. powerless in theprocess of handling students’ problem
(Rofa’ah, 2016; Susanna, 2014; Rasool, 2016) which
Result and Discussion may lead toprofessional burnout and job stress.The
training needs to include not only knowledge and skills
The respondents were male 74.4 and 25.3 percent related to guidance and counseling, but also life skills.
were female. This meant most respondents in this According to Day (2002), respondent in his study
research were male teachers. More than 50 percent demanded training in communication skills, interpersonal
teachers have experience in teaching for 15 – 20 years, skills and ways to deal with their own issues. This
32.3 percent have experience for 1 – 10 years and 14.6 information is important because if training programs are
percent have more than 21 years experience in teaching. to be a satisfying experience, the training contents should
Teaching experience is positively associated with teacher match trainees’ needs. Day (2002) argued that teacher
effectiveness and significantly associated with student development programs which do not match teachers’
achievement gains throughout a teacher’s career. Gains needs were unlikely to arouse their motivation. In Law’s
in teacher effectiveness associated with experience are (2000) in-depth interviews with teachers about their
most steep in teachers’ initial years, but continue to be views towards guidance training, five out of eight
significant as teachers reach the second, and often third, interviewees gave negative comments about the training
decades of their careers (Corey, 1997;Rofa’ah, 2016).Of courses offered by the government. They criticizedthe
course, not all experience is educative: some highly training as being too general, imparting only fundamental

407
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 304

guidance knowledge and could not arouse their Table 2. Data from students
interest.Thus, a proper training for teachers that
encompasses all aspect of competencies including Data from students (n=462) Percentage (%)
counseling and other interpersonal skills will be highly Gender
important in our Islamic counseling module. male 64.5
Table 1 shows method to solve students’ problems. female 35.5
Most teachers held Islamic knowledge delivery (72 Form
percent) is the better way to solve students’ problem, Four 61.0
followed by story-telling (66.7 percent), checklist on Two 21.6
Islamic practice (53.5 percent) and self-reflection (43.4 One 17.3
percent). Many studies (Dossey, 1997; Rasool, 2016;
Method to solve problem
Utz, 2011; 2008; Kamal, 1995) show that students with
Art therapy 69.3
high consciousness to their religious principles and
Self-reflection 58.0
spirituality appear to be more effective in coping with
Islamic knowledge delivery 51.5
psychological well-being and stress. For example,
Story-telling 50.9
Dossey (1997) found that prayer is potential in the
healing process. The finding also showed a simple Table 2 shows the composition of students
attitude of prayerfulness and a feeling of empathy, participates in this research i.e form four (61 percent),
caring, and compassion for the entity in need, seemed to form two (21.6 percent) and form one (17.3 percent).
set the stage for healing. In fact, daily prayers are a This means, most of the respondents in this study are
source of comfort and tranquility (Utz, 2011). According from form 4 with 64.4 percent are male and 35.5 percent
to Rasool (2016), several Islamic ways to deal with are female.In order to understand the preferred method to
problems and difficulties, i.e through prayers, solve their problem, 69.3 percent students believed that
supplications (du’a), meditation, reading the holy Qur’an art therapy is a suitable technique, followed by self-
and remembering God. Islamic Studies has been found to reflection (58 percent), Islamic knowledge delivery (51.5
be strongly influential for moral and character percent) and story-telling (50.9 percent). As art therapy is
development when instruction relating to ethics and the preferable way to solve students’ problems compare to
valuable dimensions of topics was used (Adebayo, 2010). other methods, it implies students’ preferred non-verbal
Abulatifeh (2011) believed that teaching Islamic Studies ways than other verbal expressions method. Art therapy
in secondary schools helps students to practice the may be defined as a form of therapy in which creating
religion properly. However, it is possible only if the images and objects plays a central role in the
content of the curriculum is effectively and practically psychotherapeutic relationship established between the
implemented and various topics of Islamic Studies is art therapist and client. Art therapy canbe relevant to
properly taught to have greater impact on students in many people, whether they are grappling with serious
terms of iman and other religious duties. From the problems orjust wish to explore themselves and their
finding, it seems that Islamic approach is an appropriate feelings, using art as the medium(Jones, 2005).As far as
way to solve students’ problems.Since an Islamic this study is concerned, school need to create more
knowledge delivery is the preferred way chosen by many hands-on activities for students to explore their own
teachers, thus, it is quite possible that teaching methods potentialities. However, based on the finding it seems
need to be improvised. Teachers also agree that story- the process of teaching and learning in terms strategies
telling can be suitable method in solving students’ and techniques can be improvised. Table 2 reveal more
problems. This is probably because story-telling helps than 50 percent students perceive self-reflection, Islamic
students comprehend and reflect on past events to knowledge delivery and story-telling are among the way
eventually, and hopefully, move forward and it can be to solve their problem. Research in education over the
many different forms—visual, oral, written, the last few decades has focused on the debate on teaching
performed, and so on (Nik Rosila, 2010; Cattanatch, approach. As in most curriculum change efforts, changes
1997). in content or materials are relatively easy to accomplish
but changes in teaching styles and role behavior often
present difficulties (Abulatifeh, 2011; Tengku Sarina and
Faridah, 2008). According to Tengku Sarina and Faridah
(2008) individual teaching approach is suitable to solve
students’ problems. An individual teaching approach is
aim to provide students with the personal assistance and
to allow them to function effectively without teacher’s
help as well as to self-reflect themselves.

