Annual Swiss Alps Retreat 2025
An Invitation
Books 19 through 27 of the 37 books of The Openings Revealed in Makkah are maps Ibn Arabi gives us to explore the secret face where the Qurʾān is revealed (and the Torah, and the Gospels, and the Folios – and all Allah’s sacred Books). These maps are in chapters corresponding to each of the 114 sūrahs of the Qurʾān: we examine one each day over the week. We explore the theme of that day, and I lead us to places in the alighting place, inshāʾllāh.
By Allah’s grace our serious and sincere study rewards us with insights and teachings of astonishing relevance to our spiritual and material lives. My work of translating, annotating, and commenting on the 10,000 word Futūḥāt al-Makkīyah is only possible because of the intense prayers of people in this world sending prayers to the beloved friends who have passed who in turn ask for Allah’s blessing. May I convey in this Retreat Ibn Arabi’s teaching - based on the command to him from the True to counsel His devoted slaves. May we support each other along this path in this Retreat.
We have the rare and precious gift of being in one place together, just us; learning, cleaning, arranging, cooking, and eating together; sitting on the terrace before tremendous snow-capped mountains, and walking in the Alps.
We have found that Ibn Arabi is not for everybody – but he is for anybody. If you are one of these any-bodies and are called – whatever your religion, language, age, gender, education – welcome!
- Shuʿayb Dr Eric Winkel
A one-week retreat in Elm, Swiss Alps, 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.
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This retreat is for anyone interested in the teachings of Ibn Arabi.
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In a chalet with 360degrees Alpine views in Elm, Switzerland
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15-21 June 2025
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1.) either pay in full now (950 CHF)
Fee: CHF 950 =
USD $1,088
EUR: 1,028
GBP: 862
2.) or deposit 200 CHF/USD/EUR/GBP and pay the remaining fee by 15 March 2025
Your place is reserved once we receive your payment.
Note: The Futuhat Foundation's retreat fee is calculated in Swiss Francs. Other currencies to CHF fluctuate. We have settled on an estimated final fee for non-CHF currencies to make the registration easier. We cover the currency changes within 10 USD/EUR/GBP. For gaps more than 10 USD/EUR/GBP, we will ask you to pay the fluctuation gap.
All payments are non-refundable. We advise you to buy a travel insurance in cases of sudden changes in the travel plans.
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This retreat fee includes the course, shared accommodation and all meals at the retreat, and free cable car transport between Elm to the retreat home.
It excludes international transportation, visa fees, public transport Zurich airport to Elm Talstation (about 27 CHF one way), and travel insurance.
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Detailed Program will be announced during the retreat. General schedule is:
Daily two morning teaching sessions
Free afternoons for hiking, sightseeing, rest and sharing
Evening dhikr and commentary
Halal & vegetarian meals are three times a day with plenty of teas and cakes in-between- these meals are carefully crafted and cooked by us.
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All accommodation is shared with shared bathrooms that are gender segregated.
If you prefer more privacy, you can book private rooms at nearby hotels at your own expense. Please note that the cable car only runs between 8.00-17.00.
We offer 1-2 private family rooms for participants with children, or participants with mobility restrictions.
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Each year we have around 25-30 international guests from all around the world. Spaces are limited - reserve your spot now.
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Once you register, we will send you a detailed Welcome Package with all the information you need for your upcoming travels.
Questions? Please contact us at: info@thefutuhat.com
Registration Now Open
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.”
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"Quite literally, a heartening experience, a week of joy and enlightenment."
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"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!"
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“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."
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"Wonderful! A great way to immerse yourself into Ibn Arabi's world."
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"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.