Muraqaba as a Mindfulness-Based Therapy in Islamic Psychotherapy.

This article describes Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam, and defines Islamic psychotherapy with a focus on muraqaba, a meditative practice. It reviews Sufi literature and highlights how muraqaba techniques can be adapted into mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, meditation, transcendental meditation, and other mind-body techniques. The author suggests that muraqaba may help treat symptomatic anxiety, depression, and pain, though it may not be effective for all mental health issues. Proper training in classical Sufi traditions is recommended for Muslim clinicians before using muraqaba clinically.

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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.