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What is Sharia in Sufism?

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  What Is Sharia in Sufism? When people hear the word Sharia , they often think of Islamic law, religious regulations, or even the harsh punishments sometimes associated with extremist interpretations of Islam. When they hear the word Sufism , however, they may think of mysticism, spiritual love, poetry, meditation, and the search for union with the Divine. At first glance, these two concepts may seem very different. One appears concerned with rules and behavior; the other, with the inner life of the soul. Yet in traditional Sufi thought, Sharia and Sufism are not opposites. They are intimately connected. To understand why, we need to look beyond the popular understanding of Sharia and explore how Sufis understand the relationship between outward conduct and inward spiritual transformation. What Does Sharia Mean? The Arabic word Sharia (sharīʿa) is often explained as referring to a path leading to water—a particularly meaningful image in the desert cultures of Arabia, where water ...
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Top 10 Blog Posts of October 2026: #9. What happens to children whose mothers are trapped in drug addiction?

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  Some childhoods are shaped by bedtime stories, family rituals, and a sense of safety. Others are shaped by uncertainty. When a mother is trapped in drug addiction, children often find themselves living in two worlds at once. In one world, they still love their mother deeply. In the other, they struggle to understand why the person they depend upon seems increasingly unavailable, unpredictable, or absent. The tragedy is not that the love disappears. The tragedy is that addiction often stands between the love and the child's ability to receive it. Living in a World of Instability Children thrive on predictability. They need to know who will pick them up from school, whether dinner will be available, and whether home will feel safe when they walk through the door. Drug addiction can disrupt these basic expectations. Routines become unreliable. Plans change unexpectedly. Moments of stability may be followed by periods of chaos. For a child, the result is often constant uncertainty. O...
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Racing against Time (Weiss) is Finalist (Sports) in the Best Book Awards/American Book Fest

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  Congratulations to Jeffrey Weiss whose book,  Racing against Time , was recently selected as a finalist in the Best Books Awards/American Book Fest competition Book Description: In Racing Against Time , Jeff Weiss shares the story of his late middle-age transformation.  Weiss went from running a first 10K race at age 48 to becoming an Ironman and ultramarathoner by his late 50s.  Along the way he discovers the extraordinary physical and emotional benefits that flow from chasing ever-increasing fitness goals.  Weiss’s journey shows us that we have the power to influence how we age, that goal-setting and adventure are not solely the province of the young.  At a time when so many of us are looking for ways to increase our health span – that portion of life that we spend in good health – Weiss’s story shows us one way to get there.   Keywords: midlife fitness transformation, running after 40, Ironman after 50. ultramarathon training in your 50s, lat...
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Fitness and Motherhood: Adapting Exercise to a Changing Life

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  Becoming a mother changes many things: daily routines, priorities, sleep patterns, responsibilities, and, often, a woman's relationship with her own body. For women who have maintained an active lifestyle, the transition to motherhood may require some adjustments to their fitness routines. For women who have never exercised regularly, motherhood may provide a new motivation to become physically stronger and healthier. The important point is that motherhood does not mean abandoning fitness. It means adapting fitness to new circumstances. Those adaptations may begin during pregnancy, continue through postpartum recovery, and evolve as children grow. Some are physical. Others are practical, psychological, or simply matters of time management. Pregnancy: Adjusting Rather Than Abandoning Exercise For most women experiencing uncomplicated pregnancies, physical activity remains both possible and beneficial. Indeed, maintaining an appropriate exercise routine can help manage fatigue, imp...
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