Positive thoughts therapy in enhancing memory and emotional connection during Prophet Muhammad's Maulid: Psychological, cultural, and spiritual perspectives

Abstract

The commemoration of Prophet Muhammad's birth, known as Maulid, is a profound religious and cultural event observed across diverse Muslim societies. It is characterized by rituals such as communal chanting, recitation of poetry, acts of charity, and collective reflection on the Prophet's life and virtues (Anli, 2025; Hasani & Mehmeti, 2025). Concurrently, Positive Thoughts Therapy (PTT), an application of positive psychology, emphasizes cultivating adaptive cognitive-emotional strategies like gratitude, hope, and optimism to enhance well-being and resilience (Suldo et al., 2024; Henrichs & Hum, 2025). This paper posits that a meaningful integration of PTT with Maulid practices offers a unique, culturally congruent framework to amplify both cognitive and emotional benefits for participants. Specifically, it investigates how this integration can enhance the encoding and recall of religious memories and deepen emotional connections during the commemoration. The synthesis aims to bridge theoretical models of well-being with lived religious experience, drawing from psychology, neuroscience, and cultural studies to explore this interdisciplinary intersection.