This article will focus on one such quality of the heart, namely a “sound heart” (qalbi salim). In attempting to understand what it is to have a sound heart, this article will examine the importance of the heart within Islam, include a linguistic analysis of qalb and salim, explore the two explicit mentions of a sound heart within the Qur’an, survey the commentary literature to understand the traditional elaborations on this concept, furnish these understandings with the Hadith literature, and see what, if any, depth can be added with analogous reasoning.

This article originally appeared in Journal of Sufi Studies, Vol. 11 (2022).  Introduction With an increase in scholarly attention to the history of Islam in Australia, it is becoming evident that Muslims have had a greater involvement in this country than is often recognised. Studies have been published on the various waves of Muslim migration to Australia, the impact … Continue reading On the History of Sufism in Australia: A Manuscript from the Broken Hill Mosque →

Broken Hill Times – Cameleer history comes to the forefront Between the 1860s and 1920s, an estimated 2000 to 4000 cameleers, predominantly from South Asia and the Middle East, transported goods across the Australian interior to support infrastructure, postal routes and remote settlements. ABC News – Broken Hill’s 1915 Picnic Train Attack was not terrorism, … Continue reading Interviews →

Allah states within the Qur’an “We will show them Our signs on the horizons and within themselves, until verily they know that this is the Truth” (41: 53). This paper will take a twofold and interrelated approach to this verse, providing a commentary on this verse and, in doing so, draw out a hermeneutic tool that can be applied to the Qur’an as a whole. In order to understand this verse and highlight one particular hermeneutical approach, key elements within the verse will need to examined, such as “Our,” the “signs,” “the horizons,” “within themselves,” and “the Truth.” The aim of exploring these elements is to show how a particular understanding of their combination highlights the correlation between the showing of the signs and the individual knowing the relationship between the signs and the Truth. It is suggested that the process of showing, coupled with the subsequent knowing, makes possible the elucidation of a hermeneutic tool that will here be called soteriological semiotics. Through a tentative description of soteriologial semiotics, it will be shown that, in taking account of the signs and the individual’s reception of them, this hermeneutic tool can provide a framework for examining the method of communication from the Creator to the creation.

Spirituality is seen to be an important aspect of patient-centered practice. However, heavy focus on the scientific and technical aspects in modern clinical teaching misses key elements of holistic patient-centered care. Incorporating spirituality in the provision of healthcare may foster better communication, respect, and empathy. This article focuses on a series of interprofessional education sessions directed at undergraduate health students that have become a regular part of the Broken Hill Rural Clinical School undergraduate training programme. The sessions promote an increased understanding of world faiths to improve the patient-centered focus of healthcare. The authors discuss and outline the findings from interactive interprofessional education sessions focused on the Islamic faith, conducted in a regional city of New South Wales, Australia. A voluntary self-reporting survey was used to gain an understanding of participant reflections and perceptions. Students from a range of health disciplines – medicine, nursing, speech pathology, dietetics, and pharmacy – attended three separate education sessions focused on Islam. Students indicated that the interprofessional learning (IPL) sessions enhanced their understanding of Islam along with the confidence and readiness to ask questions about the spiritual needs of patients and families. Students indicated the activity was beneficial, both personally and professionally. They also voiced their willingness to attend similar sessions on other world’s faiths. Students who have attended these sessions have articulated their intention to be more aware of the spiritual needs of their patients and to make changes to their practice when engaged in future health activities.