The Humbling Mind: Where Modern Cognition Meets Prophetic Wisdom

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47134/pssh.v3i1.427

Keywords:

Epistemic Humility, Neuroscience and Religion, Qur’anic Epistemology, Illusion of Knowledge, Cognitive Biases in Faith and Reason

Abstract

In an era besieged by information overload and cognitive arrogance, this interdisciplinary study investigates the perilous “illusion of knowledge”—a phenomenon where overconfidence eclipses genuine understanding, exacerbating societal polarization and intellectual stagnation. Bridging modern neuroscience with Islamic epistemology, the research reveals striking parallels: the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN), linked to self-referential biases and overconfidence, mirrors the Qur’anic concept of kibr (arrogance), while intellectual humility (tawadu’) emerges as both a neurological and spiritual antidote. Through hermeneutic analysis and global case studies—including Senegal’s daara schools and Singapore’s neuroscience-integrated madrasahs—the study demonstrates how pedagogical models blending metacognitive reflection with ethical discipline enhance cognitive flexibility, critical thinking, and empathy. Findings underscore that 80% of individuals overestimate their competence (Dunning-Kruger effect), yet Islamic practices like muhasabah (self-accountability) and adab (ethical inquiry) counteract this by fostering humility and error detection. The paper critiques algorithmic echo chambers and cultural conditioning, advocating for education systems that harmonize ancestral wisdom (e.g., hikmah) with neuroscientific insights to cultivate fitrah-aligned, morally grounded learners. Moreover this synthesis of prophetic wisdom and cognitive science offers a roadmap to dismantle epistemic arrogance, heal polarized societies, and reorient humanity toward curiosity, compassion, and ethical accountability

References

Ahmad, K. (2009). Leadership and work motivation from the cross cultural perspective. International journal of commerce and management, 19(1), 72-84.

Al-Ghazālī, A. H. M. (2005). Iḥyāʾ ʿulūm al-dīn [Arabic]. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/ihya-e-uloom-id-deen/IHYA-E-ULOOM-ID-DEEN-ARABIC/

Amin, M., Malik, A., & Ita, M. (2021). Realitas Keberagamaan Guru Madrasah di Kudus (Respon Guru Madrasah di Kudus dalam Menyikapi Fenomena Guru non-Muslim Mengajar di Madrasah). Jurnal Penelitian, 15(1), 111-148.

Aminullah, A., Mujahidin, M., Yussuf, A., Syahabuddin, S., & Salenda, K. (2024). The Impact of Madrasah Integration in the National Education System on the Academic Quality of Madrasah Aliyah Alumni in South Sulawesi. Ulumuna, 28(2), 1017-1048.

Asch, S. E. (1957). An experimental investigation of group influence. In Symposium on preventive and social psychiatry (pp. 15-17). Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Washington, DC.

Atkinson, C., Squires, G., Bragg, J., Muscutt, J., & Wasilewski, D. (2014). Facilitators and barriers to the provision of therapeutic interventions by school psychologists. School Psychology International, 35(4), 384-397.

Auda, J. (2008). Maqasid al-Shariah as philosophy of Islamic law: a systems approach. International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT).

Auxier, B., & Anderson, M. (2021, April 7). Social media use in 2021. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/04/07/social-media-use-in-2021/

Az-Zarnuji, B. I. (2009). Taʿlīm al-Mutaʿallim Ṭarīq at-Taʿallum (Cet. Maktab Islami). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/talimul-mutaallim-syeikh-burhanuddin-az-zarnuji-al-hanafi/01-Ta%27limul%20Muta%27allim%20-%20Syeikh%20Burhanuddin%20az-Zarnuji%20-%20Cetakan%20Maktab%20Islami/

Bampa, G., Tsolaki, M., Moraitou, D., Metallidou, P., Masoura, E., Mintziviri, M., ... & Papatzikis, E. (2023). Metacognitive differences in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and healthy cognition: A cross-sectional study employing online measures. Journal of Intelligence, 11(9), 184.

Beck, A. T., Weissman, A., Lester, D., & Trexler, L. (1976). Classification of suicidal behaviors: II. Dimensions of suicidal intent. Archives of General Psychiatry, 33(7), 835-837.

Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Clinical textbook of addictive disorders, 491, 474-501.

Bourdieu, P. (1990). The logic of practice. Stanford university press.

