Physicians of the Heart: A Sufi View of the Ninety-Nine Names of Allah

This is an incredibly beautiful, well-researched, provocative, and ultimately deeply uplifting book (for those who take time with it and are willing to try to do the work). Even for a non-practitioner of this faith-tradition, there is a treasure trove of insight to be gained. Combining classical, orthodox Islamic hadith and direct quotations from Qur'an--as well as interpretations thereof--the reader gets to listen in on four men discussing the names of Allah, the qualities or properties associated with God's being (of which, according to some Sufi Masters, each of us is a unique blend). Comparable to the many honorifics or epithets used when referring to God in the Tanakh / Old Testament and the New Testament, the 99 names of Allah are discussed through lenses of personal experiences, psychoanalytic theory, Sufi stories and poetry, contemporary psychological interpretations, and healthy doses of introspection, science and laughter. Each section begins with the etymology of the particular name or quality of God. The authors give the Arabic root from which the name comes and reflect on related meanings. Imam Bilal contributes his extensive knowledge of both Qur'anic and Modern Standard Arabic. Imam Bilal is also completely lacking in any arrogance or pride that could (understandably) come with that level of linguistic authority. So many commentators on Qur'an, from the legalist, juridical types on the one hand to more personal or abstract interpreters come off as frustratingly full-of-themselves... not so here. None of the four teachers is that way in this remarkable text. Go on, buy it now and put it next to your other favorite reference books and stop reading what I have to say. (Oh yeah, on a personal note this book has been extremely helpful to me.) This book is in relation to Islamic mysticism what Yuri Gagarin's first view of Earth was to our planet. Yeah, I said it.

This work was definitely inspired. I read many books in the Islamic spiritual genre, & the depth & beauty of this book makes it a gem. It looks at the 99 Names from a truly a holistic approach, giving you the meanings of the roots of the words, how they relate & connect to each other, the psychological & spiritual implications, and how to use these divine names as a tool for inner healing & spiritual alchemy. The authors also interlace the text with teachings from other faiths & disciplines, like psychology, which gives you the gift of a broad understanding & at the interconnectedness & majesty of creation & our Creator. There is just so much value in this quite massive volume. I actually also bought the Kindle version after owning the book so that I could have a portable version. The language is eloquent, poetic, and written in a way that grasps your heart, mind, and soul. It is my favorite human authored book.

This is perhaps the most comprehensive presentation of the 99 names of Allah in English. I first purchased it on Kindle, but found myself reading it some much and wanting to flip to different pages that I got a hard copy as well. I was very surprised to see how large of a book it is. This book took quite a long time to put together; and the quality and depth of the material shows. They have done a nice job of grouping the 99 names along various themes. Unlike other books I've read, this gives recommendations on how to recite the different names together for a more balanced practice. For example, the names Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim are often recited together as are Al-Ghaffar and Al-Ghafur. There are reasons for this, which are discussed in the book. One really nice extra is that they have a website dedicated to assisting one in correct pronunciation of the 99 names. They have 3 different speakers reciting the names so that one really understands the pronunciation.

Alhamdulillah! Absolutely beautiful exposition on the many facets of God/Allah and how these intersect with creation and human embodiment. Thank you so much for this offering. This book will change your life if you let it. It will set you on a path of healing from the anthropomorphized, masculine, judgmental God in the sky that unfortunately sits on the throne of many of today's religious practices. Don't forget to pair with the card deck!

This is a powerful reference, resource, teaching book for both individual growth and as a guidebook for those teachers who are drawn to become physicians of the heart. The 99 Names of Allah are manifestations of the qualities of Allah. As the reader goes deeply into the attributes he/she is led to the essence, because the attributes are manifestations of the essence - they are invocations of the presence of Allah and evoke relationships that reveal God's presence. The Names all dissolve in Allah. The book requires prayerful and contemplative work to both understand and practice using the Names for transformation, healing and wisdom. One must experience the states of the different Names. The authors did a more than excellent job of dispelling traditional and modern knowledge of the Names - especially how they can be combined and how they work together in pairs and groups... The book contains layers and layers of valuable and practical wisdom. Recommended.

Everywhere you look it is a representation of the creator, like a potter making pottery its represents the potters culture, history and essence. And so learn them and you will learn Him (ALLAH (SWT))

If you want to learn about Sufism, This is an excellent place to start. Concise, well written, it brings the essence of Sufism in an easy to understand manner. The presentation gets a little tongue tied when it comes to the actual 99 names of Allah - a Sufi recitative practice - but that's a small blemish in an otherwise excellent book.

This book is so very helpful for people on a spiritual quest. Well sourced, written & wonderful to share. Especially Sufis who are on their own Path.

On time and in good shape. Thanks

An amazing compilation of Allah's 99 names with meanings, sounds, Quranic stories for the whole family to read and discuss together for spiritual uplift and source of positive thoughts.

This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read; heart-opening, transcendent, deeply transformative. Written by a group of Sufi scholars, I am in awe of their dedication, devotion, love, and knowledge. I loved learning more about the Arabic language, was delighted by the book's website where you can hear the names pronounced by several speakers, and found that just reading the book was a deep meditation. Despite the depth of the content, the authors write in an engaging, accessible style. It really was a pleasure to read. Now that I've finished the book I have every intention of starting again at the beginning!

Un libro muy profundo sobre las dimensiones de concepto de Dios. Va más allá de la religión, conecta la religión con la psicología y superación. Me nutre, me apoya, me cura y me enseña a aceptar la vida pase lo que pase.

Cet ouvrage est un chef d’œuvre à tous les niveaux. Il offre une étude très riche, profonde des 99 noms de Dieu selon la vision des Soufis. Il propose des combinaisons de noms pour transformer l'égo, guérir des problématiques intérieurs, et se rapprocher de la divinité. Il traite de problèmes universels avec beaucoup de finesse, notamment reliés au grandissement intérieur. Des ponts sont construits avec d'autres traditions. Il porte une ouverture d'esprit qui caractérise ceux qui ont réalisé un travail certain sur eux-mêmes, et boivent l'eau pure de leur tradition, l'eau de l'amour, loin des dogmes et autres sectarismes. Je ne connaissais pas grand chose à la tradition musulmane, et pourtant en le lisant, j'étais émerveillé. Ce livre parle de l'humain dans toute sa richesse, et il conforte en moi l'idée que d'une part, on peut transmettre quelque chose de profondément authentique et nourrissant dans un livre, et d'autre part, quand on est authentique et spirituel, on sait se faire comprendre même par les personnes d'autres traditions. En fait, on se sent un derrière des vêtements différents. Les auteurs ont fait un site web ou les 99 noms sont récités lentement, pour savoir comment bien prononcer. Ce livre est une offrande, qui au vu de sa richesse et de son ouverture d'esprit, se destine à toutes celles et ceux qui se sentent touchés, indépendamment de leur religion (ou non religion).