"O Mary, indeed Allah has purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.”

19 - 24 AUGUST 2025

CORSICA, FRANCE

MARY IN THE QURAN

Known as L’Île de Beauté — the Island of Beauty — Corsica is one of the Mediterranean’s most breathtaking and soul-stirring treasures. Floating between France and Italy, this mountainous island offers a landscape where wild nature and ancient historical grounds merge, making it the perfect sanctuary to reflect upon the life and legacy of the woman most honored by Allah — Maryam (peace be upon her).

Here, the sea shimmers in impossible shades of turquoise, curling around hidden coves and dramatic cliffs. Inland, majestic peaks stretch heavenward, draped in pine, chestnut, and oak. Waterfalls descend through deep, quiet gorges, and timeworn stone villages cling to the hillsides — untouched and enduring.

Our refuge for this sacred retreat will be a 15th-century monastery, fully privatized for our gathering — a sanctuary suspended between earth and sky. Here the sea bows in the distance. The garden sings of lemon, tangerines, and myrtle. As you traverse its ancient corridors, you can almost hear the echoes of devotion that once reverberated through its walls.

Our Sanctuary

In the Footsteps of Maryam

At the heart of this retreat is the luminous legacy of Maryam (peace be upon her) — the most honored woman in the Qur’an, chosen, purified, and elevated above all women of the worlds.
She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an — mentioned 34 times — and the only one to have an entire chapter revealed in her name: Surah Maryam. Her story is not only one of divine motherhood, but of unwavering faith, sacred retreat, and total devotion to Allah.

We will gather to explore the depth of her story:
how she withdrew in silence, devoted herself entirely to her Lord, and became the vessel through which one of the greatest miracles of creation — Prophet Issa (Jesus), peace be upon him — was born.

We will sit with the verses that unveil her character — her purity, her strength, her silence, and her absolute surrender (taslīm). We will reflect on how we, too, as women and seekers, can become living embodiments of ‘ubūdiyyah — of loving servitude to Allah.

The Date Palm and the Womb

Together, we will reflect on the sacred symbolism of the date palm, the tree chosen by Allah to accompany Maryam in her moment of labor, solitude, and revelation:

"And shake the trunk of the palm tree toward you; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates."
(Surah Maryam 19:25)

Why this tree? What healing, nourishment, and divine wisdom is concealed in its fruit? We will explore its physical, spiritual, and prophetic significance, as well as its connection to the womb.

The Family of Light

We will also contemplate the blessed lineage of Maryam: the noble House of Imran:
Her guardian and uncle, the Prophet Zakariyya, his son Yahya (John the Baptist), the wild ascetic Prophet, and her miraculous son, Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him), a sign for the worlds and a devoted servant of Allah.

We will look not only at their lives, but also at what happened after, when Isa’s message was altered, reshaped, and misunderstood.
In this we reflect on the purity and protection of divine truth, and the importance of Tawhid, as the root of all revelation and all return.

Through study, storytelling, discussion, and reflection, this retreat becomes a journey — not only through the story of Maryam — but through ourselves.

A return to worship.
A return to womanhood as light.
A return to Allah.

The Retreat’s Essence

Offerings

5-Night All-Inclusive Stay: Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of our majestic abode.

Nourishing Abundant meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Relish in bountiful and lovingly prepared, artisanal meals crafted from fresh, locally sourced produce, each one honoring the abundant blessings of our Creator.

Daily lectures and mindful practices: Each day unfolds with mindful devotional practices, insightful lectures and workshops. Our retreat offers a journey of spiritual renewal, an embrace of sacred beauty, and a wellspring of inspiration that will stay with you, long after you leave.

Beyond the structured sessions, ample time will be provided for personal reflection, meditation, and prayer, allowing each participant to internalize the teachings and connect more profoundly with the earth beneath us and therefore, our Creator.

Rooms and rates

Each room at the monastery has been lovingly preserved and prepared to offer you not just rest, but retreat. These are not ordinary rooms, they are quiet sanctuaries, carved in stone, filled with light, and wrapped in silence.

✧ Private Room with Queen or King Sized bed with Private Bathroom and Sea Views — Sold Out

Your own peaceful haven, overlooking the sea. Ideal for those seeking both beauty and intimacy. A room to retreat, journal, pray, and breathe deeply.

✧ Private Room with Queen or King sized bed with Shared Bathroom — Sold Out

Rooms offer either peaceful garden views or breathtaking sea vistas, inviting you to wake each day to nature’s quiet remembrance. Sea-view rooms are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis. To reserve your place by the sea, we encourage early booking.

✧ Private Room with Single sized bed with Shared Bathroom — 2890€