We speak about the course Wisdom Crystallized: Sufi Metaphysics in 21 Verses. https://www.rumicenter.love/wisdom

https://www.mohammedrustom.com

Mohammed Rustom is Associate Professor of Islamic Philosophy and Islamic Studies in the College of the Humanities at Carleton University. He obtained a PhD from the University of Toronto in 2009, specializing in Islamic philosophy and literature. Professor Rustom has been the recipient of a number of academic distinctions and prizes, which include the Ibn ‘Arabi Society Latina’s Tarjuman Prize, The Institute of Ismaili Studies’ Annemarie Schimmel Fellowship, Iran’s World Prize for the Book of the Year, and Senior Fellowships courtesy of the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute’s Library of Arabic Literature and Humanities Research Fellowship programs.

An internationally recognized scholar whose works have been translated into over ten languages, Professor Rustom’s research focuses on non-Western philosophy in general, and post-Avicennian Islamic philosophy in particular. He is author of The Triumph of Mercy: Philosophy and Scripture in Mulla Sadra (SUNY Press, 2012), co-editor of The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary (HarperOne, 2015), and translator of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, The Condemnation of Pride and Self-Admiration (Islamic Texts Society, 2018).

Dr. Rustom’s forthcoming books include a complete study of the worldview of the Sufi philosopher ‘Ayn al-Qudat Hamadani entitled, Inrushes of the Heart: The Sufi Philosophy of ‘Ayn al-Qudat (SUNY Press, 2021), and The Quintessence of Reality (NYU Press, 2022), which is a translation and Arabic edition of ‘Ayn al-Qudat’s robust defence of metaphysics, the Zubdat al-haqa’iq

Dr. Rustom is also Associate Editor of the Journal of Sufi Studies (Brill), Commissioning Editor of the Journal of the Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi Society (JMIAS), and Editorial Board member of the Library of Arabic Literature (NYU Press).

Path and Present

#055: Wisdom Crystallized: What is Sufi Metaphysics? w/ Mohammed Rustom

Dr. Abdallah Rothman is Professor of Islamic Psychology and Principal at Cambridge Muslim College, founder of Shifaa Integrative Counseling and co-founder and Executive Director of the International Association of Islamic Psychology. He was previously Visiting Professor of Psychology at George Washington University, Zaim University Istanbul, International Islamic University Islamabad, and Al-Neelain University Khartoum.

Path and Present Podcast

#058: A Journey of the Soul, A Journey to Islam w. Dr. Abdallah Rothman

Dr. Carter is Assistant Professor and Kenan Rifai Fellow in Islamic Studies at the Department of Religious Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. 

Dr. Carter has a special interest in Sufism, a passion that has been sparked by years of research and involvement amongst Black Muslim communities in the United States as well as Senegal. When it comes to the classroom, Dr. Carter loves to see his students engaged, especially when the conversation turns towards African-American Muslims in the Black Freedom Struggle to more recent events, such as the influence of Black Muslims in hip-hop music.

As well as working towards the publication of his first book, “The Vast Oceans: Remembering God and Self on the Mustafawi Sufi Path,” Dr. Carter currently serves on the editorial team for the Journal of Africana Religions.

#059: Vast Oceans: From the Spirituality of Malcolm to the Activism of Rumi  w/ Dr. Youssef Carter

A. Helwa believes that every single person on Earth is deeply loved by the Divine. She is a writer who has inspired hundreds of thousands of readers through her passionate, poetic, and love-based approach to spirituality. Her popular blog @quranquotesdaily, was established while obtaining her Masters in Divinity, as a means of helping others overcome personal and spiritual struggles on their journey of experiencing divine love. With over 15 years of experience writing and speaking on Islam and spiritual development, A. Helwa draws from her personal experiences and traditional sources to help her readers access 'Divine love in everyday life.'

