The Jami' Initiative
What is the Jami' Initiative?
The Jami’ Initiative is a Shadhiliyya Sufi Communities program which facilitates healing and reconciliation for the entire community of students of Sidi Muhammad Sa’id al-Jamal ar-Rifa’i ash-Shadhili, may God preserve his secret. The overall goals of the initiative are to teach vital heart-centered communication skills. to facilitate difficult conversations, and to enable all community members to have a voice and be heard. Toward these ends, we offer free ongoing classes, mediation services, and facilitated community dialogues (sohbets).
Before it began, this Initiative was presented to the entire community on three different occasions, as well as to the leadership of each region. Support for the Initiative was overwhelmingly positive, as reflected by the SSC Board’s approval of the initiative. Review the presentations given to the entire community.
Our Classes & Support Circles
Transform Your Stories to Embrace Truth and Freedom
An 8-week Teaching Series
April 2026 - July 2026
This series is an opportunity to examine and transform the painful stories that may be restricting your experience of life and affecting your relationship with yourself and others. These stories often contribute to breakdowns and conflict, and prevent us from experiencing the fullness and joy of love in our lives.
All classes will be highly experiential with many opportunities to seek Allah’s Grace to transform and heal these painful stories.
The classes included in this series are:
- What Do We Mean by “Story”?
- Witnessing – Moving Beyond the Past Into Presence with our Lord
- The Body as a Guidepost to Allah
- Open to Love and Mercy, Let Go of Judgment, Blame & Shame
- Exploring More Deeply While Being Held in the Container of Love
- Dismantling Our Stories – The Power of Choice
- Align with Allah’s Truth Rather Than My Story
- Celebrate Our True Selves and Drink From the Well of Allah’s Love
Navigating Power Dynamics with Courage, Honesty, and Heart
An 8-week Teaching Series
April 2025 - Dec 2025
Power dynamics are an inevitable part of community life. How we navigate these power dynamics makes all the difference for a healthy community. When power imbalances are unexamined, how we enact them may be hurtful. However, not all power dynamics are harmful or unhealthy; in fact, many of them provide opportunities for service, safety and care.
This series presents a practical and spiritual set of skills and awarenesses for understanding, healing and transforming power imbalances in our community.
- Introduction to Power Dynamics in Community Life
- Cultivating Healthy and Holy Personal Power
- Let’s talk about Role Power
- Real Life Examples of Role Power Dynamics
- How to Navigate our Role Power Differentials with Clarity and Efficacy
- The rise and fall of status power
- Giving and receiving feedback
- The Benefits and Risks of Status Power
Cornerstones of Heart-Centered Communication
A 7-week Teaching Series
July 2024 - Feb 2025
The teachings we offer are focused on helping people restore heart-centered connection within relationships. This first series of classes are considered the cornerstones of heart-centered communication and will be repeated over time to help us absorb the wisdom and understanding of how to put them into practice. As we integrate the cornerstones, we refine ways of being with one another, and our practice deepens over time. Insha’allah, we begin to discover the quality of our relationships improve and life becomes more fulfilling.
The classes in this series include:
- Listening with Empathy
- The Power of Observation
- Emotions as a Doorway to Deeper Connection
- Nourishing Life-Affirming Needs
- Compassionate Self-Empathy
- Making Clear Requests
- Cornerstones Wrap-Up
The Shahid Empathy Circle
A monthly support group
May - Dec 2026
The Shahid Empathy Circle is a monthly practice of silent presence and deep listening. By letting go of the need to fix or judge, participants create a safe space to witness their thoughts and emotions. This conscious connection fosters healing and helps the soul flourish through a deepened relationship with oneself, others, and the Divine.
The al-`Ishq Relationship Circle
A monthly support group
The al-Ishq Relationship Circle provides a safe space to explore personal and relational growth by recognizing triggers as opportunities for self-awareness and spiritual development. It focuses on building practical skills for honest communication, deep listening, and navigating conflict in ways that transform pain into healing, authenticity, and a deeper experience of love.
How You Can Help
This Initiative is being funded by beloveds in the tariqa, and all classes and services are being offered without charge. Donations are gratefully accepted for the teachings and the mediation services offered. Donations will be used to fund future Jami’ Initiative teachings, organization, and mediations, insha’allah. Please consider donating.
Questions? Ideas? Want to Volunteer?
Email us at jami-initiative@sscboard.org with any questions, comments, ideas, to volunteer.
We will be looking for 1 regional coordinator to oversee outreach for sohbets in each region and to help assemble a small group of volunteers in that region to do the outreach calls. SSC will provide coordination and training for the volunteers.
We need volunteers who are willing to do outreach calls to beloveds in their area. We also need volunteers trained in facilitation and/or mediation.
To Receive Mediation or Other Services
Email us at jami-initiative@sscboard.org to request mediation or other services, insha’allah.