The human race is in crisis and very few of us if any are able to understand what is wrong with our lives and the world at large. How did this happen and how did humans become so ‘disconnected’ with humanity? Why are psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, fear, and suicide on the increase, and why are conventional Western therapies unable to stem the tide? To approach this we must first look inside ourselves – to explore our own purpose in life and extend that principle to the rest of humanity. Despite the advances of modern Western psychology and the development of therapies that do help many, one area that is largely unexplored is that of the ‘human spirit’ and spirituality since it is more convenient to consider the human mind as ‘machine’ that responds to external stimuli.
In this powerful exploration into the human mind and its relationship with the human spirit, Malik Badri invites the reader to open the door to self-discovery, purpose and spirituality through the practice of contemplation, reflection and meditation, under-standing the true meaning and experience of spirituality as well as one’s own place in Creation. Whilst central to worship in Islam, this will also be of great interest to, and help any reader wishing to explore the notion of spirituality whether as part of worship or simply as part of self development and inner healing.
Dr. Jeremy Henzell-Thomas, Research Associate (and former Visiting Fellow) at the Centre of Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge
Malik Badri has done a great service in revealing both the depth and breadth of Islamic contemplative practice. In capturing the extent of the higher faculties engaged in tafakkur, he points the way to the reclamation of a spiritually elevated, fully human, and truly holistic vision of Islam that, above all, has the potential to inspire Muslims to follow their higher calling and by so doing to be of service to all mankind.
Professor Abdur-Rasjid Skinner, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Contemplation is a book that changes lives. It infuses the spiritual into what is generally thought of as Psychology; not just in a theoretical way, but in a manner that touches the Heart.
fifisofia –
This book is about the spiritual aspect to todays very fundamental religion; Islam.
It tries to frame the importance of Contemplation and differentiate the spirituality of Islamic beliefs in regards to meditative spirituality.
In Islam, contemplation is not submissions, but rather to invoke a sense of reflection to life, death and God. But due to the constraint of English as compared to the fluidity of the Arabic language the word Takaffur in relation to God’s essence that the depth of its meaning gets lost in translation.