#060: Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam w/ A. Helwa

In this episode, we discuss Mohammad Rustom's new book, Inrushes of the Heart, which delves into the life and thought of the Muslim philosopher and Sufi master 'Ayn al-Quḍāt Hamadānī. The conversation explores the book's insights into 'Ayn al-Quḍāt's original teachings on topics such as God, human agency, and spiritual practice.

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

Path & Present Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through the support of our sponsors such as SufiCorner as well as from our community.

Support Our Podcast:
Help us keep these conversations going by becoming a patron. Enjoy exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access while supporting our mission.
👉 http://patreon.com/pathandpresent

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Instagram: @barakablue

Subscribe to Path & Present:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to get notifications. Like, comment, and share to help us reach more listeners.

#PathAndPresent #Sufism #IslamicTradition #Spirituality

#061: The Sufi Philosophy of 'Ayn al-Quḍāt w/ Mohammad Rustom

In this episode, we discuss the Islamic meditation practice of Murāqaba with our long-time friend and teacher Adeyinka Mendes.

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

Path & Present Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through the support of our sponsors such as SufiCorner as well as from our community.

Support Our Podcast:
Help us keep these conversations going by becoming a patron. Enjoy exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access while supporting our mission.
👉 patreon.com/pathandpresent

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Instagram: @barakablue

Subscribe to Path & Present:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to get notifications. Like, comment, and share to help us reach more listeners.

#PathAndPresent #Sufism #IslamicTradition #Spirituality

#062: Murāqaba: The Art of Islamic Meditation w/ Adeyinka Mendes

Enjoy this conversation with our dear friend Sukina Noor as we dive into the topic of "The Soul as a Work of Art" + creativity and the spiritual path.

Sukina Noor is a poet, spoken-word artist, playwright, workshop facilitator and educator, artistic curator, writer and public speaker who has toured extensively across UK, Europe, America and Africa. She is the author of the debut poetry collection of poetry, Love and Longing: Yearning for the Face of God.

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

Path & Present Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through the support of our sponsors such as SufiCorner as well as from our community.

Support Our Podcast:
Help us keep these conversations going by becoming a patron. Enjoy exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access while supporting our mission.
👉 patreon.com/pathandpresent

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Instagram: @barakablue

Subscribe to Path & Present:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to get notifications. Like, comment, and share to help us reach more listeners.

#PathAndPresent #Sufism #IslamicTradition #Spirituality

#063: The Soul as a Work of Art: Creativity & The Spiritual Path w/ Sukina Noor

This week's episode of Path & Present podcast features a conversation with Faris Abdel-hadi about Ibn ‘Arabi’s ideas of religious pluralism.

Dr. Faris Abdel-hadi is an author and specialist researcher in the field of Ibn Arabi studies, metaphysics, Sufism and philosophy.

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

Path & Present Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through the support of our sponsors such as SufiCorner as well as from our community.

Support Our Podcast:
Help us keep these conversations going by becoming a patron. Enjoy exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access while supporting our mission.
👉 patreon.com/pathandpresent

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Instagram: @barakablue

Subscribe to Path & Present:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to get notifications. Like, comment, and share to help us reach more listeners.

#064: Ibn ‘Arabi’s Religious Pluralism: Levels of Inclusivity w/ Faris Abdel-hadi

In this episode we speak to world renowned photographer Peter Sanders about his new book HEAVEN, EARTH and THE TEN THOUSAND THINGS: The Lives of the Muslims in China

Over a period of twelve years, internationally acclaimed photographer Peter Sanders travelled throughout China to capture images of Chinese Muslims and their unique spiritual culture, which began only sixty years after Hijra, when Saad ibn Abi Waqqas and other Companions of the Messenger of God settled in this majestic land at the invitation of the Tang Emperor.

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

Path & Present Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through the support of our sponsors such as SufiCorner as well as from our community.