Boyd, R., & Richerson, P. J. (1987). The evolution of ethnic markers. Cultural Anthropology, 2(1), 65-79.

Brefczynski-Lewis, J. A., Lutz, A., Schaefer, H. S., Levinson, D. B., & Davidson, R. J. (2007). Neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners. Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences, 104(27), 11483-11488.

Brownell, P. (2012). Spirituality in gestalt therapy. In Gestalt Therapy (pp. 93-103). Routledge.

Bulur, H. G. (2024). Analyzing Decision Making Behaviour Under Risk and Uncertainty with the Help of Computational Cognitive Modeling and Neuroscience Perspectives (Doctoral dissertation, Middle East Technical University (Turkey)).

Coutinho, M. V., Thomas, J., Lowman, I. F., & Bondaruk, M. V. (2020). The Dunning-Kruger effect in Emirati college students: Evidence for generalizability across cultures. International journal of psychology and psychological therapy, 20(1), 29-36.

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage publications.

DeNicola, D. R. (2018). Understanding ignorance: The surprising impact of what we don't know. Mit Press.

Din, M. (2020). Evaluating university students’ critical thinking ability as reflected in their critical reading skill: A study at bachelor level in Pakistan. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 35, 100627.

Dunning, D. (2011). The Dunning–Kruger effect: On being ignorant of one's own ignorance. In Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 44, pp. 247-296). Academic Press.

Gardner, H. (2006). Changing minds: The art and science of changing our own and other peoples minds. Harvard Business Review Press.

Haidt, J. (2013). Moral psychology for the twenty-first century. Journal of moral education, 42(3), 281-297.

Hamari, J., Malik, A., Koski, J., & Johri, A. (2019). Uses and gratifications of pokémon go: why do people play mobile location-based augmented reality games?. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 35(9), 804-819.

Hase, S., & Kenyon, C. (2000). From andragogy to heutagogy. Ulti-BASE In-Site.

Henrich, J., Heine, S. J., & Norenzayan, A. (2010). The weirdest people in the world?. Behavioral and brain sciences, 33(2-3), 61-83.

Ho, H. Y., Chang, T. L., Lee, T. N., Chou, C. C., Hsiao, S. H., Chen, Y. H., & Lu, Y. L. (2019). Above-and below-average students think differently: Their scientific argumentation patterns. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 34, 100607.

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya. (2020). Madārij al-Sālikīn (Vol. 1, English ed.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/madarij-as-salikin-english-vol-1/Mada%CC%84rij%20as-Saliki%CC%84n%20%5BEnglish%5D%20Vol%201/

Janis, I. L. (1972). Victims of groupthink: A psychological study of foreign-policy decisions and fiascoes.

Kahneman, D. (2011). Fast and slow thinking. Allen Lane and Penguin Books, New York.

Khalil, A. (2020). Humility in Islamic contemplative ethics. Journal of Islamic Ethics, 4(1-2), 223-252.

Kikuchi, J., Fukagawa, M., & Tsuboi, R. (2019). Foundations of next-generation MONOZUKURI transformed by digital technology. Hitachi Review, 68(3), 72–78. https://www.hitachihyoron.com/rev/archive/2019/r2019_03/pdf/P072-078_R3b01.pdf

Knyazev, G. G. (2013). EEG correlates of self-referential processing. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 7, 264.

Krumrei-Mancuso, E. J., & Rouse, S. V. (2016). The development and validation of the comprehensive intellectual humility scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 98(2), 209-221.

Kunda, Z. (1990). The case for motivated reasoning. Psychological bulletin, 108(3), 480.

Leary, M. R., Diebels, K. J., Davisson, E. K., Jongman-Sereno, K. P., Isherwood, J. C., Raimi, K. T., ... & Hoyle, R. H. (2017). Cognitive and interpersonal features of intellectual humility. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43(6), 793-813.

LeDoux, J. (1996). Emotional networks and motor control: a fearful view. Progress in brain research, 107, 437-446.

Lieberman, M. D. (2013). Social: Why our brains are wired to connect. oup Oxford.

Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Cultural variation in the self-concept. In The self: Interdisciplinary approaches (pp. 18-48). New York, NY: Springer New York.

Mars, R. B., Neubert, F. X., Noonan, M. P., Sallet, J., Toni, I., & Rushworth, M. F. (2012). On the relationship between the “default mode network” and the “social brain”. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 6, 189.

