Sufi Spiritual Ministry and Healing

In the way of the Prophets we share the Message

A path of safety

In the way of the Excellent women we give the shelter

A safe place to land

Sufi Spiritual Ministry and Healing Overview

Sufi Spiritual Ministry and Healing is a chaplaincy program that trains individuals to offer spiritual care and support to people of any faith throughout all stages of life. It is a calling to serve the heart and soul of humanity and to help facilitate people’s relationship with God.

What is a Sufi spiritual minister? They are a beloved who carries the leadership qualities of the prophets. They provide ongoing care and guidance and are authorized to facilitate rituals or ceremonies (i.e. weddings, funerals, and blessings). Linguistically, the word minister is rooted in the Latin for “servant.” This is exemplified in how they support individuals’ spiritual journeys, offer counseling and guidance, and lead worship or community gatherings.

What will you experience in this 18-month program? 

You will:

• Explore the mystical and theological roots of the Shadhiliyy litanies

• Foster cross-cultural connections through interfaith dialogue

• Develop the inner presence and outer skills needed for ministering at every stage of life

• Support personal and spiritual growth along your own journey and that of others

• Highlight social change initiatives inspired by the prophets and sacred women

This course will prepare you to help yourself and others navigate life transitions and changes based on the insight of ancient Sufi teachings and knowledge of the Quran and the Holy books. It will open the door for you to experience your unique beauty through your longing to serve, and will offer you opportunities to profoundly deepen your relationship with God.

Through real life case studies, scenarios, deep discussions, role plays and the guidance of your teachers, you will learn practical skills to minister to newborns, pregnant women, couples, communities, people who are dying, and their grieving families. You will discover the secret knowledge of life in the womb to life that is eternal. 

You will learn to become compassionate, merciful servants carrying the deep love for all, while caring for yourself so you remain nourished and in alignment with the Divine. This course will refine your awareness, witnessing, and understanding of emotions and virtues so that you can embody more contentment and happiness in your life. 

The course has five six-day modules along with three 90-minute intersession calls in each module, and an optional week of zawiyah.

Module 1 Title: Beginnings, Being the Mercy

Theme: The movement from the womb of safety and tawwakul to the uncertainty of the unknown.  

You will: 

• Deepen your knowledge of yourself and your true purpose
• Refine your awareness and witnessing
• Understand the role of emotions and how to create balance and inner peace
• Learn the tools for self care and filling your cup before giving to others
• Learn the basic skills for ministering in each moment in each cycle of our daily life
• Become the mercy for yourself and others
• Learn how to read your book and understand divine orders
• Embody the Quran as a source of inspiration and guidance
• Learn how to be present with what is and hold the Light
• Embody your angelic nature
• Travel through the stations of the soul to the secret
• Support pregnancy beginning in the womb
• Learn how to welcome the newborn baby into the earth of this world

Module 2 Title: Growth, Navigating Change with Peace and Courage

Theme: The soul’s journey of knowledge and gratitude leading to the perfection of character traits and virtues. 

You will: 

• Define and perfect your character through the examples of the prophets and perfect women; become the prophets of your time and the secrets of the perfect women
• Explore the Aql, the intellect, its role in perception, and the worlds of jabarut and lahut through Quranic surahs  
• Study the virtues of courage, flexibility, tawwakul, and resourcefulness to support you in your ministry
• Immerse your being in the Litany of Opening 
• Understand the power of words and their impact on healing the heart, soothing the soul, and uplifting the spirit
• Learn how to heal using sacred ink, ruqyas, sacred healing water, and healing ayats for yourself and others
• Practice ministering to parents and teenagers
• Understand judgements and how to speak truth to falsehood
• Learn to have difficult conversations and see behind to what Allah is asking

Module 3 Title: Continuation, Letting Go Into Love

Theme: The soul’s journey of return. Die before you die. Being the musk that embellishes the holy spirits.

You will learn: 

• Explore the journey of the soul in the dying process
• Learn how to wash and prepare the body for burial
• Learn how to write a will and advanced directive
• Open your understanding to include the Litany of the Earth, Qur’anic ayaats, and hadiths on death
• Study the janaza prayer and funeral rites across different traditions 
• Learn how to minister to the dying and the grieving family
• Discuss how the prophets grieved and how they died
• Understand death from Sufi perspective of “die before you die” and the continuation of the soul from fana to baqa.

Module 4 Title: Community and Social Justice

Theme: Understanding diversity and inclusivity in Unity. Walking in community, interfaith dialogue.

You will: 

• Experience what weakens and makes a community thrive
• Explore how to build safe and inclusive communities studying the constitution of Medina as an example
• Study the Prophet’s last sermon and his letter to the Christians
• Simulate an interfaith gathering and learn how to participate in an interfaith dialogue to bring harmony, understanding and peace
• Learn how to write a speech or prayer that is inclusive
• Study basic human rights and what the quran says about economic justice, environmental justice and social justice
• Explore the common ground of the Abrahamic faiths and discover your unique gifts and how they serve humanity to make a difference in the world
• Learn to lead dhikr and open the subtle energy centers (lataif) to support you and others in the sufi walking of fana, baqa and the unity
• Navigate the stations of the way for purification and beautification; to embody the Divine names and manifest those in action and service

Module 5 Title: Completion, Being the Khalifah of Your Time

Theme: What it means to be a messenger and carry the message of peace, love, mercy, justice, and freedom. 

“Look with the eye that is full of love and mercy Talk with the tongue full of love and politeness then you will be manifesting the divine qualities that Allah commanded you to manifest.”

You will: 

• Study and experience Shadhili’s Litany of Subtle Tender Mercy
• Explore how success, confidence, certainty and skills now shape your ministry
• Learn how to facilitate groups for support and learning
• What are the different roles that chaplains/ministers participate in and how to take your next step
• Learn how to perform ceremonies related to celebrations, such as Sufi spiritual weddings, washing and preparing the body, performing funerals, and facilitating various support groups and retreats. 
• Explore the sacredness in service through the examples of the holy women and men
• Learn to support the principles in Sufism related to our human rights and its application for justice and freedom 
• Identify the qualities of world leaders and how they inspire world change
• Recite Shadhiliyy litanies, quranic ayats and explore the deeper meanings of the sharia, tariqa and haqiqa as well as their purpose and foundations
• Complete and present final practicum/thesis

If you would like to learn more about
whether this is the right program for you…

Schedule a personal call with our admissions director!

Rahma Tracy Caraway
1-800-238-3060 ext 701
admissions@sufiuniversity.org

Payment plans and financial assistance available!

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