Quran Surah 6:35 - Islamic Shamanism

“If their persecution of you is hard on your mind, and if you are able – then seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a Sign.”

What is Islamic shamanism and should Muslims and/or Sufis practice it?

The practice of shamanism, a technique, is one of the earliest revelations of Allah (the Source) to the peoples of the earth.

The shaman is one who journeys, either in the physical body or in the astral/soul body, into other realms (the hereafter) in order to gain answers to questions, seek guidance or gain power to heal and help (the “sign”).

According to the indigenous worldview, and supported by the Glorious Qur’an, there are many worlds. The existence we physically inhabit, the earthly plane, is traditionally called the “Middle World.” Surah 6:32 tells challenges us:

“What is the life of this [Middle] World but play and amusement?"

The Middle World, because of its design, is easily confused as the only world. The revelation given unto the Prophet Plato explains that we are trapped within a cave, lost, forlorn, imagining that the information received by our senses tells us where we are. Yet we are deluded. Surah 6:32 modifies Plato’s vision of our existence by telling us that we exist in a world of “amusement and play.” Hazrat Inayat Khan accurately explains this as being in a state of stupor and drunkenness. We are drunk on the senses, and have thus forgotten our true Home. Surah 6:32 continues:

“But best is the home in the other worlds for those who are al-Muttaqun?”

Who are the Muttaqun?

They are the ones whose Home, whose source of identity and power, is in the Hereafter, the other worlds. They are the ones who have remembered their origin in the Light. Throughout the ages, and depending on the culture, the Muttaqun have included shamans, prophets, Gnostics, mystics, saints, Sufis and watchers.

How does one become a Muttaqun?

To become a Muttaqun one should, according to the Rose Crescent, begin by learning to move within the realms of the other worlds. By spending ever more time in the other worlds an individual becomes sober, breaking the spell and delusions associated with the play and amusement of the Middle World.

How do these other worlds appear?

One must experience them first hand to understand. Both the “lower world” and the “upper world” are paradises, but they are of different energies and different beings inhabit them. The Lower World is a place of denser vibratory energy, whereas the upper is of finer vibratory energy. Both worlds are inhabited by beings that appear either in human, animal, imaginative or angelic form. These beings, having permission from Allah to help, serve as friends and allies to the Muttaqun. The Muttaqun is one who, by traveling into both worlds, balances the energy and thus assists the Middle World to evolve towards paradise.

How can one enter the other worlds?

Here we need to return to Surah 6:35:

“Seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a Sign.”

The following techniques may be of assistance for the Lower World:


Place a candle on your alter
Say “Bismallah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim”
Lie down with your eyes covered
Listen to the rhythmic beat of a drum
Imagine yourself in the countryside
Feel the wind on your skin, notice the trees around you
Seek a tunnel (it will usually be located under a giant tree)
Enter the tunnel
Let yourself slide down into the other world
Look for an animal who wants to approach you and be friends with you and guide you
Allow the animal to assist you to explore the surroundings
When you hear the callback from the drum return up the tunnel to your favorite location in front of the tree
Open your eyes
Say, “Allahu Akbar”

The following techniques may be of assistance for the Upper World:

Place a candle on your alter
Say “Bismallah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim”
Lie down with your eyes covered
Listen to the rhythmic beat of a drum
Imagine yourself in the countryside
Feel the wind on your skin, notice the trees around you
Seek a ladder (it will usually be located under a giant tree) into the sky
Climb up the ladder into the next world
You will probably come out in a beautiful city
Look around for a mosque
Enter the mosque
Within the mosque you will meet a humanlike person who will be your Shaykh
Get to know your Shaykh
Ask him or her any questions you may have
When you hear the callback from the drum return up the tunnel to your favorite location in front of the tree
Open your eyes
Say, “Allahu Akbar”

Where do I get a drum?

You can purchase drumming CDs from the Foundation for Shamanic Studies.

What other resources can I read or study

We recommend beginning with three books:

*The Way of the Shaman* by Michael Harner

*Magic of the Ordinary: Recovering the Shamanic in Judaism* by Gershon Winkler
*Animal-Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small* Ted Andrews

Other resources (books, music and CDs) are available from

The Foundation for Shamanic Studies

Walking Stick Foundation

For more Rose Crescent commentary on the Qur’an click here.

For Rose Crescent spiritual exercises click here.