The Human Motivation: A Critical Review within a Prophetic-Humanistic Framework for Guidance and Counseling

Abstract

This study critically re-examines dominant Western theories of human motivation and proposes a Prophetic–Humanistic framework for guidance and counseling. Using a critical conceptual review and theory-building approach, the study analyzes motivational psychology, humanistic thought, moral philosophy, spirituality studies, and Islamic intellectual traditions. The findings indicate that contemporary motivation theories predominantly emphasize psychological functioning and self-regulation while insufficiently integrating moral responsibility, spiritual intentionality, and transcendental meaning. In response, the study formulates the Prophetic–Humanistic framework, conceptualizing motivation as a multidimensional orientation encompassing relational, ethical, ecological, and transcendental dimensions. This synthesis is structurally represented through the Universal Harmony Pyramid, grounded in hablun min Allāh, hablun min al-Nās, and hablun min al-‘Ālam. The study concludes that integrating prophetic ethical values and humanistic principles contributes to a more holistic, culturally responsive, and meaning-oriented understanding of human motivation within contemporary guidance and counseling, while offering a broader conceptual foundation for culturally grounded counseling practice and future theoretical development.