Sufi Remembrance

Birthdate: June 30, 1942 URS: November 24, 2022

Murshid Wali Ali Meyer died at home, the Mentorgarten, in San Francisco on Thanksgiving morning, November 2022 lovingly attended by his wife Sabura Rose Meyer and Mary Shaffea Bartley, a long-time friend. His passing followed a difficult time of dementia, but during which, he still shared his love through his presence with his extensive community.

He was born Melvin Feiler Meyer, in Starkville, Mississippi on June 30, 1942. He attended the University of Alabama at a time when it was a segregated institution.  He was named College Newspaper Editor of the Year for his newspaper’s editorial campaign, offering ethical and moral reasons to bravely support integration in the South. He went to graduate school at Vanderbilt University, where he studied Theology and Philosophy.

Wali Ali was married first in 1971 to Jessica Khadija Hall. He moved to Virginia with his daughters and new partner Mira Scheibner from 1985-1994, where he taught English and Eastern and Western Philosophy at Tandem Friends School. 

He returned to San Francisco and in 1998 he married Sabura Rose Meyer née Smith. He is survived by his sister Marjorie Goldner and his five children: Abraham Cohn (Abe), Alia Gaffney, Neshoma Daisy Whalen, Amina Meyer Mousa, and Murali Meyer. His grandchildren are Melanie Cohn, Kelsey Cohn, Isaiah Meyer, Dylan Gaffney, Naim Mousa, Aisha Mousa, Adam Mousa, and James Whalen. 

In 1968, he came to San Francisco and met his life-long teacher of Sufism—Samuel Lewis (Murshid Sam). After Murshid Sam’s passing in January of 1971, Wali Ali founded the center known as Khankah Sam, and continued to lead others on the path of his teacher for five decades. He edited a number of Murshid Sam’s manuscripts for publication and then served as the Director of the Esoteric School of the Sufi Ruhaniat International. He co-authored a significant book, Physicians of the Heart, A Sufi View of the Ninety-Nine Names of Allah (2011). He was also known as a brilliant speaker and was invited to travel and teach all over the USA and in Europe as well. Over the past 50 years he has provided his students and other spiritual wayfarers with extraordinary support and guidance, teaching that “You are already perfect… and there’s always room for improvement.”

Those who knew of his last project have been waiting for the release of the biography of his teacher, Murshid Samuel Lewis, which should be published in 2023. He worked on this incredible dedication over the last 8 years.

Wali Ali taught that “Our work is to let our love be large.” He is very much missed by his friends, hundreds of students, and especially his wife Sabura, his children, grandchildren, and his two dogs Bart and Sheba.

A Memorial Celebration is scheduled for March 12, 2023 afternoon at Guzman Hall on the Dominican University Campus in San Rafael, CA.