Mantle of Mercy: Islamic Chaplaincy in North America (Volume 1) (Spirituality and Mental Health)

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. There is a plethora of literature on the market about Christian-centered spiritual caregiving. In fact, many people associate chaplaincy with Christianity by default. Yet Islamthe worlds second-largest religionhas a devoted and growing community of chaplains as well. The number of books written for them, however, is greatly lacking. Responding to this need, four Muslim chaplains have compiled and edited this collection of essays, each of which is the account of a spiritual caregiver of the Islamic faith. Through the lens of their experiences, we learn of the tenderhearted and skillful ways that Muslim chaplains apply the mercy and compassion of the Prophet Muhammad to the individuals under their care. We additionally learn about the theology and philosophy that informs their service, the obstacles they face in navigating a predominately Christian profession, and how they administer to the spiritual needs of people of different faiths or of no faith at all. Whats more, Muslim chaplains work in a variety of environments, among them hospitals, universities, the armed forces, local communities, and correction facilities. Each locale presents its own challenges, and each is touched upon by the authors in this volume, with a focus on North America. Across the span of over thirty chapters, these vivid reflections show us the power of Islamic principles to bring strength and comfort to the sick and suffering. In addition, the personal approach of Mantle of Mercy is intended to correct certain misunderstandings about the Muslim faith and to promote the development of a curriculum that is both ethically and spiritually sound, and that is informed by the real-world experiences of Islamic chaplains. Table of Contents and Contributors: Foreword Ingrid Mattson Introduction Muhammad A. Ali, Omer Bajwa, Sondos Kholaki , and Jaye Starr A Source of Strength A CPE student finds his place in a medical team Ibrahim J. Long The Jihad of Self-Realization and Human Growth in Clinical Pastoral Education A CPE educator shares how Islam informs his pedagogy and theory of personality Jawad A. Bayat Finding My Path A university chaplain shares his discernment process Kaiser Aslam Pastoral Care as an Islamic Tradition & Practice The director of a chaplaincy degree program shares his journey and educational philosophy Bilal W. Ansari A Theology of Spiritual Care Inspired by Allahs Attributes A pastoral theology informed by God as The Compassionate, the Merciful, and the Kind Ali R. Candir Bridging the Interfaith Divide Muhammad A. Ali Navigating Identity Politics and Recentering in the Divine Campus chaplains share their efforts to redirect students from identity politics toward knowing oneself Amira Quraishi & Ailya Vajid From Banana Leaves A healthcare chaplain shares her journey as a female Muslim chaplain Samsiah Abdul-Majid Mapping the Landscape of Education Chaplaincy A campus chaplain presents a framework for understanding the different functions of the role Khalil Abdur-Rashid [Chapter Title TBD] A college chaplain reflects on his various roles through the theme of the days of the week Omer Bajwa Islam at Alcatraz of the Rockies A corrections chaplain shares his experience serving in an American supermax security facility Fiazuddin Shuayb Creating Space Drawing from his own journey and work, an imam addresses spiritual care for queer Muslims El-Farouk Khaki A Call for Pastoral Care in The Mosque A chaplain describes the potential for chaplaincy and a pastoral care mindset in mosques Joshua Salaam Hurt People Hurt People A third-space director shares the development of a restorative justice model for community violations Lauren Schreiber An Immigrants Journey to Chaplaincy A Turkish-trained imam shares his path confronting his own racism in a corrections setting Mustafa Boz Chaplains: A Voice for the Alienated A military chaplain explains microaggressions and their impact and the need for chaplains to be proactive in addressing them Ryan Carter Chaplaincy and Black Muslim Students A college chaplain presents research about Black Muslim students experiences and her recommendations for support Nisa Muhammad And Then We Were One Before The One An oncology chaplain explores use of self as a ministry tool relating to her practice of Islam Taqwa Surapati Drawing from the Five Pillars A healthcare chaplain explores how the fundamental practices of Islam inform her caregiving Sondos Kholaki Dua: The Heart of Chaplaincy A chaplain shares his approach to crafting prayer as an act of pastoral care Khalid Latif Sister Padres Canadas first female Muslim military chaplains share their journey to chaplaincy and what they bring to the profession Barbara Lois Helms & Serap Bulsen Paradise Beneath Her Feet: Chaplaincy in Birthing Spaces A healthcare chaplain shares how her faith informs her care amidst birthing hardship Jaye Starr Thank You For Your Service A military chaplain speaks to the isolation he has experienced as a Muslim service member Jamal Bey The Kinder Garden: Circles of Remembrance A healthcare chaplain shares the words of meditation from programs he leads in hospital Kamau M. Ayubbi Mercy to Self: Preserving the Gift of Empathy in Life's Winters A corrections chaplain shares her recovery journey following professional burnout Tricia Pethic What I Learn From the Prophet A dying chaplain reflects on the guidance his faith provides for the journey Sohaib N. Sultan Lasting Grief A hospice chaplain looks to how Shia teachings inform his understanding of grief Sameer Ali An Islamic Theology of Pastoral Care A pastoral caregiver examines her theology of suffering and the work necessary to uncover ones inner Light Rabia Terri Harris Skipping Stones A hospital chaplain wrestles with conflicting medical advice while accompanying a young international patient Azleena Salleh Azhar Ziyara Spiritual Care Healthcare chaplains share how they are taking palliative care education to Muslims around the world Kamal Abu-Shamsieh Afterword A farewell letter to colleagues Sohaib N. Sultan

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.