MSI Press Blog

Every faith has its outer form — rituals, laws, doctrines — and its inner flame: the longing to experience the Divine directly. Sufism is that inner flame within Islam. Yet its light is not unique to one tradition; it glows in the contemplative heart of Christianity and the mystical depths of Judaism as well. Christianity: The Contemplative and Mystical Path In Christianity, the Sufi spirit finds its echo in Christian mysticism — the inward journey toward union with God through love and surrender. St. John of the Cross , St. Teresa of Ávila , and Meister Eckhart wrote of the soul’s purification and its merging with divine presence. Practices such as contemplative prayer , silence , and the “dark night of the soul” parallel Sufi dhikr (remembrance) and fana (ego dissolution). Judaism: The Kabbalistic and Hasidic Streams In Judaism, the mystical counterpart is Kabbalah , later flowering into Hasidism . Kabbalah explores the hidden architecture of creation and the soul’s ascent towa...

  Islamic Humanism is one of those phrases that makes people pause. It sounds familiar—“humanism” is a word we associate with Renaissance thinkers, secular ethics, and the dignity of the individual—but paired with “Islamic,” it becomes something richer, older, and surprisingly contemporary. Islamic Humanism is not a modern invention. It is a deep current running through Islamic intellectual history, resurfacing today as Muslims around the world explore how faith and human dignity can reinforce one another rather than compete. Humanism, but not Secular Humanism To understand Islamic Humanism, it helps to start with what it isn’t . It is not secular humanism, which grounds human worth in human reason alone. Islamic Humanism begins with God, but it insists that God’s creation—the human being—is endowed with reason, moral agency, and intrinsic worth. In this view, honoring humanity is part of honoring God. The Qur’an repeatedly addresses human beings as thinking, choosing, responsible ...

  Calling God a Rock is a major divine epithet. It carries a cluster of meanings: strength, protection, permanence, reliability, and life‑giving power. Christianity inherits this imagery directly. Islam does not commonly use “Rock” as a divine name, though it shares the underlying ideas of God as steadfast, unshakeable, and protective, expressed through different metaphors. 🪨 1. Why “Rock” in the Bible? The Hebrew Bible uses ṣūr (“rock”) as a formal title for God. A major scholarly study identifies four core functions of this epithet: Protective agency — God as fortress, refuge, shelter Strength — God as unmovable, reliable, unassailable Ontological status — God as the stable ground of existence Creator — God as the one from whom life and sustenance flow (e.g., water from the rock) This is why verses like: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress” (Ps 18:2) “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD is an everlasting rock” (Isa 26:4) are so central. The metaphor is not casual — i...

  In Islam, Mary — Maryam in Arabic — is deeply revered, honored far more than many non‑Muslims realize. She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an and has an entire chapter dedicated to her: Surah Maryam . Here’s how her role is understood: 🌿 Maryam: The Pure and Chosen One The Qur’an calls her “chosen above all women of the worlds” (Qur’an 3:42). She is celebrated for her faith, chastity, and obedience to God. Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus ( Isa ), seeing it as a miracle by God’s command — “Be, and it is.” Mary is not divine, nor is she part of a trinity; she is a human exemplar of devotion and purity . 🕊️ Mary in Islamic Devotion Muslims do not pray to Mary or venerate her as an intercessor. She is honored in sermons, art, and literature as a model of righteousness and courage. Her story is often told to inspire trust in God’s will , especially among women and families. ✨ Shared Reverence Across Faiths Like Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Musl...