Ma’rifah

Introduction to Islamic Gnosis and Spiritual Development

I advise you to fear Allah, O my child, to abide by his commands, to fill your heart with remembrance of Him and to cling to hope from Him. No connection is more reliable than the connection between you and Allah provided you take hold of it. Enliven your heart with preaching, kill it by renunciation, energise it with firm belief, humiliate it by recalling death, make it believe in morality, make it see the misfortunes of this world, make it fear the authority of the time and the severity of some changes during the nights and days, place before it the events of past people and walk among their cities and ruins, then see what they did and from what they have gone away …” (Imam Ali a.s.)

Spiritual Retreat

We tend to live in a rat-race where we have busy work schedules, deadlines, chores and the temptation of the material world that draws us to the extent that we almost forget the main purpose of living. Most of us don’t even know or recognise the basic needs of our souls and we therefore practice the religion in a ritualistic manner that is devoid of any essence.

However, the desire to learn methods of nurturing the soul is there within our communities and there is in fact a phenomenal interest amongst the younger generation in building their Islamic spirituality and to provide a meaning to their religious obligations.

Unfortunately, many of us in the UK find it extremely hard to gain access to specialists in the field of Islamic gnosis and ethics as majority of them reside in the middle-east and do not speak the English language.

Therefore this year the Islamic Cultural Affairs committee (ICA) has organised an Islamic spiritual retreat in the vibrant and deep rooted Islamic surroundings of the North African country of Morocco. The retreat is primarily aimed for male participants between the ages of 21-35.

• The retreat would provide the participants:
• Practical lessons on spiritual development from the Qur’an and the traditions of the Ahlul-Bayt delivered by lecturers within the field of ethics and gnosis.
• The opportunity to be taught the theoretical basis of spiritual nurturing from the text of major Islamic gnosis (Urafa) and also receive guidance on further reading material to pursue after the retreat.
• The opportunity to visit Morocco’s historical and religious sites in and around Marrakech.
• Time and space in a nurturing environment for self reflection.
• Participate in “natural” and tranquil   recreational activities including a visit to the Atlas Mountains.
• The opportunity to spend time in absorbing the rich culture that Morocco has to offer.

Flights

1. Application consists of online booking, £150 non-refundable deposit and photocopy of passport. Deposit will be refunded if full quota is not met.
2. Selection of participants will be based on first come basis in conjunction with a fair system of allocation to each Jamaat.
3. Individuals are required to purchase their own travel insurance and submit proof before travel.
4. Costs for the travel do not include transfers between UK airport and place of residence.
5. Organisers may have to refuse applications without any reason provided.

Further Information