A Muslim Psychiatrist’s Perspective on the Eastern Traditions

As a Muslim psychiatrist, it is an absolute honor to contribute to this valuable book. Curiosity about different ways of life is something that has always appealed to me. Islam teaches me to be hospitable and generous, and to extend welcome to neighbors, guests, and “strangers,” while psychiatry invites unconditional regard to human dignity. Dr. Richard Mollica, my mentor at the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma instilled in me the love for my “patients” and looking beyond the labels of symptoms and diagnoses. I vividly remember his words, “Omar, if you are not looking for beauty in every encounter with your clients, then you are not practicing medicine.” Embarking on a journey of reflection on Eastern religious, faith, and spiritual rituals, practices, and traditions has been a very humbling and rich experience that will contribute to motivating me to be a better human through actively investing in the power of human connection.