Support Our Podcast:
Help us keep these conversations going by becoming a patron. Enjoy exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access while supporting our mission.
👉 patreon.com/pathandpresent

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Instagram: @barakablue

Subscribe to Path & Present:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to get notifications. Like, comment, and share to help us reach more listeners.

#065: Islam in China: What Muslims In The Far East Can Teach The West w/ Peter Sanders

In this episode we speak with our dear friend Oludamini Ogunnaike about poetry; not so much as a way of expressing oneself, but as a way of perceiving. The first half of this episode is a discussion and in the second half Oludamini gives a presentation with examples of poetry from the Islamic tradition.

Oludamini Ogunnaike is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia and the author of “Deep Knowledge: Ways of Knowing in Tijani Sufism and Ifa”, and “Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection: West African Madih Poetry and its Precedents”. His first published book of original poetry “Book of Clouds” is published by Fons Vitae.

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

Path & Present Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through the support of our sponsors such as SufiCorner as well as from our community.

Support Our Podcast:
Help us keep these conversations going by becoming a patron. Enjoy exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access while supporting our mission.
👉 patreon.com/pathandpresent

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Instagram: @barakablue

Subscribe to Path & Present:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to get notifications. Like, comment, and share to help us reach more listeners.

#PathAndPresent #Sufism #IslamicTradition #Spirituality

#066: Poetic Perception: Poetry as a Way of Seeing & Being w/ Oludamini Ogunnaike

For this episode, we speak with Ibrahim Tahir from Warda Books. Primarily selling Islamic books in English, Wardah Books is a bookstore in Singapore founded and run by Ibrahim Tahir, who recognises that Bussorah Street is a place steeped in the history of Kampong Gelam as a Malay literary hub. His passion lies in the promotion of Islamic culture and books.

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

Path & Present Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through the support of our sponsors such as SufiCorner as well as from our community.

Support Our Podcast:
Help us keep these conversations going by becoming a patron. Enjoy exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access while supporting our mission.
👉 patreon.com/pathandpresent

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Instagram: @barakablue

Subscribe to Path & Present:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to get notifications. Like, comment, and share to help us reach more listeners.

#PathAndPresent #Sufism #IslamicTradition #Spirituality

#067: For The Love Of Books with Ibrahim Tahir

For this season finale, we are joined by our dear sister and fellow poet Medina Tenour Whiteman. Medina is a writer, poet, translator and musician. She is the author of a collection of poetry, Love is a Traveller and We Are its Path, and Huma's Travel Guide to Islamic Spain. She lives near Granada, Spain, with her husband and three children.

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

Path & Present Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through the support of our sponsors such as SufiCorner as well as from our community.

Support Our Podcast:
Help us keep these conversations going by becoming a patron. Enjoy exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access while supporting our mission.
👉 patreon.com/pathandpresent

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Instagram: @barakablue

Subscribe to Path & Present:
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon to get notifications. Like, comment, and share to help us reach more listeners.

#PathAndPresent #Sufism #IslamicTradition #Spirituality

#068: Love is a Traveler w/ Medina Tenour Whiteman

Ali Hussain is a doctoral candidate in Islamic studies in the department of Near Eastern Studies, University of Michigan. His research focuses on Jesus in the thought and writings of the 12th/13th century Muslim mystic Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-ʿArabi (d. 1240). He's also interested in sacred bodies as tools for mythic storytelling in Sufism.
https://www.facebook.com/AkbariAliZHussain

#023: Ibn 'Arabi, Rumi, & The Spiritual Power of Art w/ Ali Hussain

Michael Sugich is a native of Santa Barbara, California and studied at UCLA and the California Institute of the Arts. He was initiated into a traditional Sufi order in 1972. Since that time he has studied Sufi doctrine and practice with spiritual masters across the Arab and Islamic world. He lived for 23 years in the precincts of the sacred city of Makkah Al Mukaramah where he kept company with many men of knowledge and illumination. He has written Palaces of India (Pavilion Books), a travel book, and Living in Makkah (Macdonald Publishers), a children's book, and, most recently a feature documentary film on the life of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Faisal: Legacy of a King.
Michael Sugich is author of 'Signs on the Horizons: Meetings with Men of Knowledge and Illumination', a memoir of 40 years with Sufi saints of the 20th and 21st centuries. https://www.amazon.com/Signs-Horizons-Meetings-Knowledge-Illumination/dp/0989364011/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481132772&sr=8-1&keywords=signs+on+the+horizons

