Mental Health Training for Imams

About this lecture

In this lecture, Sheikh Jamal Zarabozo explores how mental health disorders affect a Muslim's moral and legal responsibility under Islamic law, drawing on classical fiqh alongside modern psychiatric concepts. He examines the limitations of labeling individuals as legally "insane," introduces the concept of domain-specific mental impairment, and discusses how emotional states like anger and fear have always carried legal weight in the Sharia. The lecture also addresses practical community challenges including OCD in worship, jinn vs. mental illness diagnoses, eating disorders during Ramadan, and the importance of Muslims engaging critically and actively with the mental health field.