Physicians of the Heart: A Sufi View of the Ninety-Nine Names of Allah Paperback – September 1, 2011

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 is a masterful compilation by four talented Sufi teachers with richly varying backgrounds. 3 years ago I started reading it casually. Now I use it as a daily study guide of the beautiful names and spend a good amount of time with it everyday. It ia a winderful blessing to be immersed in the Beautiful Names!

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.

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.

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.

The 99 names of God (in reality they are more than that) are an amazing treasure of wisdom, and this book is the right key to open it for a modern reader. The authors dive deep into the meanings of the Arabic words and their roots and unfold the meaning of the names from this side. And they combine this research with deep psychological insights. All 4 authors are practicing Sufi masters themselves, and they share their experience how the recitation of certain names works and what influence it can have on the psyche of the adepts. This book is the best I know concerning the 99 names, and it is interesting to read both as introduction into the theme and as guide to work with.

A great book but unfortunately it came damaged from the packaging. The bottom front cover corner and pages are bent