#029: Tawba: Turning & Re-turning to the Source w/ Michael Haroon Sugich

Omid Safi is an American Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University, where he is the Director of Duke Islamic Studies Center, and a columnist for On Being. Dr. Safi specializes in Islamic mysticism (Sufism), contemporary Islamic thought and medieval Islamic history. He has served on the board of the Pluralism project at Harvard University and is the co-chair of the steering committee for the Study of Islam and the Islamic Mysticism Group at the American Academy of Religion. Before joining Duke University, Dr. Safi was a professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Website:
https://onbeing.org/author/omid-safi/

Radical Love Book: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300225815/radical-love

#032: One Love: The Sufi Path of Radical Love w/ Omid Safi

Zachary Markwith is the Executive Director of the Hub Foundation. He is also a doctoral candidate in Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He earned an MA (cum laude) in Comparative Religious Studies at the George Washington University and a BA in Islamic and Near Eastern Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research and teaching interests include Muslim sacred texts (Quran, Hadith, and ahadith qudsiyyah) and spiritual traditions (ihsan, 'irfan, and tasawwuf), intrafaith and interfaith relations and dialogue, just war and nonviolence. Prior to joining Hub Foundation, Markwith worked for several non-profit organizations, including the Covenants Initiative, Council on American-Islamic Relations, the International Peace Project, and Food Not Bombs.

https://hub-foundation.org

"Hub Foundation is a non-profit organization located in San Ramon, California. We strive to empower and inspire individuals and communities through providing greater access to education and other resources that nourish the mind, body, and soul. We aim to gather and uplift positive Muslim voices and people of all faiths who are committed to seeking knowledge, loving thy neighbor, and serving humanity. Hub Foundation supports conscientious and gifted students and teachers through providing scholarships and grants, hosting talks and roundtable discussions, and other philanthropic projects."

#035: The Eye With Which He Sees: The Mysticism of Muhammad ﷺ  w/ Zachary Markwith

Kabir Helminski is a Shaikh of the Mevlevi Order of Sufis, which traces its inspiration to Mevlana Rumi. He began his Mevlevi training as a student of the late Shaikh Suleyman Loras. In 1990 he was subsequently appointed a Shaikh. Under Kabir’s direction, the Mevlevi Order is working to apply traditional Sufi principles to the conditions of contemporary life. Kabir and his wife, Camille, founded and now direct The Threshold Society, a nonprofit educational foundation that has developed programs for practice and study within Sufism and spiritual psychology. He leads workshops and retreats for Sufis and the broader multifaith community.

sufism.org

#036: Holistic Islam w/ Kabir Helminski

Dr. Xavier is a professor of Religious Studies at Queens University in Ontario Canada. She works on contemporary global Islam and Sufism, with particular regional interests in North America (United States and Canada) and South Asia(Sri Lanka). She broadly examines how Sufism transforms and/or maintains continuity as it is transmitted to new regions, such as through migration, diaspora, literature, and popular culture (i.e., Rumi). In doing so, she engages sacred spaces (Sufi shrines), rituals, practices, and memory, in addition to gender dynamics.  

She is the author of Sacred Spaces and Transnational Networks in American Sufism: Bawa Muhaiyaddeen and Contemporary Shrine Cultures (2018), and the co-author of Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics and Popular Culture (2017). She is currently work on two book projects. The first is a case study on the development of Sufism in Toronto. For her second project, she is documenting Sufi shrines in Sri Lanka and its contemporary legacy, amidst growing anti-Sufism on the island.

