MAY 23 - JUNE 2, 2025
GRANADA, Cordoba, TOLEDO, Órgiva - SPAIN
Lessons in Islamic Spirituality
Immersion in Muslim Intentional Communities
Tours of Historic Cities
Uplifting Workshops in Islamic Art Therapy
A Beautiful Performance by the Al-Firdaus Ensemble
Who is This Retreat For?
This retreat is for anyone seeking to explore Islamic Spain through indigenous intentional communities of the land. Whether you aim to deepen your knowledge of Islamic spirituality, relax in nature, or connect with others on a meaningful journey, this retreat provides the perfect opportunity.
Teachers and Artists
Shaykh
Abdullah Deeb
An Imam and teacher of the religious sciences since 1982, Shaykh Abdallah Deeb graduated from Abu Nour Institute in Damascus, Syria and studied with some of the most respected scholars of Damascus. He become a world-renowned Qari from a young age and currently holds one of the shortest asanīd (chain of transmission from the Prophet ﷺ) in the world for teaching Qur’an. He is the President and Resident Scholar of Itqaan Institute (itqaaninstitute.com)
Imam Ahmad Deeb
Imam Ahmad Deeb began serving communities from an early age under the guidance and mentorship of his father, shaykh Abdallah Deeb. In addition to formal seminary training, he holds a B.A. in Psychology, an M.A. in Islamic Studies and Leadership, and a PhD in Community Psychology. He is the co-founder of Shifaa Community, Pillars Seminary, and Itqaan Institute.
Abdelqadir
Schaller
Abdalqadir Schaller, born into Islam to an American father and Mexican mother, was raised in the USA, Spain, and the UK. He directed a Quran school in Mallorca for 10 years before shifting to farming and permaculture. Now, he helps manage Azahara International, guiding journeys through Al-Andalus. Committed to the future, he educates Muslim youth in resilience and self-reliance, focusing on self-knowledge and meaningful companionship.
Abdelkarim Cederberg
AbdelKarim Cederberg is a multidisciplinary artist and craftsman. He attained an MA in Islamic Arts at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts where he studied a wide range of art forms including calligraphy, Islamic pattern and Persian miniature painting. He is also a master woodworker who carves everything from mihrabs and bowls to knifes and bows.
Accommodations
Azáhara International
Our home for the first four days in a most beautiful ego-village and intentional community in the mountains of al-Andalus.
Alquería de Rosales
Our final retreat space, which holds 250+ acres of beautiful land in this incredible Muslim heritage and retreat center.
4-star Hotels
A Luxurious hotel experience during our tours of the major cities.
What's Included
Accommodation
All travel within the retreat
All meals on teaching days & breakfasts on travel days
All activities, sightseeing, guided tours, and palace entries
Lessons and workshops
What's Not Included
Flights (we recommend flying into Malaga on the 23rd)
Airport transport to and from retreat centers (assistance available for coordination of arrivals)
Azahara Only Retreat for Locals
About
Azahara Retreat Center
Keep in mind that this is a retreat set in the idyllic natural surroundings of the Spanish countryside, our accommodations are rustic but comfortable. Spring is the ideal time for a retreat in Andalusia as the weather is neither hot nor too cold. Forecasts have weather in the low 70s F during the day but can drop to the 50s at night so best pack warmer layers for the evening.
SESSIONS INCLUDE:
- Opening the Inner I: Ibn ‘Arabi & Rumi on creativity, poetic vision, and seeing with the eye of the heart w/ Baraka Blue
- One in the Many: Islamic Pattern and Design w/ AbdelKarim Cederberg
- Seeing the Signs: Writing Practice & Spiritual Ecology of Al-Andalus w/ Medina Whiteman
- Daily Qasidas (spiritual poetry), song, and zikr
Less than an hour outside Granada and nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Azahara was founded in 2018 as a collaborative space for study, prayer and reflection, drawing upon and putting into practice the spiritual ecology of Al-Andalus, as well as its arts and crafts, with the intention of deepening our connection to Allah (swt). We take our inspiration from Al-Andalus, a dynamic period in Iberian history brimming with Islamic scholarship, innovative agricultural techniques, iconic arts and cutting-edge crafts. Sustainability was built into a way of life that valued knowledge, balance and beauty as much as faith and remembrance of God, and which influenced Europe and the Arab world for centuries.
The Azahara project is designed around Islamic sustainability and supporting the local economy whilst working harmoniously with the natural environment. Its core goal is to provide opportunities for people to reconnect to the land and experience the beauty of simplicity, and to remember Allah through His signs.
