The Qur’an is God’s speech conveyed in over 6,000 verses, or ayahs (signs). This divine scripture directs us to reflect upon the verses found within a second Sacred Book, the vast book of nature. This encouragement is oft-repeated, for such reflection is  a means to know our Creator. A close reading of either text can result in a profound reorientation of our spiritual awareness. Yet the abundance of natural imagery in the Qur’an indicates that the one cannot be read without the other. In order to truly realize our spiritual aspirations, our reflection must extend beyond mere passive observation—we must reflect experientially. A full education incorporates mind, body and soul, and no education can be complete if not reinforced by a deep engagement with God’s creation.

 In our modern world, it is not always easy to find the time or the proper environment for fulfilling the Prophetic tradition of tahannuth (seeking knowledge and reflection outside of city limits). In this retreat, participants will, God willing, recognize a greater enrichment of both the spiritual and mundane aspects of their lives—an enrichment that will remain with them as they move forward in life’s journey.

God shows us in the Qur’an how He uses signs:

“Do you not see that all those who are in the heavens and the earth praise God, as do the birds with wings outstretched? Each knows its own way of prayer and glorification: God has full knowledge of what they do. Control of the heavens and the earth belongs to God: and to God is the final return. Do you not see that God drives the clouds, then gathers them together and piles them up until you see rain pour from their midst? He sends hail down from [such] mountains in the sky, pouring it on whoever He wishes and diverting it from who He wishes—the flash of its lightning almost snatches sight away. God alternated night and day—there is truly a lesson in [all] this for those who have eyes to see-- and God created each animal out of [its own] fluid: some of them crawl on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some on four. God creates whatever He will; God has power over everything.Verily We have sent down revelations that clearly explain the Truth. Allah guides whomsoever He wills to a Straight Way.” ” Al-Nur 24:41-46

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اَلَمۡ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهٗ مَنۡ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ وَالطَّيۡرُ صٰٓفّٰتٍ​ؕ كُلٌّ قَدۡ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهٗ وَتَسۡبِيۡحَهٗ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ عَلِيۡمٌۢ بِمَا يَفۡعَلُوۡنَ‏ * وَلِلّٰهِ مُلۡكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ​ۚ وَاِلَى اللّٰهِ الۡمَصِيۡرُ‏ * اَلَمۡ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُزۡجِىۡ سَحَابًا ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيۡنَهٗ ثُمَّ يَجۡعَلُهٗ رُكَامًا فَتَرَى الۡوَدۡقَ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ خِلٰلِهٖ​ۚ وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مِنۡ جِبَالٍ فِيۡهَا مِنۡۢ بَرَدٍ فَيُـصِيۡبُ بِهٖ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ وَ يَصۡرِفُهٗ عَنۡ مَّنۡ يَّشَآءُ​ ؕ يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرۡقِهٖ يَذۡهَبُ بِالۡاَبۡصَارِؕ‏ *  يُقَلِّبُ اللّٰهُ الَّيۡلَ وَالنَّهَارَ​ ؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰ لِكَ لَعِبۡرَةً لِّاُولِى الۡاَبۡصَارِ‏ *  وَاللّٰهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَآبَّةٍ مِّنۡ مَّآءٍ ​ۚفَمِنۡهُمۡ مَّنۡ يَّمۡشِىۡ عَلٰى بَطۡنِهٖ​ۚ وَمِنۡهُمۡ مَّنۡ يَّمۡشِىۡ عَلٰى رِجۡلَيۡنِ وَمِنۡهُمۡ مَّنۡ يَّمۡشِىۡ عَلٰٓى اَرۡبَعٍ​ؕ يَخۡلُقُ اللّٰهُ مَا يَشَآءُ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرٌ‏ * لَـقَدۡ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اٰيٰتٍ مُّبَيِّنٰتٍ​ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ يَهۡدِىۡ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ اِلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيۡمٍ

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