#037: The Life & Legacy of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen w/ Shobhana Xavier

Dr. Abdallah Rothman is an Islamic Psychology researcher and practitioner. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC). In addition to his academic and clinical training in Western psychology, Abdallah studies and practices Islamic Psychology and is currently doing doctoral research in this area. His clinical practice as well as his academic research focus on approaching counseling from within an Islamic paradigm; and establishing an indigenous Islamic theoretical orientation to human psychology that is grounded in the knowledge of the soul from the Islamic tradition. He is the founder of Shifaa Integrative Counseling and the Executive Director of the International Association of Islamic Psychology. 

www.islamicpsychology.org
www.shifaacounseling.com
Academic Writings: https://kingston.academia.edu/AbdallahRothman

#040: Sufism & Psychology: An Islamic Model of Spiritual Development w/ Abdallah Rothman

Hakim Archuletta has worked within the healing arts profession for over 30 years. He studied homeopathy and apprenticed with Dr. John Damonte in London in the early 70's. He continued these studies in Berkeley apprenticing with homeopathic doctors and working with the first Homeopathic Study group there. He continued his studies in the Middle East, England and North Africa in the mid 70's. In 1978, Hakim went to Pakistan at the invitation of Hakim Mohammad Said of the Hamdard Foundation and studied there with various Hakims (traditional Islamic doctors) supported by grants from the Bawani Trust. His main teacher was Hakim Taqiuddin Ahmad at the Nizami Dawakhana, where he also learned Pharmacy in the Unani tradition. There he earned the title of "Hakim". Returning to the Americas in 1980, he began teaching students privately and established a Family practice clinic in Santa Barbara California. He began extensive work as counselor, consultant and Hakim/Homeopath in Abiquiu, New Mexico and by traveling nationally for over ten years. This also included workshops on communication and community consensus building including special focus on youth. More recently he began to focus on trauma and was trained in the methods of Dr. Peter Levine and others. Today he lectures and teaches classes and workshops nationally. He has conducted workshops and lectured at University of California Berkeley, Harvard, Wellesley, Stanford, UCLA, University of Houston and many others. He has students and patients across the world.

www.hakimarchuletta.com

#041: Divine Happenings w/ Hakim Archuletta

Dr. Ali Hussain obtained his doctoral degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan, Department of Middle Eastern Studies. His research focuses on the image of Jesus Christ in the writings of Sufi mystics, specifically Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-'Arabi (d. 1240).

He is also the founder of Nostalgic Remembrance: Art in Memoirs, an initiative exploring the metaphysics of video games, film, music and many other aspects of contemporary culture through the lens of Islamic Mysticism (Sufism).
​NostalgicRemembrance.org

#042: Jesus in Sufism: Ibn 'Arabi, Creativity & the Christic Archetype w/ Ali Hussain

You can link to the model that we discuss here: https://images.app.goo.gl/o9o5e1TqBHA26rEcA

Dr. Abdallah Rothman is an Islamic Psychology researcher and practitioner. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC). In addition to his academic and clinical training in Western psychology, Abdallah studies and practices Islamic Psychology and is currently doing doctoral research in this area. His clinical practice as well as his academic research focus on approaching counseling from within an Islamic paradigm; and establishing an indigenous Islamic theoretical orientation to human psychology that is grounded in the knowledge of the soul from the Islamic tradition. He is the founder of Shifaa Integrative Counseling and the Executive Director of the International Association of Islamic Psychology.

www.islamicpsychology.org
www.shifaacounseling.com
Academic Writings: kingston.academia.edu/AbdallahRothman

Additional Resources from Dr. Rothman

An Islamic Model of the Soul (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLVpQAxksnY

Toward an Islamic Framework of the Soul (Paper): 
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10943-018-0651-x

A uniquely Islamic theoretical framework for an Islamic psychology has yet to be established. To do so requires that we understand how human beings are conceptualized within the cosmology that characterizes the Islamic tradition. This paper presents a model of the soul from within an Islamic paradigm, generated through a grounded theory analysis of interviews with 18 key informants with relevant academic or religious expertise. The model elaborates aspects of a mechanism for the development of the soul that constitutes a potential foundation for an Islamic theory of human psychology and has particular relevance for Islamic approaches to psychotherapy.

