Neuro-Sufism as an Epistemological Bridge: Integrating Islamic Spirituality and Modern Science
NUKHBATUL ULUM Jurnal Bidang Kajian Islam June 26, 2026 Aprilia Musawamah, Suadi Sa’ad, Masykur Wahid et al.
Sufi concepts of consciousness, particularly Al-Ghazali's qalb (heart as center of spiritual awareness) and Ibn 'Arabi's transcendent consciousness, can be mapped onto neuroscientific theories of emotional-cognitive integration and altered states. Spiritual practices like dhikr produce measurable neurological changes in attention and emotional regulation. The authors propose Neuro-Sufism as an integrative epistemological framework that unites revelation, reason, spiritual experience, and empirical neuroscience without reducing spirituality to biology. This framework offers contributions to Islamic epistemology and practical implications for education, spirituality, and mental health.