Stations of the Soul: A Guide to Spiritual Wayfaring
Description
Stations of the Soul: A Guide to Spiritual Wayfaring is a six-week guided study of the classical Islamic doctrine of the soul and the disciplined path of sulūk. Drawing upon Qurʾānic foundations, Prophetic teachings, and the teachings of Dr. Akram Almajid, this course maps the inner architecture of the human being through the seven stations of the soul: al-nafs al-ammāra, al-lawwāma, al-mulhama, al-muṭmaʾinna, al-rāḍiya, al-marḍiyya, and al-kāmila.
The course examines the moral, psychological, and metaphysical dimensions of these stations, clarifying how the soul transitions from appetite and heedlessness to illumination, contentment, and completion. Special attention is given to the subtle dangers of self-deception, the distinction between the righteous (al-abrār) and the near ones (al-muqarrabūn), and the unveiling of the heart within the Imaginal realm (ʿālam al-mithāl).
Beyond theory, the course presents the essential necessities (ḍarūriyyāt) of the path: companionship, spiritual resolve, guidance, taqwā, and invocation (adhkār). It clarifies the relationship between sharīʿa, ṭarīqa, and ḥaqīqa, and outlines the disciplined practices that protect and sustain the light of the heart.
The aim of the course is both conceptual understanding and refined self-awareness. Participants will learn how to identify their own spiritual condition, understand the dynamics of inner transformation, and situate their striving within a coherent and classical framework of Islamic spiritual psychology.
This course is suitable for serious students of Islamic spirituality who seek depth, structure, and clarity in approaching the science of the soul and the path to God. This course offers the first systematic English presentation of Dr. Akram Almajid’s lectures on spiritual wayfaring, critically transcribed and translated by the instructor.
Overview
Week 1 — The Meaning of Sulūk and the Commanding Soul
Topics: Definition of sulūk, structure of the seven stations of the soul, al-nafs al-ammāra, al-jihād al-akbar, moral awakening and discipline
Reading: Treatise on Spiritual Wayfaring, Chapter 1
Week 2 — The Reproaching Soul
Topics: al-nafs al-lawwāma, repentance and self-reproach, sincerity (ikhlāṣ), hidden ostentation (riyāʾ khafī), distinction between al-abrār and al-muqarrabūn
Reading: Treatise on Spiritual Wayfaring, Chapter 2
Week 3 — The Inspired and Tranquil Souls
Topics: al-nafs al-mulhama, al-nafs al-muṭmaʾinna, unveiling of the heart, entry into ʿālam al-mithāl, inner illumination
Reading: Treatise on Spiritual Wayfaring, Chapter 3
Week 4 — The Contented, Pleasing, and Perfected Souls
Topics: al-nafs al-rāḍiya, al-nafs al-marḍiyya, al-nafs al-kāmila, spiritual completion, return to guide others
Reading: Treatise on Spiritual Wayfaring, Chapter 4
Week 5 — The Necessities of the Path I
Topics: companionship (al-rufaqāʾ), spiritual resolve, moderation in food, sleep, and speech, discipline of the senses
Reading: Treatise on Spiritual Wayfaring, Chapter 5
Week 6 — The Necessities of the Path II
Topics: the spiritual guide (al-shaykh), taqwā, invocations (al-adhkār) as the weapon of the wayfarer, preservation of the light of the heart
Reading: Treatise on Spiritual Wayfaring, Chapter 6
Texts
The primary text for the course is Treatise on Spiritual Wayfaring by Dr. Akram Almajid, translated and edited by Dr. Mukhtar H. Ali and currently being prepared for publication. The work provides the central framework for the course, guiding our study of the stations and disciplines of the spiritual path within the classical tradition of Sufi wayfaring.
Prerequisites
No prior background in Sufism, Islamic studies, philosophy, or Arabic is required. The course is accessible to serious beginners while remaining conceptually rigorous and intellectually precise. Students with prior exposure to Islamic spirituality will benefit from the structured and systematic presentation of the material.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Explain the seven stations of the soul (al-nafs al-ammāra through al-nafs al-kāmila)
Distinguish between the spiritual ranks of the righteous (al-abrār) and the near ones (al-muqarrabūn)
Understand the disciplined structure of sulūk as articulated in the tradition
Identify the essential necessities (ḍarūriyyāt) of spiritual wayfaring
Analyze the dynamics of inner struggle (al-jihād al-akbar) and spiritual refinement
Readings
Weekly readings correspond to selected chapters from the primary text and should be completed before each session. The readings are structured to support careful comprehension and guided discussion rather than technical specialization.
Class Structure
Each class meets for ninety minutes, with approximately fifty minutes devoted to structured lecture and forty minutes to discussion and questions. Lectures are designed to build progressively, ensuring continuity and conceptual grounding across the eight-week course.
Q&A Protocol
Students may submit questions during class via Zoom’s chat function or “raise hand” feature. Questions may be addressed during the lecture when appropriate or reserved for the discussion portion of the session.
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Course Details
Instructor: Professor Mukhtar Ali
Dates: April 11 - May 16
(6 Weeks)
Day: Saturdays
Time: 12pm - 1:30 pm
US- Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Location: Online
Tuition: Early Registration: $195
Standard Rate: $225 (after April 11)
How to Register
To enroll, click the Register button below and complete the online checkout process. Once registration is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email with access details and course information.