Muraqaba as a Mindfulness-Based Therapy in Islamic Psychotherapy.
Journal of Religion and Health August 1, 2019 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-018-0695-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | muraqaba |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Body-mind techniques Islamic psychotherapy Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Mindfulness-based stress reduction Muraqaba Transcendental meditation |
| Key points | Proposes that muraqaba techniques can be adapted for mindfulness-based therapies and may have value for treating anxiety, depression, and pain, but clinicians need proper training in Sufi traditions. |
Abstract
This article first describes Sufism, the mystical/spiritual tradition of Islam then move to define Islamic psychotherapy and the various aspects of muraqaba by providing an overview of the Sufi literature. I will also highlight how the techniques used in muraqaba can be adapted and used as mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, meditation, transcendental meditation, mind-body techniques (meditation, relaxation), and body-mind techniques. Although muraqaba might not be effective for all mental health issues, I suggest a possible value of muraqaba for treating symptomatic anxiety, depression, and pain. Furthermore, Muslim clinicians must be properly trained in classical Sufi traditions before using muraqaba techniques in their clinical practice.