The Hikmah Project

1. The Mountain and the Mirror

2. Climbing into Emptiness

3. The Ascent Within

4. Where Heaven Meets Earth

5. Not to Conquer, but to Surrender

6. The Call of the Mountain

7. Footsteps on the Path

8. Between Ice and Light

9. The Sacred Climb

10. Higher Than Everest

From the reading:

Daily Practice: The Art of Stumbling Gracefully

Today, when you inevitably fall short of your own expectations, whether you lose your temper, waste time, or struggle with your fast, do not turn away from God in shame. Instead, practice Immediate Return. Catch the moment of failure, pause, and present your weakness to God without excuses. Say, internally or aloud: "O Sustainer, this is my poverty. I bring my brokenness to Your generosity." Do not wallow in guilt. Imagine the laughter of the Prophet ﷺ, a laughter of expansive mercy, making your affair light. Let your mistake make you humble, soften your heart toward the mistakes of others, and then simply begin again.

Journaling Prompt

Think of a time recently when you felt you deeply failed yourself or God. How did you react? Did you try to hide, or did you try to overcompensate? What would it look like to bring that exact failure directly to Al-Kareem (الكريم), asking Him to transform it into a moment of grace? Write down the honest words you would say.

Please visit www.thehikmahproject.com for accompanying notes

Please visit https://www.thehikmahproject.com/ for podcast notes

Please see www.thehikmahproject.com for accompanying notes

Salima Adelstein is Co-President of UoS and Academic Dean for the Spiritual Ministry degree programs. She is Founder and Spiritual Director of the Farm of Peace, a Sufi healing retreat center and community. As a Sufi Mystic, Master Healer and Teacher, she has guided students to the Truth for over 25 years. Salima is co-author of A Drop in the Ocean of Love and teaches seminars nationally and internationally. Salima’s vision is that all people discover and embody the deep truth of their beauty and essence, bringing to the world their divine gift from God. Her heart is filled with the joy and compassion that results from living in the heart of God.

Guest

Humaira Masihuddin is a lawyer based in Islamabad and holds LLM in Public International Law from the University of London, LLB (shariah and law) from the International Islamic University, MA in Cultural Anthropology from University of Pittsburgh USA and an MSC in Criminal Justice Studies from University of Leicester in UK. She is a criminologist cum victimologist and and has been visiting faculty in a number of law enforcement and security training schools including, Punjab Police College Sihala, Police Training School in Islamabad, Federal Police Academy and the Federal Judicial Academy, Defence services academy. 

She started judicial trainings in 2006 and has since then trained Family court judges, Additional District and session judges, ATC judges and prosecutors in diverse subjects such as Therapeutic jurisprudence, guardianship and custody issues, women specific legislation Etc., 

She has twenty three years of experience as a trainer in the criminal justice system and has besides judges trained police officers, lawyers , prison staff and investigators She regularly imparts trainings on Theories of Criminality, Criminology of violent extremism and Terrorism, Interrogation, Victimology, Gender based violence, Policing of Vulnerable Groups and fundamental rights in the constitution of Pakistan. Diverse topics including the concept of Multiculturalism and Pluralism with special reference to Islamic teachings, Human Rights, Rights of Minorities in Islam and other topics are also taught by her on various forums as part of her social engineering project. 

Humaira has worked on a wide range of issues as a consultant for various organizations including enabling environment for minorities in electoral and political processes, She was Technical advisor for project Police Awam Saath Saath, assignment included sharing of media products with police , lawyers and others , research on police heroes and best practices. Sexual harassment at the work place. Procedural defects in laws related to offenses against religions, comparative study of Blasphemy laws in Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh and India. Pluralism and treatment of minorities, Trafficking, Child sexual abuse. Street children and prevention of HIV/ AIDS.

Podcast Summary:

In this episode of The Hikmah Project Podcast, host Saqib Safdar warmly welcomes lawyer and scholar Humera Nasihadin to explore the life and philosophy of one of the East's greatest visionaries—Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Saqib, a long-time admirer of Iqbal's work, introduces Humera as an expert who has been studying and teaching Iqbal for over two decades. With degrees in law, anthropology, and Sharia, she brings a unique perspective to Iqbal's deep, multi-faceted thought.

The conversation spans Iqbal’s significant contributions to poetry, philosophy, and Islamic thought, focusing on his key concepts like Khudi (selfhood) and his deep spiritual connection to Rumi. Humera discusses how Iqbal drew inspiration from the Qur'an, blending traditional Islamic values with a forward-looking vision to meet the challenges of modernity. She explains that Iqbal’s poetry is not just to be understood intellectually but felt deeply, as it touches the soul and offers universal insights.

