Annual Retreat
A one-week retreat in Elm, Switzerland
We will be living under one roof. Two morning sessions on the guiding lights, based on The Openings Revealed in Makkah; this is part of the continuing journey of the first-ever translation of and commentary on this great work of the Greatest Teacher (shaykh al-akbar).
Afternoons are devoted to the sensory, with walks, sounds, arts, and conversations.
Evenings are devoted to celebration of the Divine, in dhikr with ilahis. Our intention is to receive the sacred trust given to Ibn al-ʿArabī to convey the counsel of the True to His creatures. For this, we practice shura (gathering honey) from the special face of the True in every created being.
Important Information & FAQs —>
-
Yes, please register directly via this link.
-
900 CHF
including shared accommodation, food, courses, cable car pass for 1 week.
excluding train and bus fares from Zurich airport (27 CHF one way) to the cable car station, airfare, and travel insurance.
-
9-15 June 2024
-
The retreat takes place in the Alps at Ämpächli (1485m) in Elm, Switzerland.
60 kilometres of marked hiking and mountain trails of all levels of difficulty offer a hiking paradise with a variety of fauna and flora and mountain streams and lakes.
From the house, the view sweeps to the Tectonic Arena Sardona, one of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Switzerland.
Public transportation is available from Zurich Airport, the nearest airport, to the retreat home.
-
We have comfortable shared accommodation. Bedrooms and bathrooms are gender segregated.
Private accommodation at a nearby hotel may be available at your own expense.
-
We suggest arriving at the Zurich airport (ZRH) at around noon, on 9 June 2024. Return flight should be booked after 1pm on June 15. We suggest late afternoon or early evening, if you like to make a stop in Zurich city.
-
By Public Transport: Please refer to www.sbb.ch/en for the timetable (SBB also has its own travel app)
From the Zurich ZRH airport take any train that passes Zurich main station (Zurich HB)
from Zurich HB take the train S25 to Schwanden,
From Schwanden, take the Bus 541 to Elm Talstation or Elm Sportbahnen.
-
Must bring: A personal single bed linen and sheet and/or a sleeping bag (pillow and woolcover provided but no sheets)
Towel and toiletries
Personal washing detergent (4 CHF/wash)
Personal, refillable water bottle/ flask/travel mug for water and tea
Prayer mat
Floor cushion for you to sit on, if you like - there are chairs
House slippers, warm clothes, shawl, thick socks
A personal diary, and items you would like to explore in the afternoon
Hiking shoes and gears
Medication (getting to the pharmacy might be complicated - bring everything you need)
Sun-block, sun-glasses, hat
Eye mask, earplugs if you are sound/light sensitive
-
Download here
-
The Retreat Information Package contains all the information you need.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate ta email us at info@thefutuhat.com
Testimonials
“We gathered as a community for Swiss retreat in the Alps to spend one week in prayer, dhikr, art, contemplation and learning. Brought together by Ibn Arabi's teachings, the participants came from 3 continents and around 10 different countries, bringing with them a variety of cultural traditions and Sufi spiritual paths. In a stunningly beautiful setting, we were working, cooking and sharing meals together. Everyone left in some way transformed by the experience. Our days were spent reading and receiving wisdom from the Futuhat, contemplating the special face of the Beloved in nature walks, calligraphy, whirling, singing, and music. We were blessed with daily dhikrs and sound healing. Art, movement, nature and music helped us anchor the wisdom and knowing that is beyond words. We are grateful for the wonderful sense of community and belonging, and are already looking forward to the next retreat.”
-
"Quite literally, a heartening experience, a week of joy and enlightenment."
-
"The retreat was a magic carpet, piecing together threads of different Sufi traditions, languages, forms of spiritual and artistic expression, knowledge, and wisdom. Gathered together, all these threads formed a flying carpet of incomparable beauty, taking us at times into spaces in between worlds. InshAllah, we get to have many more retreats like this!"
-
“I loved Shuayb's metaphors, which brought Ibn Arabi's teachings to life. The place was beautiful and amazing. The food was delicious, the community worked together wonderfully. The calligraphy lessons with Hoca Haji Noor Deen were amazing. Azize's and the team of musicians and singers were the best. I felt I was with my spiritual family. Thank you so much to everyone. It was such an enriching retreat, and I highly recommend it."
-
"Wonderful! A great way to immerse yourself into Ibn Arabi's world."
-
"A unique learning experience of the wisdom of ibn Arabi with Muslim dervishes from throughout the world."
Heartfelt Retreat 2023 Experience
Join Lafiza as she takes us on a journey back to the Retreat 2023!
The Futuhat Foundation Retreat 2023
Just as Ibn Arabi emphasized the concept of divine proximity and the intimate connection between the Creator and the creation, the breathtaking setting of the foundation's Swiss Retreat serves as a tangible reminder of the nearness of the Divine. The beauty invites us to perceive and embrace the divine presence in every aspect of our surroundings, evoking a sense of spiritual connection and transcendence.