Journal History

Matsnawi: Journal of Tasawwuf and Psychotherapy Studies is a peer-reviewed and open-access academic journal published by the Department of Tasawwuf and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab, UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, Indonesia. The institution was formerly known as IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon before its transformation into UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon in 2024.

Matsnawi was officially established in 2026 as part of the Department’s academic commitment to developing and disseminating scholarly works in the fields of tasawwuf and psychotherapy. The journal published its inaugural issue, Volume 1 Number 1, in May 2026.

The journal focuses on classical and contemporary Sufi thought, Sufi philosophy and ethics, Sufi psychology, Islamic psychotherapy, Sufi-based spiritual counselling, psychospiritual well-being, spiritual healing, religious coping, mental health from the perspectives of tasawwuf and Islamic psychotherapy, and therapeutic approaches derived from Sufi teachings, values, and practices.

Background

Matsnawi: Journal of Tasawwuf and Psychotherapy Studies was established in response to the growing need for a specialised academic platform dedicated to the development and integration of tasawwuf and psychotherapy studies. This integration encompasses spiritual development, psychological well-being, religious experience, spiritual counselling, mental health, and therapeutic practices grounded in Islamic and Sufi teachings.

Through this academic orientation, the journal seeks to strengthen the contribution of tasawwuf to the understanding and treatment of psychological, spiritual, and psychospiritual problems. It also provides a scholarly platform for examining the relevance of Sufi teachings, values, concepts, and practices to contemporary psychotherapy and mental health concerns.

The journal recognises that the study of tasawwuf and psychotherapy may involve social, cultural, anthropological, and educational dimensions. These dimensions are considered when they contribute directly to the understanding of Sufi traditions, spiritual practices, psychospiritual development, therapeutic processes, or the transmission of Sufi values in relevant social and educational settings.

Since its establishment, the journal has been committed to facilitating the publication of scholarly works by academics, researchers, and practitioners from national and international institutions. It also seeks to encourage meaningful academic dialogue between classical and contemporary Sufi scholarship and the development of psychotherapy based on Islamic and Sufi perspectives.

Editorial Board and Academic Support

The development of Matsnawi is supported by scholars and practitioners with relevant expertise in tasawwuf, Sufi psychology, Islamic psychotherapy, spiritual counselling, psychospiritual well-being, religious psychology within the context of tasawwuf and psychotherapy, and Sufi-based approaches to mental health and healing.

The editorial board also includes scholars whose expertise intersects with the anthropology of religion, Sufi communities and practices, spiritual culture, character and spiritual education, and educational approaches grounded in Sufi values and psychospiritual development. These areas of expertise provide academic support for examining tasawwuf and psychotherapy within relevant social, cultural, and educational contexts without departing from the journal’s primary orientation.

The editorial board and reviewers are affiliated with various national and international academic institutions. Their academic backgrounds contribute to the journal’s capacity to evaluate manuscripts from multiple but closely related perspectives, while ensuring that every published work remains substantively connected to tasawwuf and psychotherapy.

The editorial team is committed to maintaining the academic quality, relevance, originality, and integrity of every published article through an accountable editorial process and rigorous peer review.

Vision

To become a trusted academic journal that contributes to the advancement and development of tasawwuf and psychotherapy studies at national and international levels.

Mission

1. To publish high-quality original research articles, conceptual papers, literature reviews, and case studies in the fields of tasawwuf and psychotherapy.

2. To provide an academic forum for discussing classical and contemporary Sufi thought, Sufi psychology, Islamic psychotherapy, spiritual counselling, psychospiritual well-being, spiritual healing, religious coping, and mental health from the perspectives of tasawwuf and Islamic psychotherapy.

3. To promote the development of therapeutic concepts, approaches, and practices derived from Sufi teachings, values, and spiritual traditions.

4. To encourage scholarly dialogue and collaboration among researchers, lecturers, practitioners, and institutions concerned with tasawwuf and psychotherapy, including their relevant social, cultural, anthropological, and educational dimensions.

5. To uphold academic integrity, ethical publication practices, originality, and a rigorous peer-review process.