Description

The Islamic Behavioral Religiosity Scale (IBRS) [AQ-30] is a psychometric instrument designed to assess the behavioral dimension of Islamic religiosity by measuring the frequency and consistency of religious practices among Muslims. Rather than focusing solely on religious beliefs, the scale evaluates the extent to which individuals translate their faith into everyday religious behaviors and adherence to Islamic teachings.

The IBRS assesses multiple aspects of religious practice, including daily prayers (Salah), fasting during Ramadan (Sawm), Qur’an recitation and study, and adherence to Islamic moral and social principles. By evaluating observable religious behaviors, the instrument provides a comprehensive measure of religious commitment and practice within the Islamic faith.

The scale is widely used in the psychology of religion, health psychology, cross-cultural psychology, sociology of religion, and behavioral sciences to examine the relationship between religious practice and psychological, social, and health-related outcomes.

Analysis and Use of Data

The analysis of the IBRS is based on participants’ responses to a series of statements that assess different domains of Islamic religious behavior. Responses are typically recorded using a Likert-type response scale, allowing researchers to quantify the frequency of religious practices.

The instrument evaluates four principal domains:

  • Prayer (Salah): Frequency and commitment to the five daily prayers.
  • Fasting (Sawm): Adherence to fasting during Ramadan and other recommended periods.
  • Qur’an Reading: Frequency of reading, reciting, and studying the Qur’an.
  • Ethical and Social Compliance: Adherence to Islamic moral principles and socially prescribed behaviors.

The resulting data can be used to investigate relationships between Islamic religiosity and variables such as psychological well-being, resilience, stress management, depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, social support, coping strategies, prosocial behavior, physical health, and quality of life. Researchers may also compare religious practices across demographic groups, cultures, educational levels, or clinical populations.

Psychometric evaluation of the IBRS generally includes the assessment of internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha, test–retest reliability, and construct validity through exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent and discriminant validity are commonly examined by comparing IBRS scores with other measures of religiosity, spirituality, religious coping, and psychological adjustment.

Objective

The primary objective of the Islamic Behavioral Religiosity Scale (IBRS) is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of the behavioral expression of Islamic religiosity. More specifically, the instrument aims to:

  • Assess the frequency and consistency of Islamic religious practices.
  • Evaluate adherence to core Islamic behavioral teachings.
  • Examine the relationship between religious behavior and psychological well-being.
  • Support research on religion, spirituality, and health.
  • Facilitate clinical and research applications involving Muslim populations.

Scoring

The IBRS consists of a series of statements rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where:

  • 1 = Never
  • 2 = Rarely
  • 3 = Sometimes
  • 4 = Often
  • 5 = Always

Responses are summed or averaged to produce total and, where applicable, subscale scores. Higher scores indicate greater religious commitment and more frequent engagement in Islamic religious practices, whereas lower scores reflect less frequent religious practice and lower behavioral religiosity.

For research purposes, it is recommended that the psychometric properties of the instrument be evaluated through Cronbach’s alpha, test–retest reliability, and construct validity analyses.

Applications

The Islamic Behavioral Religiosity Scale is widely used in the psychology of religion, clinical psychology, health psychology, sociology of religion, educational psychology, and cross-cultural research. It has been applied in studies examining the relationship between Islamic religious practice and mental health, stress management, coping strategies, resilience, quality of life, social adjustment, and physical health.

In clinical and community settings, the IBRS assists researchers and healthcare professionals in understanding how religious practices influence coping with illness, emotional well-being, and psychosocial adjustment. It is also valuable for evaluating faith-based interventions and for conducting cross-cultural comparisons of religiosity among Muslim populations.

References

Mokhtari, S. (2013). The Role of Islamic Religious Beliefs and Practices in Stress Management among University Students. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 84, 44–48.

Abu-Raiya, H., Pargament, K. I., & Mahoney, A. (2011). Examining the Role of Religion and Spirituality in the Lives of Muslims in the United States. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 3(4), 291–306.

Al-Marri, T. S. K., Oei, T. P. S., & Al-Adawi, S. (2009). The Development of the Short Muslim Practice and Belief Scale. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 12(5), 415–426.

Koenig, H. G., King, D. E., & Carson, V. B. (2012). Handbook of Religion and Health. Oxford University Press.