Conclusion

Counseling process should be in line with the goals of

counseling that is to help client towards overcoming

408
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR), volume 304

obstacle to personal growth and bringing him/her back to Dossey, L.1997. Healing words: the power of prayer and
the reality of his/her existence. Islamic counseling is the practice of medicine, New York: Harper
significant in solving human problems pertaining to their Collins Publisher.
Ivey,A.E. et.al. 2002. Theories of counseling and
everyday life and it should be imparted and inculcated
psychotherapy: a multicultural perspective, 5th
across the curriculum at a higher level of learning. Both Edition, Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
verbal and no-verbal approach is important in counseling Jones, P. 2005. The art therapies: a revolution in
intervention besides other counseling skills. healthcare. New York: Brunner & Routledge
Kamal Abd. Manaf. 1995.Kaunseling Islam:
(The authors gratefully acknowledge Universiti Sains perbandingan antara amalan dan teori kaunseling
Malaysia in providing RUI Grant, Project Number: barat. Kuala Lumpur: Utusan Publications and
816291). distributors.
References Law, L.M.T. 2000. Guidance training needs and support.
Unpublished master’s thesis. Hong Kong: the
Abulatifeh, R.F. 2011. The effect of using Islamic University of Hong Kong
Education websites on King Faisal University Nik Rosila Nik Yaacob. 2010. Pendidikan kerohanian,
students’ achievement in methods of teaching nilai dan moral untuk kanak-kanak prasekolah.
Islamic Education subject. Journal of Islamic Kuala Lumpur: PTS
and Arabic Education, 3(1), 87-96 Scorzelli, J. F. 1987. Counselling in Malaysia: An
Adebayo, R. I. 2010. The challenges and opportunities of emerging profession. Journal of Counselling
islamic studies in the world of modern cyber- and Development, 65, 238-240
technologies: the nigeria example. Paper Susanna Wai Chin Lai-Yeung. 2014. The need for
presented at the Proceedings of Regional guidance and counseling training for teachers,
Conference on Knowledge Integration in ICT. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences,
Al-Attas, Syed Muhammad Naquib. 1995. Prolegomena 113:36–43
of the metaphysic of Islam: an exposition of the Tengku Sarina Aini & Faridah Che Husain. 2008.
fundamental elements of the worldview of Islam. Pendekatan individu dalam pengajaran pendidikan
Kuala Lumpur: ISTAC. Islam sebagai wahana melahirkan modal insan
Al-Ghazālī, Abū Hamid bin Muhammad. 1998. Ihyā’ bertamadun. Jurnal Usuluddin, 27, 141-
‘ulūmuddin Vol. 2. Beirut: Dār al- Kutubal- 151
‘Ilmiah. Utz, A. 2011. Psychology from the Islamic perspective,
Aziz Salleh. 1993. Kaunseling Islam Asas. Kuala Riyadh: International Islamic Publishing House.
Lumpur: Utusan Publications & Distributors Sdn. Wulff, D.M. 1997. Psychology of religion: classic &
Bhd. contemporary. 2nd edition, New York:John Wiley
Cattanatch, Ann. Children’s stories in play therapy. & Sons.
London: Jessica Kingsley Publisher
Corey, G.1997. Theory and practice of counseling and
psychotherapy. California: Woodsworth
Publishing Co
Day, C. (2002). The challenge to be the best: Reckless
curiosity and mischievous motivation.
Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 8,
421 –434.

409