Omid Safi discusses deepening faith into ecstatic adoration of God, the unity of Allah, virtue in Islam, and experiencing Allah through beauty. He emphasizes worshiping God for more than salvation, unwavering divine presence, the eternal now, and individual spiritual journeys.
Deepen faith into ecstatic adoration of God beyond religiosity.
Recognize God's unwavering divine presence in the eternal now.
Deep dives
The Three Questions and Spiritual Excellence
In this podcast episode, the significance of the three questions posed to the Prophet Muhammad by a stranger, who was later revealed to be the Archangel Gabriel, is highlighted. The questions centered around Islam, faith, and spiritual excellence (Ahsan). Islam was defined as faith in Allah's unity, prayers, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage. Faith encompassed belief in God, angels, prophets, scriptures, and the day of judgment. Ahsan, or spiritual excellence, emphasized adoring God and worshipping as if seeing Him, reflecting a deep spiritual connection.
Transformative Power of Love and Healing
The episode explores the transformative power of love, emphasizing the need to heal one's heart through love and to connect with God through a profound sense of intimacy and presence. Stories and teachings from the Islamic tradition underscore the importance of embodying love, kindness, and compassion towards all beings. The concept of being fully present in every moment, experiencing God's love, and recognizing the interconnectedness of all creation is highlighted.
Beauty and Presence in Spiritual Practice
The podcast delves into the theme of beauty and presence in spiritual practices, emphasizing the importance of seeing God's beauty in everything and everyone. The story of Majnun and Layla symbolizes the transformative power of love that enables one to see beyond physical appearances. The significance of being fully present, engaged, and compassionate towards others, cultivating a deep sense of love and connection is a central focus.
Offering Brokenness to God and Universal Love
The episode discusses the act of offering one's brokenness and pain to God, highlighting the importance of compassion, mercy, and love towards humanity and all creation. Stories emphasizing the universal love of Allah and the interconnectedness of all beings underscore the need to see beauty, kindness, and goodness in every soul. The transformative nature of experiencing God's love and living with a sense of interconnectedness and compassion towards others is highlighted.
Pushing beyond the bare minimum of religiosity, Omid Safi inspires listeners to deepen their faith into an ecstatic adoration of God.
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In this episode of Sufi Heart, Omid Safi elucidates :
Islam and the unity of Allah
Iman as faith and Ihsan as virtue
Spirituality and Aesthetics
Doing what is required of us through religion
How Habib (the chosen one) inspired a deeper level of faith
How we can aspire to be in a state of love and adoration
The eyes of the heart versus the eyes of the head
Worshiping God for more than just salvation
Islamic Saints and their stories of experiencing Allah through beauty
Recognizing the unwavering divine presence of God
The eternal now and present moment awareness
Undivided attention as an act of love
Courtesy and recognizing our individual journeys
Being a beautiful witness
“God is to be found here and now…the divine simply is not to be experienced in the afterlife, in the heavenly realms, in the celestial realm. Here and now where you are, where we are, we can come to experience Allah.” - Omid Safi
You can join Omid on one of his heart-centered and spiritually-focused educational tours of:
Mecca and Medina Umrah program: December 14-21st, 2023. [For Muslim participants]
Morocco: April 13-22nd, 2024.
Turkey: somewhere in late May to early June, 2024.
Further information is available at Illuminated Courses & Tours where you can also find information on virtual courses, spiritual talks, and more.