Together, Saqib and Humera recite and analyze some of Iqbal’s most poignant verses, bringing out their relevance to contemporary issues like nationalism and the Palestinian cause. Humera highlights Iqbal’s role as a spiritual and philosophical leader whose timeless wisdom continues to inspire generations. She also shares personal anecdotes about how Iqbal's influence extended beyond the intellectual to deeply spiritual realms, resonating with anyone seeking to understand the profound relationship between humanity and the Divine.

The episode concludes with reflections on how to study Iqbal today, especially for younger generations who may lack access to the Urdu language, but whose thirst for his teachings remains strong. Iqbal's message of self-actualization, love for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and unity of the Muslim Ummah remains as relevant today as ever.

Please visit www.thehikmahproject.com for full notes

Introduction:

• Mark’s book, Heart-Centered Business, is dedicated to Al Amin, highlighting the deep trust and love Mark strives to embody in commerce and life.

Mark Silver's Journey:

• Raised in a Jewish family, Mark dreamed of becoming a rabbi but felt something was missing.
• While exploring deeper spirituality and starting his journey with business owners, he encountered Sufism through teachers from the lineage of Sheikh Muhammad Jamal.
• Initially, Mark struggled with his transition from Judaism to Sufism, feeling conflicted about betraying his heritage.
• A profound spiritual experience led him to fully embrace Sufism, taking shahada and finding healing between his Jewish and Islamic identities.

Sufism and Business:

• Sufism’s teachings deeply influenced Mark’s approach to business, focusing on love, integrity, and the sacredness of relationships.
• He emphasizes that business, often seen as detached from spirituality, can be an act of love and service, challenging modern capitalism’s toxicity.

Heart-Centered Business:

• Mark founded Heart of Business in 2001 to help entrepreneurs integrate spirituality with the practical aspects of running a business.
• His approach involves seeing business as a dynamic set of relationships, not just transactions, encouraging entrepreneurs to cultivate curiosity, compassion, and a healthy relationship with money.

Key Themes and Quotes:

1. Dedication to Al Amin:

• Mark admires the trustworthiness and integrity of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), striving to embody these qualities in his business practices.

1. Love in Business:

• Love, if unleashed, could transform the world of business, making it a part of a culture that lifts and serves everyone.

1. Essence of Business:

• Business lies in the aliveness of relationships, not just in transactions or systems.

1. Healthy Relationships:

• Healthy businesses necessitate healthy relationships, avoiding the pitfalls of unhealthy dynamics.

1. Curiosity and Shame:

• Cultivating curiosity is crucial as it shifts the internal narrative, softening judgment, and opening the heart to truth and possibility, countering shame.

1. Seeing the Divine in Business:

• Every aspect of business, including clients, colleagues, and even money, should be viewed as an expression of the divine.

Practical Application:

• Mark's work involves practical business coaching, spiritual guidance, and retreats to help entrepreneurs align their business practices with their spiritual values.
• His virtual retreats offer a space for deep spiritual practice, helping participants gain insights and make decisions aligned with their heart’s guidance.

Conclusion:

• Saqib and Mark discuss the importance of integrating spirituality with business, emphasizing that such integration can lead to profound transformation and healing in the business world.
• Listeners are encouraged to explore Mark's work and consider how they can bring more heart-centered approaches to their own business practices.

Contact and Further Information:

• Listeners can learn more about Mark Silver and Heart of Business at https://www.heartofbusiness.com, where they can find resources, assessments, and information on joining the community for support and growth in heart-centered business practices.

Fawzia Al-Rawi holds a PhD in Islamic studies. She completed her Arabic, Islamic and ethnological studies at the Universities of Vienna and Cairo. She then spent 12 years in Jerusalem where she brought up her children and worked at the Institute for the Promotion of Palestinian Agriculture and at the University of Jerusalem, while deepening both her theoretical and practical knowledge of Sufism under the guidance of Sidi Shaykh Muhammad Al-Rifai. She has been living in Vienna with her husband and their three children since 2001.

Fawzia Al-Rawi has been teaching Sufism for over 25 years. She holds workshops in various countries and works particularly with women. Her teachings draw on a wealth of experience from a bicultural environment which uniquely enables her to build a bridge of understanding between different cultures, open a space where these can meet and thus contribute to peace. Further details can be found on her website

Dr Sh Usama Hasan reads Purification of the Gnostics by Ibn Arabi