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GETTING GROUNDED WITH GOD
Experience the Divine through His Creation

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Dar Al Islam • Abiquiu, New Mexico

bayan's THIRd RETREAT

AUGUST 20 - 24, 2025

$ 899 Per Person • Open to all participants age 17+.

All meals, activities, accommodations and lectures are included.

with $400 deposit

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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OUR TEACHERS

We are blessed that our teachers will be Imam Khalid Latif and Imam Dawood Yasin.

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Imam Khalid Latif

Imam Khalid Latif is the Executive Director and Chaplain for the Islamic Center at New York University. In 2005, Latif was appointed the first Muslim chaplain at NYU. He was also appointed the first Muslim chaplain at Princeton University in 2006. Spending a year commuting between these two excellent institutions, he finally decided to commit full-time to New York University's Islamic Center where his position was officially institutionalized in the spring of 2007. Under his leadership, the Islamic Center at NYU became the first ever established Muslim student center at an institution of higher education in the United States.

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Imam Dawood Yasin

Imam Dawood Yasin is Imam of the Islamic Center of Greater Austin. He was the Director of Student Life and Center for Ethical Living and Learning at Zaytuna College. His field specialties include Arabic, Community Studies, and Ethical Living and Learning. Imam Dawood has taught Arabic, leads the Experiential Learning Program, and teaches archery.

Bayan invites you to the Dar Al Islam campus, located in the desert landscape of Abiquiu to learn about the significance of His signs.

 

Dar Al Islam was the last community project designed by world renowned Egyptian architect Hasan Fathy. On July 31, 1999, The Toronto Star published an article on Dar al Islam, a Muslim village begun in 1977 by American and European converts who wanted to live amid the Native American pueblos in northern New Mexico. The village, which was constructed in Abiquiu, New Mexico, boasts an adobe mosque as its centerpiece. Completed in 1981 and situated on 1,600 acres, the mosque and adjoining madrassah include vaulted ceilings, domes, archways, gardens, courtyards, and a library.

PROGRAM

Activities

  • Daily engagement with a classical text from the Islamic corpus and connecting its meanings to our experience in the natural world

  • Fiqh of purity and prayer

  • Learning the adab of being outdoors (seven principles of Leave No Trace)

  • Determining prayer times and directions using natural signs

  • Daily Qur’an recitation, dhikr, journaling, individual and group-based reflection

 

Intentions

  • Develop the basic adab of being in a natural environment as well as close living with other participants

  • Develop confidence in themselves and their capabilities in the natural world

  • Develop leadership and group communication skills in a manner that remains humble and respectful

  • Experiencing the daily rhythm through the sun’s positions and communal prayers

  • Learning the importance of situational awareness (in both backcountry and front-country)

  • Enliven our spiritual lives by expanding the scope of our religious practice

  • Observe and experience the relationship between the physical and the spiritual, by reflecting on the natural signs of God and learning to recognize the symbiotic relationship between man and the natural

  • To incorporate these lessons into our daily lives, moving forth with a greater environmental awareness as well as a greater awareness of the consequences of our actions 

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Accommodations 

Dar Al Islam offers dorm-style living on campus. Men and women will be placed in either the main building or the yurts in bunk beds.

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Class Overview 

See detailed descriptions of each class here.

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Getting There

We suggest you fly into Albuquerque (ABQ), as there are more flights to choose from. Shuttle service is available between 2:00pm and 4:00pm on Wednesday, August 20th, and departing DAI at 9:30am on Sunday, August 24th for $150 per person (in addition to the $899 cost per person).  Please note that there is limited space on the shuttle.

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Wednesday, August 20th

Optional Day On Your Own In New Mexico 

8:00 am -  3:00 pm  -  You may decide to visit Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, visit Santa Fe for the day, or go to Taos and visit the sites there.

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Bayan Retreat begins

4:00 pm -  6:00 pm  - Arrive and get settled on campus

6:00 pm  -  Dinner / Introductions

7:30 pm  -  Magreb/Isha

8:00 pm  -  Orientation

Thursday, August 21st

5:30 am  -  Fajr 

6:30 am  -  Morning HIke/ Qur’an time

8:30 am -   Breakfast

10:00 am - Class

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:30 pm -   Zuhr/Asr

3:00 pm -  Class

6:00 pm -  Dinner

7:30 pm  - Magreb/Isha

8:30 pm. - Campfire (Storytelling of the Seerah as it pertains to the natural world)


Friday August 22nd

5:30 am -  Fajr 

6:30 am  - Morning Hike / Qur’an time 

8:30 am -  Breakfast

10:00 am - Class 

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:30 pm -   Jumah

3:00 pm -  Class  

5:00 pm -  Asr 

6:00 pm -  Dinner

7:30 pm -  Magreb/Isha

8:30 pm -  Qasidah 

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Saturday August 23rd

5:30 am -  Fajr 

6:30 am -  Morning HIke

8:30 am -  Breakfast

10:00 am - Class

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:30 pm   - Zuhr/Asr

3:00 pm - Class

6:00 pm - Dinner

7:30 pm -  Magreb/Isha

8:30 pm -  Stargazing 
 

Sunday, August 24th

5:30 am -  Fajr

6:30 am -  Debrief / Discussion

8:30 am -  Breakfast

9:30 am -  Depart

Tuesday, August 19th (Optional)

This is an optional day - extra charge of $150.00 for participants who have their own rental cars.  The optional charge will include an additional night at Dar Al Islam and will give participants an opportunity to explore New Mexico on their own.  you may decide to visit Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, visit Santa Fe for the day, or go to Taos and visit sites there.

 

4:00 pm -  6:00 pm  - Arrive and get settled on campus

6:00 pm  -  Dinner / Introductions

7:30 pm  -  Magreb/Isha

ALL RESERVATIONS ARE FINALIZED AFTER 6/30/2025. YOUR DEPOSIT AND ANY PAYMENTS MADE FOR THIS EXCURSION ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AFTER THIS DATE.

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All meals, activities, accommodations and lectures are included.

with $400 deposit

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