ISL271: Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases

Assessment Item 3 - Reflective Journal

Task

Choose one spiritual disease (arrogance, pride, anger etc) each week from the topics between topic 3 and topic 8 (6 in total each from a diLerent week) and reflect on each of the diseases along with the treatments in the context of your own life. Address the following questions:

• What are the symptoms of the spiritual disease?
• Why do I think I have this disease, that is, what symptoms are present within me?
• What are the implications, for me as an individual, for having this disease?
• What remedies can I use to abate the symptoms in my life?

When answering the above questions, you should include content from the lectures, the textbook and other sources provided on Brightspace and your CSU library that are relevant to the topic.

The writing is to be in the form of a reflective journal with an entry made on a weekly basis. See the presentation notes below for more information on formatting. Make sure you clearly write the spiritual disease you have chosen each week.

It is recommended that an entry for a lecture be done at least a few days aXer the lecture to give you the chance to reflect upon the content before you write about it.

Since personal information is being provided, all assessments will be marked by the lecturer (they will not be outsourced) and all information will be kept absolutely confidential. Having said that, you are not expected to provide too much personal information. Only write about what you feel comfortable sharing.

Refer to the marking criteria for a better understanding of what is expected. A sample reflective journal will be emailed to you at the beginning of the session. The sample will most certainly provide you with more clarity on what this assessment entails.

Rationale

This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s:

• be able to analyse critically the implications of the various diseases of the heart on one’s spiritual well being 
• be able to explain the symptoms and the treatment of the diLerent diseases of the heart
• be able to evaluate the diseases of the heart in the contemporary context

A good understanding of how the spiritual heart is aLected by various emotions and states, is an important part of this subject; through the study of Islamic Spirituality, students are expected to understand the 'diseases of the heart' that have been identified in the Islamic literature, as well as the 'cures' that have been put forward to counteract them. To better understand these diseases and cures, students need to be able to identify them in everyday life and critically analyse them in the context of Islamic literature.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Requirements:
The reflective journal is designed to engage students with the study of spiritual diseases, their symptoms, and remedies within the context of Islamic spirituality. Students are required to:

• Select one spiritual disease per week from topics 3 to 8 (six in total).
• Reflect on the disease in relation to personal experiences while maintaining comfort in sharing.
• Address the following questions for each disease:
  1. What are the symptoms of the spiritual disease?
  2. Why do I think I have this disease? What symptoms are present in my life?
  3. What are the implications of having this disease for me personally?
  4. What remedies can I apply to reduce or manage these symptoms?
• Use content from lectures, the textbook, Brightspace resources, and the CSU library to support reflections.
• Submit entries in a weekly journal format, allowing time to reflect a few days after each lecture.
• Ensure clarity by clearly indicating the chosen disease in each entry.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Critically analyse the impact of spiritual diseases on personal and spiritual well-being.
• Explain symptoms and treatments for each disease.
• Evaluate diseases of the heart in contemporary life.
• Apply knowledge of Islamic spirituality to personal reflection and daily life.

Approach by the Academic Mentor – Step by Step Guidance

Step 1: Topic Selection & Understanding

The mentor guides the student to choose a spiritual disease from each week’s topics (3–8). The student is encouraged to review lecture notes, readings, and Brightspace resources to understand the disease’s definition, symptoms, and remedies.

Step 2: Self-Reflection & Symptom Identification

The mentor instructs the student to reflect on personal experiences and identify any presence of the disease in their life. The focus is on recognizing patterns without oversharing private details.

Step 3: Implications Analysis

The mentor helps the student explore the personal and spiritual implications of each disease, considering how it affects daily behaviour, emotions, and interactions with others.

Step 4: Remedies & Application

For each disease, the mentor encourages the student to identify practical remedies and strategies (from Islamic teachings and scholarly guidance) to address symptoms. This could include spiritual practices, self-discipline, and mindfulness exercises.

Step 5: Research Integration

The mentor ensures that the student integrates academic sources to support reflections, encouraging citation of lectures, textbooks, and library resources. This strengthens the reflective process and demonstrates critical engagement with course materials.

Step 6: Journal Writing & Formatting

The mentor guides the student to write clear, structured weekly entries. This includes:

• Labeling the spiritual disease at the top of each entry.
• Maintaining reflective, first-person writing while aligning with academic expectations.
• Formatting entries consistently per provided presentation notes.

Step 7: Review & Feedback

Before submission, the mentor reviews the journal with the student, highlighting areas for:

• Deeper reflection on personal impact.
• Stronger connections between symptoms, remedies, and Islamic teachings.
• Clarity, coherence, and correct referencing.

Outcome Achieved & Learning Objectives Covered

Through this structured process, the student was able to:

• Identify and critically analyse six spiritual diseases within the context of their own life.
• Demonstrate understanding of symptoms and remedies for each disease.
• Evaluate the relevance of these diseases in contemporary personal and social contexts.
• Apply Islamic literature to practical self-improvement and spiritual growth.
• Develop a reflective writing style that integrates personal insight with academic rigor.

This methodical approach ensures that the student not only completes the assessment successfully but also achieves the intended learning outcomes, enhancing both spiritual understanding and reflective practice skills.

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