In this episode of EZ Conversations, Dr. Abdallah Rothman discusses his journey to Islam and his lifelong pursuit of understanding the human soul. Engaging in a deep exploration of self, spirituality, and psychology, Dr. Rothman shares how his experiences across various cultures and religious traditions culminated in his embrace of Islam. He emphasizes the importance of the heart, the ego, and the intellect in achieving wholeness and submission to God. Dr. Rothman also touches on the limitations of current psychological practices and the potential for integrating Islamic principles to achieve more profound healing. Listeners will gain insights into the intersection of faith and psychology and the continuous journey of self-discovery and spiritual Growth.
Dr. Abdallah Rothman is the Founder and Director of Dar al-Shifaa, the Head of Islamic Psychology at Cambridge Muslim College, and the co-founder and President of the International Association of Islamic Psychology. He holds an MA and a PhD in psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC).
Links:
www.abdallahrothman.com
www.dar-al-shifaa.com
YouTube: @DrAbdallahRothman
Instagram: @daralshifaa_wellbeing
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
01:24 Dr. Rothman’s Journey to Islam
02:19 The Essence of Psychology and the Soul
05:31 Exploring Different Cultures and Spiritual Practices
08:01 Finding Commonality in Human Experience
23:48 The Turning Point: Embracing Islam
47:21 Embracing Loss and Finding Freedom
48:05 Understanding Shame in Islam
49:38 Misinterpretation and Manipulation of Religion
52:54 The Role of the Heart in Healing
53:52 Integrating Western Psychology with Islamic Teachings
01:06:58 The Concept of Nafs and Ego
01:14:23 The Importance of the Heart in Spirituality
01:23:58 The Role of the Intellect and Wisdom
01:28:17 Conclusion and Resources
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I am a men's coach, therapist, group facilitator, podcaster and author. My journey began five years ago when I was going through a separation. I found myself alone and in a shame spiral that our culture and society covertly exert on people due to the perceived "failure" of a marriage. Unfortunately, I personalized that message which led me to fall deeper into a hole, causing me to surround myself with people that did not serve me and engage in substance abuse. While seeking therapy, I was not making the wholesale changes I needed.
As part of my experience with therapy, I realized that I am not alone in the challenges men my age experience (I separated at the age of 34/35). I realized I could be a voice for men like myself and offer support in this space. In the middle of the pandemic, I applied for a Master's degree in Psychology to become a therapist. This change was a significant shift for me as I worked in the corporate world as an engineer. Once I leaned into the space of supporting other men, I also started a podcast to normalize these difficult conversations and started a men's group a year later with the support of a friend.
I thought I was giving something back when I started the men's group. However, I quickly realized I was getting substantially more from the connections I built than I initially anticipated. It was also something I needed because I was going through another breakup.
At that point, I also realized that I had not taken the time to heal, and I was outsourcing my healing through romantic relationships, substances, material acquisitions and superficial relationships. I decided to step away from the outgoing lifestyle and started to focus on my healing which was another phase of evolution for me on my journey. Over the last year and a half, I have become mindful of the people I spend my time with. I have cleaned my lifestyle of substances, toxic environments and behaviours. I have focused on my sleep, my health and my knowledge. I have improved my spiritual relationship with myself, which was lacking the most over the past five years. This is the best I have felt.
As part of my solitude journey and to find myself again, I also released a book encapsulating my journey, which I hope to share with others. My book is titled: The Pursuit of Self-Love.
