Faith-Based Storytelling as Bibliotherapy for Muslim Youth: A Case Study of Ayat Hati – Homecoming of the Soul

Young adults today increasingly face emotional struggles such as grief, heartbreak, trauma, and spiritual emptiness. Conventional coping strategies, including social media overuse, substance use, and casual relationships, often provide only temporary relief and may exacerbate psychological distress. This study explores the potential of Ayat Hati: Homecoming of the Soul, an anthology of ten short stories integrating Qur’anic reflection and Islamic English, as a bibliotherapeutic intervention for Muslim youth. Using an exploratory case study approach, reader responses (n = 10) were collected via an online survey with Likert-scale and open-ended items. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. Results showed that most of the respondents strongly resonated with the struggles depicted. They also reported receiving comfort from the Qur’anic verses, and appreciated the use of Islamic English as enriching and authentic. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: validation of struggles, comfort from the Qur’an, and authenticity of Islamic English. These findings suggest that faith-based storytelling can function as a meaningful coping resource, providing validation, guidance, and cultural authenticity. Implications for bibliotherapy, youth counseling, and Islamic pedagogy are discussed.