“Ramadan Struggles: How Can Islamic Psychology Help?” | Dr. Alizi Alias | ISIP Malaysia Webinar 2

ISIP Malaysia hosted it's second Webinar in February 2026 with Dr. Alizi Alias. Dr. Alizi is a freelance Consultant Organizational Psychologist and part-time lecturer at UniKL Royal College of Medicine Perak, Ipoh. He is a former Council Member of the Malaysian Psychological Association (PSIMA) and a panel assessor of the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA). He also advises several organisations including ISIP Malaysia. This session explores Ramadan through an Islamic psychology lens, highlighting how the fasting experience can be both psychologically enriching and challenging. The presentation integrates three main perspectives. First, from biological psychology, it explains how fasting affects metabolism, sleep, hormones, and emotional regulation, including why the first week of Ramadan often feels more difficult before physiological adaptation occurs. Second, from positive psychology, the session discusses how Ramadan enhances wellbeing through gratitude, meaning, social bonding, forgiveness, and hope. Third, from clinical psychology, it addresses mental health realities during Ramadan, including the experiences of individuals living with depression, anxiety, OCD, and sleep disturbances, and the importance of empathy and flexibility in supporting them. The session concludes by showing how Ramadan intersects with multiple psychology sub-disciplines and positions fasting as a holistic training for the body, mind, emotions, and soul.