Challenging Concepts of Authority in Islam from a Compassion-Based Approach

08/18/23 • 25 min

In this episode, Rose gets vulnerable about notions of authority in Islam and why it’s such a complex and touchy subject—drawing upon her years as a scholar of religious and Islamic studies and working with Muslim clients as a life coach. She looks at theoretical interpretations and teachings of Islamic law and notions of authority and explains why they need to be adjusted to spread love, not fear.
The way authority within Islam has been presented to many Muslims in a black-and-white manner can be harmful and inaccurate. Rose recommends that Muslim leaders, teachers, and scholars take a trauma-informed approach to teaching Islam to support rather than turn away those who feel marginalized by mainstream Muslim communities and their approach to interpreting Islam.
Rose argues that Muslims must take a compassion/rahma-centric approach to religion and spirituality to represent Islam as the religion of compassion, justice, and love and encourage Muslims to reconnect with its core spirituality and the Divine.
Qur’anic verse references in episode: Surah 3, verse 7.
Note: In the episode, I said that the 49th imam currently leads the Dawoodi Bohra community; I was mistaken. As of 2016, the community is presently led by the 53rd Da’i al-Mutlaq.

Support the show

Find out more about Rose's work here: https://lnk.bio/dr.rose.aslan
Website: https://compassionflow.com
Support Rahma with Rose so I can keep producing more episodes here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2197727/supporters/new

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

Send us a text

Support the show

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

Previous Episode

Nurturing Our Mental Health from a Spiritual Perspective: A Conversation with Maryam Qadri

Send us a text

Discover how Maryam Qadri found unity and love through her multi-faceted, multi-religious spiritual journey, from her initiation into Sufism to her exploration of essential spirituality through her fluid religious identity and practice. Maryam comes from a Christian background and has explored various religious and spiritual wisdom traditions during her life journey. Her unique experiences underscore the importance of seeking the ultimate truth and following the heart's whispers.
Maryam Qadri is a sociologist by degree and a Sufi in training. She is a writer, content creator, and co-founder of Essential Spirituality. Her newest publication is The Mystical Garden: A Collection of Sufi Poetry and Prose.
Maryam unravels the power of healing modalities and their impact on her mental health journey, championing the benefits of bibliotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Discover how they can reshape distorted thoughts and negativity bias. Learn how journaling can empower us, especially when we make it a daily practice to write down things we appreciate.
We round off our discussion by addressing ways to cope with anxiety and depression. Explore the role of physical exercise, music, mirror work, faith, and bibliotherapy as vital tools. Maryam speaks to the power of self-acceptance, respect for pluralistic beliefs, and sincerity in our spiritual journey.
Find Maryam Qadri online: www.essentialspirituality.org and purchase her book, The Mystical Garden: A Collection of Sufi Poetry and Prose here: https://a.co/d/4fEgEjw

Support the show

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

Next Episode

From Tragedy to Fulfillment: A Conversation with Shazia Imam

Send us a text

Shazia's story begins in a small American town, where she faced unique challenges as a Muslim. It was not until later in her life that she renewed her connection with the Divine after losing her son soon after his birth and then going through a divorce. Despite the taboos around these topics in her community, Shazia is unapologetic about sharing her story to let other women know they are not alone and that they, too, can find fulfillment after tragedy.
Keep listening to more about Shazi's serendipitous encounter with a spiritual teacher that helped her find a deeper approach to Islamic spirituality, in contrast to the Islam she was raised within a traditional Indian-American Muslim household. Along the way, Shazia has explored numerous healing modalities, reexamined cultural and religious norms as a Muslim woman, and found a way to live a balanced life.
Find Shazia Imam online at these locations:
TheLifeEngineer.com
IG: @thelifeengineer.com
Facebook.com/ShaziaTLE
Feminine & Fulfilled Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feminine-fulfilled/id1347262113

Support the show

Music credits: Vocals: Zeynep Dilara Aslan; Ney/drum: Elif Önal; Tanbur: Katherine Hreib; Rebap: Hatice Gülbahar Hepsev

Rahma with Rose - Challenging Concepts of Authority in Islam from a Compassion-Based Approach

Transcript

Speaker 200:00:20.373

I'm Dr Rose Aslan

Speaker 200:00:22.995

and I'm a transformational life coach , breathwork teacher and scholar of religion who supports helpers , rebels , misfits , marginalized and spiritual and spiritually curious folks .

Speaker 200:00:39.600

Welcome to Rahmah Throws , where I create a bold space of warmth , understanding and pluralism in