#043: Knowledge of Self: An Islamic Model of the Soul w/ Abdallah Rothman

Mithat Özçakıl is a third generation dervish in the Mevlevi Sufi order, the order founded by Rumi, known in the West as the Whirling Dervishes. He is a graduate student at Selcuk University in the Institute of Rumi Studies. He is also a part of the Sufi Music Ensemble in Konya and works at Irfan Civilization Research Center.

#046: The Way of the Whirling Dervish w/ Mithat Özçakıl

Shems Friedlander is the author of ten books, including a number of books about Rumi. He is a painter, photographer, designer, filmmaker, and educator. Friedlander was Emeritus Professor at the American University in Cairo. He was selected as one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World, in the field of Art and Culture, by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLmlQrfNQE88PBuv36ltlrQ

#047: The Inner Search: 45 Years on the Sufi Path w/ Shems Friedlander

Mohammed Rustom is Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Carleton University. He obtained a PhD from the University of Toronto in 2009, specializing in Islamic thought, Quranic exegesis, and Persian literature. 

He is currently a Senior Fellow at the NYUAD Library of Arabic Literature.

Website: https://www.mohammedrustom.com

Articles: https://www.mohammedrustom.com/articles/

#048: 'Ayn al-Qudat's Tawhid of Iblis: In Defense of the Devil? w/ Mohammed Rustom

Dr. Bilal Ware is a historian of Africa and Islam. He is professor at UC Santa Barbara. He earned his Ph.D. in 2004 at the University of Pennsylvania where he trained in African History, African-American History, and Islamic Intellectual History. His research spans the last thousand years, centering on West Africa, while reaching into the Mediterranean lands of Islam and the Atlantic worlds of the African Diaspora.

Walking Quran: https://uncpress.org/book/9781469614311/the-walking-quran/

Jihad of the Pen: The Sufi Literature of West Africa: https://www.amazon.com/Jihad-Pen-Sufi-Literature-Africa/dp/9774168631

#049: The Walking Quran: Insights from Islam in Africa w/ Dr. Bilal Ware

Amir Sulaiman is a poet, recording artist, Harvard Fellow, actor, screen writer and producer born in Rochester, New York. His poems cross subjects of love, tragedy as well as what it means to reconcile humanity with the unprecedented trials of modernity. He has performed his works across the US as well as many other countries including England, Belgium, Senegal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Australia, Iran and the Netherlands, and continues to tour world-wide. His recently published book of poetry, Love, Gnosis & Other Suicide Attempts met with critical acclaim, in addition to his latest album "The Opening," the third in a unique trilogy project, following "The Meccan Openings" (2011) and "The Medinan Openings" (2012). Amir was first introduced to a National audience in 2005 when he was featured for two seasons on Russell Simmons' groundbreaking series Def Poetry Jam on HBO.

