Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies

New meditation by Mohamed Aziz Zarglayoun “A Home Without Walls: A Journey in the Vastness of Divine Care” Read the full meditation: https://lnkd.in/d94e_xUT

New meditation by Jamil Zaghdoudi “Despite My Efforts, I Do Not See More Light” Read the full meditation: https://lnkd.in/g7t682Ye Photo: Front book cover of At The Service of Destiny, a biography of Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari by his disciple, Jamil Zaghdoudi. Published 2019.

New poem by Mehdi Badeche "My State—What a State It Is! " Read the full poem: https://lnkd.in/gAYnnrz5 Photo: The Shaykh after Dhuhr prayer, Indiana. May 2023.

Conference at Sorbonne University (Paris) Thursday, February 27, 2025 Topic: AI and Peace: What Future Do We Want? Featuring three speakers: ? Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (Founder of the Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies) ? Cédric Fiducia (Prompt Manager and AI expert) ? Hassan al-Bakkali (MIT graduate and CEO of Ceres Advisory)

Video recap of the workshop at Stanford University featuring Shaykh Sidi Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (quddisa sirruh) on “The Secrets of the Intellect in the Growth of Artificial Intelligence.”

“The Secrets of the Intellect in the Growth of Artificial Intelligence:” A Workshop at Stanford University Today, Stanford University hosted a thought-provoking workshop titled “The Secrets of the Intellect in the Growth of Artificial Intelligence,” presented by Shaykh Sidi Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (Quddisa Sirruh), representing the Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies. The event gathered a distinguished group of researchers and graduate students specializing in AI, philosophy, and ethics. The workshop delved into the complex relationship between human cognition and artificial intelligence. Shaykh al-Karkari offered profound insights on the concept of the Greater Intellect and its role in perception, awareness, and knowledge formation, challenging conventional distinctions and perceived limitations between human and artificial intelligence. He emphasized the potential of drawing from epistemological traditions to enhance the development of intelligent systems, presenting a unique perspective that integrates metaphysical wisdom with philosophical inquiry. This event highlights the growing academic interest in interdisciplinary engagement, bridging modern scientific advancements with lived human experience. It opens new avenues for a more comprehensive understanding of intelligence and consciousness, underscoring the value of integrating perennial insights with contemporary technological progress. Stanford University: A Hub for Research and Innovation Founded in 1885 in California, Stanford University stands as one of the world’s most prestigious institutions and a global leader in research and innovation. Renowned for its pioneering programs in technology, engineering, medicine, and the social sciences, Stanford has played a key role in shaping the modern tech landscape, serving as the birthplace of industry giants like Google, Instagram, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Consistently ranked among the world’s top universities, Stanford fosters an environment where theoretical knowledge meets real-world application, bringing together some of the most influential scholars and researchers across diverse disciplines. Its commitment to intellectual exploration and interdisciplinary collaboration makes it an ideal setting for conversations that bridge traditional wisdom and future technological advancements.

Illumination and Divine Light in the Aphorisms of Ibn ?A?ā? Allāh al-Iskandarī: Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (Quddisa Sirruh) at the University of California, Berkeley As part of its ongoing efforts to foster dialogue between academic Sufi studies and the living Sufi experience, Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (Quddisa Sirruh) led a distinguished academic workshop on February 17, 2025, at the prestigious University of California, Berkeley. The workshop explored the concept of illumination and divine light (nūr) in the aphorisms (?ikam) of Ibn ?A?ā? Allāh al-Iskandarī (Quddisa Sirruh), one of the foremost masters of the Shādhilī tradition. The event was attended by a distinguished group of professors and researchers specializing in Islamic studies and Sufism, alongside graduate students and others interested in the field of Islamic spirituality. Workshop Overview During the session, Shaykh al-Karkari offered a deeply contemplative and experiential reading of select aphorisms from Ibn ?A?ā? Allāh, focusing on divine light (nūr) not merely as a symbolic metaphor but as an existential reality that shapes the fabric of the cosmos and profoundly influences the seeker’s spiritual perception and path toward God. The Shaykh examined the concept of light and illumination from a comprehensive perspective, integrating existential, epistemological, cosmic, and ontological dimensions. He explored how divine light manifests within the very structure of existence, guiding seekers toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between the Creator and creation. The Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies: Bridging Academic Research and the Sufi Experience This event aligns with the vision of the Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies, which aims to enrich Sufi studies by bridging theoretical knowledge with direct spiritual experience. Through various initiatives—such as Nūn Magazine—the Institute provides a platform for contemporary Sufis to share their insights, reflections, and lived experiences, positioning Sufism as a dynamic field of intellectual and spiritual inquiry that actively contributes to global academic and philosophical discourse. By fostering continuous engagement between scholars and practitioners, the Al-Karkari Institute remains committed to building bridges between the living tradition of Sufi knowledge and rigorous academic scholarship. The Institute strives for a deeper exploration of Sufi concepts, integrating them into comprehensive intellectual frameworks that reflect both the human and cosmic experience, moving beyond reductive or compartmentalized approaches to spiritual knowledge.

