Holistic Islam: Sufism, Transformation, and the Needs of Our Time

I am re-reading this book for the fifth time. I get something new out of it with each reading. It is a difficult book to review, but after this fifth reading I’m going to give it a try.The book is beyond Islam, beyond Sufism to knowledge of heart purification and interior self-transformation that Kabir Helminski calls Universal Applied Spirituality. The book is oriented around Islam, but has meaning for all religions and particularly for those individuals who are looking for a spiritual approach to life beyond the external rituals and social customs of their current practice. To quote the book: “Instead of scanning the environment to see who is performing the outer practices incorrectly, we examine ourselves, our motivations, our own subtle forms of idolatry.”The book was written by Kabir Helminski, a Christian raised, now Muslim Sufi individual. I am a Christian raised individual who through my readings was attracted to Sufism and I have been very attracted to his writings. In fact, I just recently completed his 99 Day Program.The book is written for a broad audience of spiritual seekers.Quoting from the book: “Our world today is more out of balance than ever before in human history: ecologically, economically, socially, and spiritually.”“…people are searching for an alternative beyond the increasingly materialist and self-absorbed Western consumer societies…”In summary, a thoughtful and thought provoking book for all faiths, not just Muslims. Also, for those who dislike, oppose or find Islam threatening, but have open minds – they can learn.

Kabir Helminsky has done a remarkable job of reaching out to the deep-rooted spirituality in Islam. Islam has filtered through the history of 14 centuries and has adopted many cultural and political traditions which do not reflect on the spirituality. Sufism is not alien to Islam but an integral part of it. The writer has presented it very well.

This was a great book, very inspiring, written in a very easy way to understand. Thanks to The Threshold Society I was able to find out about this wonderful book. Thank you.

With keen intellect, Kabir Helminski gently draws one into the Heart of Islam. Most highly recommended!

This book opens a conversation that desperately needs to be had in the Muslim world, and covers a range of themes, from the essential place of love in Islam, to an enlightened understanding of shariah. If you are looking for a progressive and deeply spiritual approach to Islam, one that can meet the needs of our time, then I recommend this book. Kabir Helminski does not profess to have all the answers, but makes some bold steps towards getting us there, drawing on decades of experience as a Sufi shaikh in the lineage of Rumi.This passage from the Prologue will give you a sense of the book:"There is, however, a living tradition that has survived within Islam and, to a great extent, preserved its essence. It is a school of love, rooted in the Prophet Muhammad's beautiful character, flexibility, patience, and kindness. In this school of love, awareness is awakened, attention is trained, the heart is purified, and the purpose of Islam is realised. Without creating idols of dogmas, institutions, or personalities, it is fully capable of offering a spirituality adequate to the times. A spirituality that is moral without being puritanical, that is rigorous without being rigid, that is beautiful without being ostentatious, that can heal a wounded humanity and contribute to the elevation of civilisation and culture. That is what is we mean by holistic Islam."

A concise and well written book about the core of Islam , its true message and explanation how everyone can embrace and understand Islam without affecting their relationship with the existing religion. Book is a gift to all spiritual seekers. Making it easy to understand the message of Islam, which submission to GOD and giving up yourself for love for others. Amazing job referencing holy QURAN and RUMI to bring home the message, loved it....

Helminski's short but incredibly rich and deep book offers a fresh and inspiring look at the spiritual core of Islam that is mostly lost or subordinated to today's legalistic and political Islamic aspirations.

I do feel that he fudges uncomfortable aspects of the faith, scripture and tradition though and doesn't engage with some serious reservations Muslim's and non Muslim alike have about what the Quran states about certain subjects. He doesn't analyse the 'wife beating' verse, or, address how obedience between men and women is portrayed as a one way street in the Quran I.e The wife is obedient to the husband, or, the acceptance of polygamy, but not polyandry, or, the Quranic view of homosexuality. He also talks about the just war, but how is war justified? All of the above are at odds with equality, mercy and peace which he is adamant are absolute teachings of the faith. I don't doubt he is a wonderful and spiritual human being. I struggle with all of the above in every Abrahamic faith and he doesn't provide any well reasoned answers to these things, he just cherry picks the uncontroversial. I do like his obvious criticism of Wahabism, which is a spiritually dead, rigid, intolerant misrepresentation of Islam that has been wrecking lives across the globe for several hundred years now and which so many Muslim's view as the truth! I also blame this sect for the political Islam groups which teach and practise horrendous violence globally. Reservations aside, and to present a balanced view, this is a good book choice for anyone interested in Sufi mysticism and what it can positively offer the world now and in the future.

I've just finishing reading this book and I would like to express my heart felt gratitude to the author for writing it. I pray it gets translated and is made widely available in the Muslim world. I feel in many ways it's a continuation of a discussion Iqbal started through his poetry and The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam. I'm sure if he were alive today, he would have been delighted to meet Kabir. He once wrote"Your salaat is empty of qiam;The song of Rumi you have yet to hear"The book presents a constructive critique of issues the Muslim world is facing today in the modern world without breaking away from its 1400-year-old rich tradition. It looks at issues both on the horizontal level (law, form, society) and the vertical (spirituality, Beauty, Love) and offers a holistic reading of authentic Religion (Din), reminding the reader that it covers all dimensions; to be truly Human, is to know the Divine and to live that knowing in everyday life with beauty, love, compassion, wisdom... through the Prophetic example.The book also presents a challenge, the same challenge Iqbal posed to his readers: Do you truly know what Islam is or have you turned an idol of your religion? Are you reading the Qur'an as the Divine Word or is it veiled in time and culture-bound interpretations? Do you know Divine Reality or have you relativised the Absolute in subtle and maybe not so subtle ways?

this book is truly needed in our time where muslims are misrepresented and frowned upon. for non muslims and muslims alike, who want to see the true essence of islamic teachings, this book is a must read. if you are searching for some spirituality within your life, and you feel like your religion as a muslim has become dull and repressive give this book a shot.people are searching for an alternative beyond the increasingly materialist and self-absorbed western consumer societies, on the one hand, and a rigid, reactionary, and harsh islam, on the other.