THE EMIRATE OF SICILY
(SICILY, ITALY)’
“I remember The Emirate of Sicily, and my grief is awakened by remembering her. The abode of youthful pleasures now lies empty, her noble people scattered like stars at dawn. If I have been driven out of Paradise, let me still recount its story. Were it not for the salt in my tears, I would think them rivers flowing back to her.”
Ibn Hamdis, a Muslim Sicilian poet of the 12th century, chronicled his exile in verses that mourned the loss of his beloved island.
We reunited in Sicily to trace its Islamic heritage, to remember the hands that sowed its earth and transformed a land once ravaged by the Romans into a garden reborn. It was the Muslims who restored Sicily’s soil, who gifted it citrus groves and flowing waters, who drew abundance from desolation.
Without the Muslims, what would Sicily be today? What if those who tended its soil had never arrived—never turning barren earth into flourishing orchards, nor inscribing their wisdom upon its hills and valleys?
WOMEN OF AL-ANDALUS
(MALLORCA, SPAIN)
Mallorca’s Islamic history is often overlooked, yet the names of its mountains, villages, and people still bear the imprint of three centuries under Muslim rule. The abundant citrus and almond trees, the ornate architecture, and the countless stone terraces scattered across the countryside have all contributed to shaping the beautiful and prosperous island of Mallorca we know today.
Over the course of two retreats, we gathered to reclaim our history and pay tribute to the Women of Al-Andalus.
DEVOTIONS BY THE SEA
(SICILY, ITALY)
"And His Throne was upon the water..." (Quran 11:7)
This retreat centered on Tafakkur, the contemplation of the natural world as an act of worship, with the vast expanse of the sea as our primary focus for reflection, a living sign so often invoked in the Qur’an to stir the hearts of those who reflect.
MARY IN THE QURAN
(CORSICA, FRANCE)
"O Mary, indeed Allah has purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.”
At the heart of this retreat was the luminous legacy of Mary, the most honored woman in the Qur’an, chosen, purified, and elevated above all women of the worlds.
PLANTS OF THE QURAN
ISHTMUS ART EXHIBITION
(PANTELLERIA, ITALY)
We were delighted to host another eagerly awaited "Plants of the Quran" retreat, this time on the captivating island of Pantelleria. Known in Arabic as Bint al Reyah - Daughter of the Wind, Pantelleria provided a stunning setting amidst ancient archaeological marvels and Islamic legacy.
Alongside our study of the plants of the Qur’an, we hosted an art exhibition titled Isthmus, inspired by the verse, ‘We caused you to grow from the Earth like plants,’ as well as by Andalusi botanical manuscripts. Recent Spanish scholarship has revealed that many of these manuscripts were authored by women, whose invaluable contributions have too often been erased from history.
Through this exhibition we paid homage to these forgotten female Muslim scholars and custodians of knowledge.
PROPHETIC HEALING
(MALLORCA, SPAIN)
Through gatherings steeped in Prophetic wisdom, we have journeyed into the essence of Prophetic Medicine (Unani Tibb), exploring what it means to live in harmony with the Divine order, where health, the change of seasons, nature, and spirit are united in balance and remembrance.
PLANTS OF THE QURAN
(SICILY, ITALY)
Over the span of a month, we held three serene retreats, each unfolding within the opulent embrace of the island’s most palatial residence, encircled by a garden where every plant mentioned in the Qur’an flourished. Devoted to the art of slow living, these intimate reading gatherings blossomed around the exquisite work “The Plants of the Quran”. In tune with the island’s gentle rhythm, our days revolved around reflection, exploration, and graceful repose. Enveloped in stillness and abundance, we drifted into the island’s tender hush, where the air itself seemed to whisper the remembrance of the Divine.
SACRED ECHOES
PRE-RAMADAN RETREAT
(MALLORCA, SPAIN)
We hosted a beautiful Ramadan prelude in a 13th-century monastery, built on historic Muslim grounds. Within the heart of this ancient haven, we embarked on a holistic journey to prepare for the sacred month of Ramadan. Our minds were enlightened through workshops led by a nutritional therapist, guiding us towards holistic preparation of the holy month, complemented by incredibly nourishing meals from our marvelous chef in residency.
PRE-RAMADAN RETREAT II
(TUSCANY, ITALY)
Our second odyssey to prepare for the blessed month unfolded within the walls of an idyllic 11th-century castle, perched on the hillside of the Tuscan countryside. In the serenity of this sanctuary built on etruscan ruins over thousands of years old, hearts and minds were gently attuned to the sacred rhythms of the approaching blessed month. As the echoes of prayer and reflection filled the air, a blessed preparation took shape, one that nurtured both the spirit and the vessel that carries it.
