Shaykh Arif Abdulhussein leads spiritual retreat in Shogran, Pakistan

Between 28th April – 2nd May, Shaykh Arif Abdulhussein lead a spiritual retreat in the captivating mountain ranges of Pakistan. Shogran is a hill station located in the Kaghan Valley in Pakistan and aside from its stunning beauty participants benefited from

– practical lessons on spiritual development based on the Quran and traditions of the Ahlulbayt

– Guided meditations and sessions of dhikir in the company of nature and peaceful scenery

– Scenic hiking excursions to the surrounding areas of the plateau

– Nightly bonfires and BBQs

One participant Ms Faiza Taqi wrote ”The untainted beauty of the area coupled with the magnanimous wisdom of Shaykh Arif Abdulhussain made an ideal location for a Spiritual Retreat. Thirty of us went through a bumpy ride up the mountain, and after nine hours by a road clearly less travelled, we finally made it up. However, it was completely worth the wait. Snow capped mountains towering over a lush green field screamed Allah’s magnificence everywhere you looked. The day’s consisted of small talks, informal lectures, dhikir sessions and meditation sessions on mindfulness. Embracing ones destiny was a theme that echoed throughout the trip, as Shaykh so aptly puts it,”Only through embracing destiny do we overcome fear”. As we can see, the perilous jeep rides gave Shaykh Arif plenty of good analogies to use in his talks. In all honesty though, this trip has been more than any one of us could have asked for. The organic beauty of the mountains and thought provoking talks by Shaykh was exactly what the doctor ordered. From reading collective prayers under a tree to pony rides up the snow covered mountain, this trip has left us with memories that will be etched deep into our souls, and as always a greater yearning to get closer to Allah (SWT). We are already looking forward to next year. “Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful” and we were very fortunate to have both. A big thanks to Shaykh Arif and everyone else in the group for making this possible.”

To view more photos of the retreat click here