Sheikh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari Visits Yale Law School at the Invitation of Dr. Rami Koujah As part of his visit to Yale University, Sheikh Sidi Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (Quddisa Sirruh) accepted an invitation from Dr. Rami Koujah, a researcher at the Yale Law School’s Kamel Center for the Study of Islamic Law and Civilization and editor-in-chief of Nur: Journal of Studies in Sufism, for a special meeting in his office. Their discussion focused on ethics in Islamic jurisprudence and legal theory, exploring the intersection of spirituality, morality, and Islamic legal discourse. They also examined how foundational legal methodologies shape understandings of law and ethics in Islamic thought. Following the meeting, Dr. Koujah gave Sheikh al-Karkari and his accompanying researchers a tour of Yale Law School, introducing them to its legal research centers and rare manuscript collections. Yale Law School, founded in 1824, is one of the world’s most prestigious law schools, known for its rigorous academic programs and contributions to legal thought and policy.

By invitation of the Association, Philosophy in the Islamic World, at Yale University, Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari, may Allah sanctify his secret, led a seminar on Islamic Sufi philosophy, attended by researchers specializing in Islamic studies. The seminar explored epistemological, ontological, and metaphysical questions that scholars encounter in their academic study of Sufi thought. The Shaykh addressed many of the participants’ inquiries and discussed broader issues related to the role of Sufism in human life. The event saw lively engagement, with attendees posing a wide range of questions and actively engaging with the Shaykh’s insights. This seminar is part of the Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies’ initiative to revive Sufi sciences within the academic discourse through lived experience and rigorous intellectual inquiry. The association Philosophy in the Islamic World at Yale is a platform founded by doctoral researchers to foster scholarly exchange and intellectual growth. It regularly organizes sessions featuring leading specialists in Islamic philosophy. With a long-standing academic tradition, the association has been a meeting ground for generations of distinguished scholars in the field.

Bridging Realization and Academic Scholarship: Sidi Sheikh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (Quddisa Sirruh) at Yale University Continuing the Al-Karkari Institute for Sufi Studies’ mission to intertwine academic rigor with lived mystical insight, Sidi Sheikh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (may God sanctify his secret) was invited by the MacMillan Center for International & Area Studies at Yale to lead a thought-provoking workshop at Yale University on February 12, 2025. Professors, researchers, and students from various disciplines gathered to examine the themes of longing, annihilation (fanā?), and unveiling in one the most academically studied poems of Ibn ?Arabī’s Interpreter of Desires. By exploring his poetic vision alongside the lived dimensions of contemporary Sufi experience, the forum demonstrated how scholarly inquiry and authentic Sufi guidance can enrich one another. The Shaykh delved into the poem’s mystical secrets, analyzing both its linguistic structure and its deeply symbolic meanings. Launching Nūr Journal’s Website and Introducing Nūn Magazine A major highlight of the evening was the launch of the Nūr academic journal’s website and the presentation of the first issue of Nūn Magazine by its chief editor, Dr. Rami Koujah—research fellow at the Kamel Center for the Study of Islamic Law and Civilization. Nūn Magazine is a groundbreaking publication, the first of its kind in the 21st century, dedicated to providing a space for contemporary Sufis to share their spiritual and theological reflections, personal insights, and lived experiences on the path to God, as well as the art and creative expressions born from their inspirations along the way. Guided by Shaykh Mohamed Faouzi al-Karkari (Quddisa Sirruh), Nūn fosters a community rooted in shared wisdom and spiritual growth, offering a platform where the voices of practitioners shape the ongoing discourse on Sufism today. The Arabic letter nūn (?)—formed of a lower arc and a dot—symbolizes the manifestation and disclosure of divine knowledge into the realm of appearance. The lower arc represents defined servitude (?ubūdiyya), the receptive vessel, while the dot above signifies the infinite truths that descend from al-Ra?mān (the Most Merciful), beyond the bounds of definition or limitation. With this vision at its heart, Nūn Magazine seeks to bridge tradition and modernity, celebrating the timeless beauty at the core of Sufi teachings and practices. We extend our gratitude to all the scholars, practitioners, and contributors who enriched the first issue with their written and media contributions. ?? Read the first issue of Nūn Magazine: https://lnkd.in/gm7Tp4Sa