Dating violence can have profound psychological effects. However, such traumatic
experiences may also trigger post-traumatic growth (PTG) when individuals are
able to find new meaning in their lives. This study examines the role of rajāʾ as a
religious coping mechanism that facilitates PTG in survivors of dating violence.
Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through indepth
interviews.
The
analysis
utilized
time-series
analysis,
pattern
matching,
and

explanation

building. The results revealed that the recovery process occurred in
two phases: the disorientation phase, characterized by emotional distress, and the
meaning reconstruction phase, during which traumatic experiences were
reinterpreted within a spiritual framework. Positive changes were observed across
five dimensions of PTG: relationships with others, personal strength, new life
possibilities, appreciation of life, and spiritual change. Within the ambivalent
texture of everyday religious life, where romantic relationships outside of marriage
may be seen as potentially compromising ideals of religious piety, this study
argues that rajāʾ functions not only as theological hope but also as an experiential
orientation that helps survivors regulate emotions, reconstruct meaning, and
transform suffering into a catalyst for resilience and spiritual growth.


Keywords: Rajāʾ; religious coping; post-traumatic growth; dating violence;
everyday religion.