#050: Beauty in Breaking: The Heart of Poetry w/ Amir Sulaiman (LIVE @ WASAT)

Dr. Abdallah Rothman is an Islamic Psychology researcher and practitioner. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC). In addition to his academic and clinical training in Western psychology, Abdallah studies and practices Islamic Psychology and is currently doing doctoral research in this area. His clinical practice as well as his academic research focus on approaching counseling from within an Islamic paradigm; and establishing an indigenous Islamic theoretical orientation to human psychology that is grounded in the knowledge of the soul from the Islamic tradition. He is the founder of Shifaa Integrative Counseling and the Executive Director of the International Association of Islamic Psychology.

www.islamicpsychology.org
www.shifaacounseling.com
Academic Writings: kingston.academia.edu/AbdallahRothman

Additional Resources from Dr. Rothman

An Islamic Model of the Soul (Video) www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLVpQAxksnY

Toward an Islamic Framework of the Soul (Paper): 
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/…10943-018-0651-x

A uniquely Islamic theoretical framework for an Islamic psychology has yet to be established. To do so requires that we understand how human beings are conceptualized within the cosmology that characterizes the Islamic tradition. This paper presents a model of the soul from within an Islamic paradigm, generated through a grounded theory analysis of interviews with 18 key informants with relevant academic or religious expertise. The model elaborates aspects of a mechanism for the development of the soul that constitutes a potential foundation for an Islamic theory of human psychology and has particular relevance for Islamic approaches to psychotherapy.

#052: A Ramadan in Retreat: Psychological/Spiritual Wellness in Isolation w/ Dr. Abdallah Rothman

Dr. Sherman Jackson is the King Faisal Chair of Islamic Thought and Culture, and Professor of Religion and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California (USC).

In this conversation, recorded February 2020, Dr. Jackson reflects on his seminal work, "Islam and the Blackamerican" nearly 20 years after it was written. He gives an overview of the central thesis in the book and then reflects on developments in the subsequent decades. We discuss changing demographics in the American Muslim community, immigration, 9/11, the backdrop of white supremacy, and Islamic tradition in context. We also touch on similarities and differences between Black and White trajectories to Islam, Hip-Hop, counter culture, and the dimension of social critique inherent in the phenomenon of conversion.

#053: Islam & the Blackamerican: Reflections on Race, Religion & Identity w/ Dr. Sherman Jackson

Oludamini Ogunnaike holds a PhD in African Studies and the Study of Religion from Harvard University, and is Assistant Professor of African Religious Thought at the University of Virginia.

Oludamini Ogunnaike is a scholar of African, Islamic, and Religious Studies, with a focus on the intellectual and artistic dimensions of West African Sufism and Ifa, an indigenous Yoruba religious tradition. His work examines the postcolonial, colonial, and precolonial Islamic and indigenous religious traditions of West Africa, seeking to understand the philosophical dimensions of these traditions by approaching them and their proponents not merely as sources of ethnographic or historical data, but rather as distinct intellectual traditions and thinkers, and even as sources of theory and possible inspirations for methods of scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. 

Oludamini is also working on an online database of West African Sufi Poetry and, along with Ayodeji Ogunnaike, is working on a similar database for the Odu Ifa (the sacred orature of Ifa). 

He recently published Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection: A Study of West African Arabic Madih Poetry and its Precedents

#054: Awakening in the Dream: Ibn Arabi, Virtual Reality & Ultimate Reality w/ Oludamini Ogunnaike

Path & Present is a long form conversation hosted by poet, emcee, and teaching-artist Baraka Blue with friends and guests including artists, musicians, authors, and scholars to collectively explore what it means to walk a path of awakening and spiritual discernment in the modern world. Topics covered include spirituality/religion/metaphysics, community, art/music, psychology, social justice, Islam and Muslims in the West, and earth stewardship.

**Path & Present** Is a community endeavor produced for the sake of sharing the stories of our communities and amplifying the forces of positivity and goodness in the universe. It is made possible through community support. Enjoy Path and Present Podcast? Now you can become a supporter/patron at Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4205410

Baraka Blue is a poet and musician from Seattle, Washington. After reading the works of Rumi and Ibn Arabi he traveled to study with contemporary Sufi teachers in Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, Egypt and beyond. He has a BA in Arabic from the University of Washington and was awarded a Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from the GTU, Berkeley for his research on the Sufi thought of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. As a teaching-artist he has performed all over the world, including such institutions as Princeton and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

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