About The Book

This engaging collection presents thirty essays by Muslim chaplains reflecting on their experiences as spiritual caregivers. Through their first-hand accounts, they impart how they skillfully apply the mercy and compassion of the Prophet Muhammad to the people in their care. They also share how their faith informs their service, how they navigate the obstacles of a predominantly Christian profession, and how they administer to the spiritual needs of people of different faiths or of no faith at all.

Working in a variety of settings—including hospitals, prisons, universities, and the armed forces—Muslim chaplains encounter unique challenges on a daily basis, requiring them to call upon the resources of their Islamic faith with wisdom and tenderness.  The contributors to this volume explore these circumstances vividly and honestly. Their personal stories are instructive of how Islamic principles can be employed with spiritual insight to bring strength and comfort to the sick and suffering.

Table of Contents

Note on Conventions / xiii

Foreword by Dr. Ingrid Mattson / xv

1. Editors’ Introduction / 3
Muhammad A. Ali, Omer Bajwa, Sondos Kholaki, and Jaye Starr

2.A Source of Strength / 15
Ibrahim J. Long

3. The Jihad of Self-Realization and Human Growth in Clinical Pastoral Education / 21
Jawad A. Bayat

4. Finding My Path / 29
Kaiser Aslam

5. Pastoral Care as an Islamic Tradition and Practice / 37
Bilal W. Ansari

6. A Theology of Spiritual Care Inspired by Allah’s Attributes / 44
Ali R. Candir

7. Su-Shi: Bridging the Intrafaith Divide / 53
Muhammad A. Ali

8. Centering Identities in the Divine /61
Amira Quraishi and Ailya Vajid

9. From Banana Leaves / 70
Samsiah Abdul-Majid

10. Mapping the Landscape of Muslim Chaplaincy in Higher Education / 79
Khalil Abdur-Rashid

11. Open Door, Open Heart / 85
Omer Bajwa

12.Islam at “Alcatraz of the Rockies” / 92
Fiazuddin Shuayb

13. Out of Necessity and of Love / 101
El-Farouk Khaki

14. A Chaplain’s Call for Pastoral Care in the Masjid / 112
Joshua Salaam

15. “Hurt People Hurt People” / 118
Lauren Schreiber

16. An Immigrant’s Journey to Chaplaincy / 126
Mustafa Boz

17. Chaplains: A Voice for the Alienated / 133
Ryan Carter

18. Islamic Chaplaincy and Black Muslim College Students / 142
Nisa Muhammad

19. And Then We Were One Before The One / 150
Taqwa Surapati

20. Drawing from the Five Pillars: A Chaplain’s Guide to Providing Deeper Spiritual Care / 158
Sondos Kholaki

21. Duʿâ: The Heart of Chaplaincy / 167
Khalid Latif

22.Sister Padres: Canada’s First Female Muslim Military Chaplains / 170
Barbara Lois Helms and Serap Bulsen

23. Paradise Beneath Her Feet: Chaplaincy in Birthing Spaces / 178
Jaye Starr

24. Oh Allah, Thank You for Your Service / 186
Jamal Bey

25. The Kinder Garden: Circles of Remembrance / 191
Kamau M. Ayubbi

26. Mercy to Self: Preserving the Gift of Empathy in Life’s Winters / 196
Tricia Pethic

27. What I Learn from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم About Death and Dying / 202
Sohaib N. Sultan

28. Lasting Grief in Hospice: Reflections of a Shiʿa Muslim Chaplain / 208
Sameer Ali

29. An Islamic Theology of Pastoral Care / 216
Rabia Terri Harris

30. Skipping Stones / 224
Azleena Salleh Azhar

31. Ziyara Spiritual Care: International Effort for Spiritual Support and Human Connection / 233
Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, with Sakinah Alhabshi and Taqwa Surapati

32.Epilogue: We Are Not Competitors, We Are Companions / 242
Sohaib N. Sultan

Acknowledgments / 245

Index / 247

About The Editors