Abstract
“You know, My God, how the other has violated my rights. Keep his oppression away from me through your strength!” In prayer fourteen of The Sahifa Sajjadia, Imam Zayn al-Abideen shows how prayer can engage with political and social oppression. After surviving the Battle of Karbala in 680, Imam Zayn al-Abideen, the great-grandson of Prophet Muhammad, lived a secluded, politically quietist life. His presence was seen as a threat by the Umayyad government, who recognized him as a rival leader. During this period, he documented his prayers, sharing them with his family and companions. These prayers, addressing human suffering, are compiled in The Sahifa Sajjadia. Henry Corbin (1981) defines prayer as a “dialogic situation” where one reveals themselves to God in reciprocity, which he calls “theophanic prayer.” For Corbin, the theophanic prayer is a living situation with a reciprocal nature between the one who prays and the divine, fostering personal transformation. In my PhD research, I explore these themes by creating a commentary of The Sahifa Sajjadia for psychotherapy. This presentation uses prayer fourteen and Corbin’s definition to reflect on how prayer helps engage with both personal and collective suffering. Additionally, I examine prayer’s role in mental health care during political and social crises. As a British Kashmiri Shi’ah Muslim psychotherapist, I offer this presentation in response to the increasing despair experienced by Muslims and others, particularly in light of the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Presenters
Anjum ShahStudent, PhD Counselling and Psychotherapy, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Islam, Psychotherapy, Prayer, Shi'ah Islam, Suffering, Politics, Crisis, Genocide