Maspul, K. A. (2025). Sacred Resilience: The Islamic Wisdom of Soul Healing. Deepublish.

McCormick, D. A., & Prince, D. A. (1986). Acetylcholine induces burst firing in thalamic reticular neurones by activating a potassium conductance. Nature, 319(6052), 402-405.

Min Htike, W. Y., Zhang, M., Wu, Z., Zhou, X., Lyu, S., & Kam, Y. W. (2025). Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy in College Students Post COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review Using COVID-19 as a Case Study. Vaccines, 13(5), 461.

Ministry of Education Singapore. (2022, November 19). Forward Singapore: New partnerships, new perspectives. https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/press-releases/20221119-forward-singapore-new-partnerships-new-perspectives

Mokhtar, I. A. (2010). Madrasahs in Singapore: Bridging between their roles, relevance and resources. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 30(1), 111-125.

Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2002). The concept of flow. Handbook of positive psychology, 89, 105.

Ndiaye, G. (2020). Private Islamic Education in Africa. The Palgrave Handbook of Islam in Africa, 577-598.

Nickerson, R. S. (1998). Confirmation bias: A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises. Review of general psychology, 2(2), 175-220.

Nisbett, R. E., Peng, K., Choi, I., & Norenzayan, A. (2001). Culture and systems of thought: holistic versus analytic cognition. Psychological review, 108(2), 291.

Owens, B. P., & Hekman, D. R. (2016). How does leader humility influence team performance? Exploring the mechanisms of contagion and collective promotion focus. Academy of Management journal, 59(3), 1088-1111.

Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in cognitive sciences, 25(5), 388-402.

Pronin, E., Lin, D. Y., & Ross, L. (2002). The bias blind spot: Perceptions of bias in self versus others. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(3), 369-381.

Rahman, M. M. (2024). Taqlīd: A Fresh Approach to Examining Blind Following and Its Effects. Fitrah Press.

Rescher, N. (2009). Ignorance:(On the wider implications of deficient knowledge). University of Pittsburgh Pre.

Rogers, C., & Farson, R. E. (1979). Active listening. Organizational psychology, 57, 168-180.

Rosenberg, M. B. (2003). Raising children compassionately: Parenting the nonviolent communication way. PuddleDancer Press.

Sahlberg, P. (2021). Finnish lessons 3.0: What can the world learn from educational change in Finland?. Teachers College Press.

Saraei, M., Newberg, A. B., Hosseini, S. R., Bayati, T., & Batouli, S. A. H. (2023). Comparing the three states of Dhikr, meditation, and thinking about God: an fMRI study. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 13(1), 5-17.

Sarif, S. M., & Ismail, Y. (2023). Influence of Taqwa in Enhanching The Resilience of Small Businesses. International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 30(2), 1-13.

Segal, Z. V., Teasdale, J. D., Williams, J. M., & Gemar, M. C. (2002). The mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy adherence scale: Inter‐rater reliability, adherence to protocol and treatment distinctiveness. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 9(2), 131-138.

Statman, M., & Glushkov, D. (2009). The wages of social responsibility. Financial analysts journal, 65(4), 33-46.

Suryani, A., & Muslim, A. B. (2024). Religious tolerance, intellectual humility, and democratic education. In Embracing diversity: Preparing future teachers to foster religious tolerance (pp. 13-34). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Tang, G., Chen, B., Wu, M., Sun, L., Fan, R., Hou, R., ... & Li, T. (2025). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for treating generalized anxiety disorder and the moderating influence of abuse during childhood: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 379, 510-518.

Vlastos, G. (1985). Socrates' disavowal of knowledge. The Philosophical Quarterly (1950-), 35(138), 1-31.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1987). The collected works of LS Vygotsky: The fundamentals of defectology (Vol. 2). Springer Science & Business Media.

Weidman, A. C., Cheng, J. T., & Tracy, J. L. (2018). The psychological structure of humility. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 114(1), 153.

Williams, M. K. (2017). John Dewey in the 21st century. Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education, 9(1), 7.

World Health Organization. (2016). Global report on diabetes. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/204871/9789241565257_eng.pdf

Downloads

Published

2025-05-27

How to Cite

Maspul, K. A., & Mubarak, I. R. (2025). The Humbling Mind: Where Modern Cognition Meets Prophetic Wisdom. Pubmedia Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.47134/pssh.v3i1.427

Issue

Section

Articles

Categories

Similar Articles

1 2 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.