Meditation and Religion: Buddhist Practice and Islamic Contemplative Analogues
Ahmad Nubail, Lazuardi Fadhlan Arrazy, Zul Fadhli Sultani, Haydar Syihabuddin
Misykat al-Anwar Jurnal Kajian Islam dan Masyarakat January 31, 2026 DOI: 10.24853/ma.9.1.27-38 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMeditation has become a global trend, often promoted as a therapeutic intervention, shifting its public perception from a religious tradition to a medicalized tool. This paper examines meditation in Buddhism as its primary focus, using Islamic traditions, particularly Sufism, as a comparative perspective. By clarifying key terms and conceptual meanings, it identifies both convergences and divergences between Buddhist meditation and selected Islamic practices. It also addresses the claim that 'there is no meditation in Islam,' while acknowledging that the two religions are not treated as equivalent or interchangeable frameworks.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Islam Contemplation Spiritual practice |
| Key finding | Argues that the medicalization of meditation detaches it from its original spiritual meanings, and identifies both convergences and divergences between Buddhist meditation and Islamic practices, particularly within Sufism. |
Abstract
This paper examines meditation, a practice that has become a global trend and is increasingly promoted as a therapeutic intervention in health-related contexts. This development has contributed to a shift in the public perception of meditation—from a religious tradition to a medicalized instrument—potentially detaching it from its original spiritual and religious meanings. Accordingly, this study explores meditation in Buddhism as its primary focus and discusses Islamic traditions as a comparative perspective. By clarifying key terms and conceptual meanings, the paper identifies both convergences and divergences between Buddhist meditation and selected Islamic practices, particularly within Sufism. It also addresses a recurring controversy in public discourse, namely the claim that “there is no meditation in Islam,” while acknowledging that the two religions are not treated as equivalent or interchangeable frameworks.