the qur'anic model of the differentiated human: reinterpreting bowen's concept of bowen's differentiation in light of piety and furqān

The concept of differentiation of self in bowen's family systems theory, regarded as the cornerstone of mental health, refers to individuals' ability to separate rationality from emotion and to maintain balance between individuality and togetherness. considering the lack of an indigenous model in family psychology, the present study aims to articulate a differentiated human model based on the teachings of the holy qur'an. the research method is thematic analysis with a qualitative approach. the study population consisted of all qur'anic verses, with a focus on authoritative shi'i exegeses, especially al‑mīzān. after purposeful note‑taking, the data were analyzed using three‑stage coding in maxqda software. the findings showed that piety, as a process of self‑regulation, is the overarching theme of qur'anic differentiation, which is actualized through furqān (the faculty of discernment). at the intrapersonal level, this model includes cognitive components (self‑awareness, faith‑based rationality) and behavioral components (emotion regulation, patience, and trust in god). at the interpersonal level, through an assertive communication style (based on authenticity, clarity, unconditional respect, and empathy) and boundary management (rejecting fusion and emotional cutoff), it establishes a balance between independence and intimacy. ultimately, the results indicate that the qur'anic model, by adding monotheistic and innate dimensions to psychological components, provides a rich framework for islamic counseling and elevates the path of growth from mental health to spiritual perfection. the concept of differentiation of self in bowen family systems theory, as the cornerstone of mental health, denotes an individual's ability to distinguish between intellectual and emotional processes and to maintain a balance between individuality and togetherness. considering the lack of indigenous models in family psychology, the present research was conducted with the aim of elucidating the model of the differentiated human based on the teachings of the holy quran. the research employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. the study corpus comprised all verses of the holy quran, with a focus on authentic shi'a exegeses (tafsir), particularly al-mizan. data were analyzed using three-stage coding in maxqda software following purposeful data collection.findings revealed that taqwa (piety), as a process of self-regulation, constitutes the overarching theme of quranic differentiation, which is actualized through furqan (the faculty of discernment). at the intra-personal level, this model encompasses cognitive components (self-awareness, faith-based rationality) and behavioral components (emotion regulation, patience, and trust in god [tawakkul]). at the inter-personal level, it establishes a balance between independence and intimacy through an assertive communication pattern (based on authenticity, clarity, unconditional respect, and empathy) and boundary management (negating fusion and emotional cutoff). ultimately, the results indicate that the quranic model, by integrating tawhidic (monotheistic) and fitri (innate) dimensions with psychological components, provides a rich framework for islamic counseling and elevates the trajectory of human growth from mental health to spiritual perfection.