Mindfulness Based Sufism Intervention: Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction

Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist spirituality, but the concept can be applied across religious traditions. Religion, ethics, and spirituality play an important role in the practice of mindfulness, but there is concern among Muslim scholars that adaptations of mindfulness rooted in Buddhist traditions and developed in the West may bring cultural influences that are inconsistent with Islamic teachings.

Objectives

This systematic review aims to explore the concept of mindfulness based Sufism intervention in various literature and examine existing evidence regarding the effectiveness of mindfulness based Sufism intervention on mental health.

Methods

The databases used in the search were PubMed, Sage, Springer and Taylor & Francis. The scope of this review intentionally includes both conceptual and empirical studies, encompassing a wide range of research types such as field-based interventions, observational studies, and literature analyses. The population focus is general Muslims, without restriction to specific subgroups. The keywords used in the search are “Sufism” OR “Islamic” AND “Mindfulness”. Journal articles were screened using the PRISMA method. There were 10 articles related mindfulness and Sufism that met the inclusion criteria as data for analysis.

Results

Based on the results of the literature review, it can be found that mindfulness can be used as an intervention by Muslims by adapting traditions in Islamic spirituality or Sufism. The concept of mindfulness based Sufism intervention can be found in this literature review through several Islamic spiritual practices, namely shalat khusyu, prayer, dhikr and muraqabah. It has been proven to provide significant benefits in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression and fatigue, as well as improving mental health.

Conclusion

Mindfulness-Based Sufism Intervention (MBSI) offers a culturally grounded, ethically informed, and theologically integrated approach to enhance mental health among Muslim communities