In this interview, Associate Professor Shobhana Xavier from the School of Religions at Queen’s University shares her helpful insights into contemporary Sufism, particularly as practiced in Sri Lanka. We begin with her academic background and journey into the study of sufism, before exploring a wide range of compelling questions:

Whether you're a scholar, a student of Islamic thought, or simply curious about Sufi spirituality, this interview can help you.

#Sufism #IslamicMysticism #SriLanka #ShrinesInIslam #IbnArabi #Rumi #FaydKashani #ContemporarySufism #SufiTraditions #IslamicStudies

In this insightful interview, I, Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, speak with Professor Rebecca Ruth Gould, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Poetics and Global Politics at SOAS University of London, about the power of (Persian) poetry to express what cannot be said in prose or philosophy.

We explore:

About Professor Rebecca Ruth Gould:

Featured Projects & Links:

#PersianPoetry #Sufism #Translation #PoetryAndPolitics #Rumi #Hafez #ComparativePoetics #MiddleEasternStudies #IranianLiterature #persianpoem #sufism #rumi #poetry #poem

In this in-depth interview, I, Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, speaks with Dr. William Rory Dickson, Associate Professor of Religion and Culture at the University of Winnipeg, Canada, about his research on Sufism, his latest book Dissolving into Being: the Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy, and the practical dimensions of sufi philosophy.

 Timeline & Questions Answered:

Featured Book: William Rory Dickson, 2024, Dissolving into Being: the Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy. https://www.amazon.com/Dissolving-into-Being-Wisdom-Philosophy/dp/1905937776

#Sufism #IbnArabi #Metaphysics #FususAlHikam #IslamicMysticism #Spirituality #IslamicMetaphysics #practical_mysticism #love

What happens to Sufism when Muslim societies modernize? In this interview, I host Professor Oliver Scharbrodt to explore the transformation of Sufism from the premodern to the modern period, the place of reformist thinkers, and the complex relationship between Sufism, modernity, and political activism. 🎙 Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani

About the Guest: Oliver Scharbrodt, Professor of Islamic Studies, Lund University. Specialist in Sufism, Islamic modernity, and intellectual history. Author of numerous works on Sufi authority, reform, and Muslim intellectual traditions.

Key themes in this interview:

Recommended Works by Prof. Scharbrodt 

Prof. Scharbrodt’s Recommendation:

Most Comprehensive Modern Study of Sufism:

Books for Rethinking Orientalist Lenses & Understanding Islam’s Ambiguity

#Sufism #IslamicStudies #ModernIslam #IslamicReform #Tasawwuf #Irfan #Mysticism #IslamicPhilosophy #ibnarabi

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Professor Claudia Yaghoobi (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), as she discusses the enduring relevance of ʿAṭṭār, the Persian Sufi poet, and mystic. In this interview, we explore:

Timeline:

📚 Mentioned Book: Subjectivity in ʿAṭṭār, Persian Sufism, and European Mysticism by Prof. Claudia Yaghoobi

#Attar #PersianSufism #Mysticism #ClaudiaYaghoobi #ConferenceOfTheBirds #PersianPoetry #SpiritualAwakening #PhilosophyAndLiterature #SufiPoetry #LoveAndKnowledge

🌙 In this episode of the Shi‘i Mysticism Podcast, we explore one of the most beautiful, elegant, and profound supplications in Shi‘i spirituality: Munājāt al-ʿĀrifīn, “The Whispered Prayer of the Knowers of God.” This intimate prayer, written by Imam Zayn al-Abidin a.s. (Imam Sajjad, the fourth Shii Imam), blends theology, gnosis (irfan), and Islamic spirituality into a living path of inner transformation. The whispered prayer teaches that the true path to divine knowledge begins with humility before God’s Essence, recognizing the poverty of human intellect before the Infinite. It then invites the seeker into divine love, ethical purification, and spiritual nearness, painting a vision of hearts set aflame with longing and souls illuminated by the light of God.

Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani

#ShiismExplained #Irfan #MullaSadra #IslamicMysticism #ImamAliWisdom

How can mystical poetry awaken us to the deeper dimensions of love, patience, and hope? In this episode of the Shi'i Mysticism Podcast, we explain the moving verses of Shahriar, whose poetry expresses both longing and devotion toward the Perfect Human (insan al-kamil): Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). This poem, recited in its original Farsi and followed by in-depth English commentary, captures the essence of Persian mystical poetry, Islamic mysticism (irfan), sufism, and Shi‘i eschatology. Shahriar’s lament is not simply about absence; it is a profound meditation on union, separation, covenant, and the spiritual bond that transcends time and suffering. The imagery of roses, nightingales, thorns, and moonlight becomes a language of love, patience, and surrender to divine wisdom. His verses embody the paradox of mystical love—where pain becomes a sustaining force, guiding the soul closer to truth. 

Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani

#MysticalPoetry #Sufism #SpiritualWisdom #PoetryExplained #persianpoetry #shiism #shii__thought

Why was Adam forbidden from the Tree of Knowledge? In Shi‘i Mysticism, the story of Adam’s fall is not simply about sin or disobedience, but about humanity’s longing for divine knowledge. This episode explores Fayd Kashani's Poetic Theo-Mystical Anthropology, uncovering how the Fall represents humanity’s yearning for the hidden wisdom of the Ahl al-Bayt. Through classical Shi‘i texts, mystical commentary, and Persian poetry, we uncover how the Prophet and Imams' theology of light, Islamic esotericism, and Fayḍ’s vision of the Tree of Knowledge reveal profound truths about:

Watch more from Shi'i Mysticism Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HFFxjOWCPTZXunQ6B_xzBz6&si=kx-T_U38A6wnOQfw

Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani

Guiding Questions:

#ShiismExplained #Irfan #Shiism #IslamicMysticism #Imamology

In this episode of the Shi'i Mysticism Podcast, I explore a powerful qasida poem by the renowned Safavid-era mystic philosopher Fayd Kashani, dedicated to the Fourteen Infallibles. This mystical poem unveils the pre-creational realities of the Prophet Muhammad, Imam Ali, and the Ahl al-Bayt—celestial lights who existed before the material world. Fayd illustrates an emotive poetic narrative on how these divine lights were the first to glorify God, setting in motion a cosmic chain of praise joined by prophets, saints, and angels in a meta-cosmic symphony. The poem reflects on the Muhammadan Light as the first created reality, followed by the Light of Imam Ali, and then the rest of the holy family. As the poem transitions to the creation of the material world, the first physical body formed is Adam—the beginning of the human journey shaped by these divine archetypes. This episode delves deep into Shi'i cosmology, theo-mystical symbolism, and the rich poetic tradition of Fayd.

🔻Guiding Questions:

Watch related videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HFFxjOWCPTZXunQ6B_xzBz6&si=Wg_zcnxozswx_kEx

Watch more from Shi'i Mysticism Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HFFxjOWCPTZXunQ6B_xzBz6&si=kx-T_U38A6wnOQfw

Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani

#Shiism #FaydKashani #IslamicMysticism #AhlalBayt #Qasida #PersianPoetry #MuhammadanLight #ShiiteTheology #mysticalPoetry

What happens when a soul born of the sea is trapped in the dryness of the barnyard? In this the Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast, I explore a profound parable from Shams Tabrizi’s Discourses (Maqālāt)—the story of the duckling raised among chickens. This discourse conveys a mystical message: true seekers are drawn to divine depth, even when raised in shallow or worldly environments. Shams challenges us to recognize the difference between real spiritual longing and mere imitation. This tale calls us to return to our elemental truth, to leave the comfort of convention and enter the ocean of love and divine knowledge.

🔻 Guiding Questions:

#ShamsTabrizi #PersianPoetry #Sufism #SpiritualAwakening #MysticalWisdom