Psychological Needs and the rise of Early Social and Theological Movements

Abstract

The widespread acceptance of the Prophetic (PBUH) reading of humanity and truth reflects a deep and collective existential need—one that aligned with the psychological and spiritual dispositions of the masses during the emergence of the Islamic theological system. Had this Prophetic outlook not resonated with the essential character traits and demands of the people of that era, it would not have been met with such enthusiastic reception and public endorsement. Although certain traditional and theological interpretations of religion regard such an outlook as beyond the scope of analytical discourse—attributing the realization of Islam solely to Divine will—these interpretations are founded on a cosmology in which the world is entirely influenced by the Divine, rather than one in which the Divine responds to the conditions of the world. As such, they dismiss any contextual or analytic assessments as irrelevant. However, adopting a realist perspective reveals that if the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had initiated his mission based on an unnecessary premise, the message would have appeared meaningless to his audience.

This study, using a critical-analytical method and library-based research tools, examines the cognitive, spiritual, ethical, and justice-oriented dimensions of the human being. The findings indicate that the primary concerns of the people during the time of revelation were centered on social justice, followed by spirituality and the quest for meaning in life. Although aspects such as ethics and knowledge were also among the aspirations of that era, it was fundamentally external pressure (the demand for justice) and internal pressure (the pursuit of spirituality) that led to widespread distress, ultimately triggering sociotheological movements and uprisings.