A comprehensive review published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2025 brings together dozens of studies proving that Dhikr and listening to the Quran are effective non-pharmacological methods in the treatment of anxiety, stress, and addiction.
Science Turns to an Ancient Tradition
Over the last decade, an intriguing trend has emerged in the world of neuroscience and psychiatry: researchers have begun to systematically measure the effect of spiritual practices on the brain and body. A significant portion of these studies focuses on Islamic spiritual practices—especially Dhikr and Quran recitation.
Published in 2025 in Frontiers in Psychology, the article by Zahir and Qoronfleh serves as a comprehensive review synthesizing decades of accumulated knowledge in the field.
Dhikr and Quran: As Non-Pharmacological Interventions
Key findings highlighted in the article include:
Impact on Anxiety and Stress Multiple randomized controlled trials show that listening to the Quran—regardless of the participant's religious belief—significantly reduces anxiety biomarkers. A 2023 scoping review on PubMed also concludes that Quran recitation is an effective non-pharmacological method that can be used to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.
Dhikr in Addiction Treatment Researchers suggest that the repetitive nature of Dhikr may play a supportive role in addiction treatment by affecting dopaminergic reward pathways.
Why Is It Different from Mindfulness? The authors argue that the introduction of meaning and transcendence in Dhikr creates an additional psychological protective effect beyond the placebo effect; they define this as the fundamental difference distinguishing it from Western "mindfulness."
1500 Years of Clinical Observation
The article particularly emphasizes this point: In the tradition of Islamic medicine (Unani Tibb), Dhikr has been prescribed for centuries for melancholy, anxiety, and spiritual distress. It notes that modern science has been slow to confirm this tradition, primarily because research resources have been concentrated on the Buddhism/mindfulness axis.
"Heartfulness": A New Concept Emerges
Zahir and Qoronfleh report that Islamic spiritual practices can be integrated into modern psychotherapy in a manner similar to mindfulness, and that this approach has begun to be researched under the name "heartfulness."
Limitations and Call to Action
The article honestly makes a call to action: Most current studies involve small sample sizes and methodological limitations. Large-scale, methodologically robust clinical research is needed for Dhikr and Quran recitation to be adopted as universal psychotherapeutic tools.
