The psychology of Sabr: toward a conceptual framework of resilience and coping for Palestinian muslims facing collective trauma

The concept of Sabr (patient endurance) is central to Islamic spirituality yet remains significantly under-theorized in mental health research. In this Perspective, I argue that Sabr offers a culturally grounded framework for understanding resilience among Palestinian Muslims facing collective trauma in contexts of occupation, displacement, and recurrent violence. Drawing upon Islamic theological sources, trauma psychology, and Palestinian studies, I propose a three-dimensional model of Sabr: (1) Sabr al-'ibadah (endurance in devotion), (2) Sabr 'an al-ma'siyah (restraint from prohibited responses), and (3) Sabr 'ala al-musibah (endurance through affliction). I suggest that this framework addresses critical gaps in culturally responsive mental health care by honoring indigenous knowledge while engaging clinical science. The model offers implications for spiritually integrated assessment, intervention design, and provider training when working with Muslim populations affected by collective trauma. By centering Islamic conceptualizations of suffering and resilience, this Perspective contributes to broader efforts to incorporate diverse spiritual epistemologies into global mental health research and aligns with global health priorities such as SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being for conflict-affected populations.