SeekersRetreat 2012 – Beginning with Guidance: Nurturing a Relationship with Allah & His Beloved
A NEXUS-APAC powered event
Welcome to Aotearoa (New Zealand) – The Land Of The Long White Cloud
The 2012 SeekersRetreat has finally arrived in New Zealand! This is your unique opportunity to experience deep scholarship and companionship, and to nurture your relationship with Allah and His Beloved. Your hosts: Rasheed Memorial Dawah Trust (RMDT), in collaboration with Al Ghazzali Centre - Sydney, and Seekers Guidance -Toronto, is extremely honoured to confirm the New Zealand SeekersRetreat 2012.
Hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders have benefited from these ground-breaking retreats in the past few years, thanks to the work Al Ghazzali Centre has been putting into these highly acclaimed events. The previous retreat in Melbourne was rated by the scholars there to be the best among the many they have attended around the world over the years. In 2012, it will be New Zealand’s turn to maintain this high standard while providing a unique NZ flavour to the experience!
Please use the gray menu on the left to navigate through the various pages of information. We kindly ask that you read through ALL the information before applying. Please note: the objective of the application process is to ensure that a balance of various types of applicants are accepted, from serious students to those who may have only taken a single course or in some cases even none at all. However, some preference will be given to those who have clearly been making efforts to reach scholars online and who are highly deserving of a unique opportunity to learn from their teachers in person. It is stressed that those who are new to seeking knowledge will also be catered for, and a balance of applicants across all levels of studying experience will be achieved.
Click Here to Apply!
A Retreat?
Many of us have had the privilege of attending youth camps from an early age. Some will remember the wonderful youth camps organised by FIANZ in the 1980s and 1990s, which encompassed learning and fun and good memories until today. Nowadays camps have come to have specific expectations. Retreats are quite different. Whilst set in comfortable and informal surroundings, retreats are not weekend camps of good fun and BBQs (although that is not bad a thing at all!) but they involve a real “retreating” from the business of material life, into a place and time of personal review. This self development is based on deep reflection on the Prophetic Teachings, explained by the most qualified and inspirational international Scholars and Teachers available in English today.
Retreats focus first and foremost on knowledge, and the deep study of Islamic sciences from traditional Islamic sources, protected by the chain of transmission.However, relaxation and social gatherings are not forgotten in the planning of our retreats. A highly ethical setting is created for adults to be part of a community of Seekers of Sacred Knowledge in a meaningful, friendly, and non-confrontational environment. Our only aspiration is that all attendees of the Seekers Retreat find and take all means possible to return home and take immediate steps to journey to Allah, The Magnificent, The Majestic.
This Year
Every year the retreat aims to be the best yet, and for 2012 there is a uniquely amazing line-up of international scholars and guests and a lovely venue nestled in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Taupo. In short, the 2012 SeekersRetreat will InshaAllah be a world-class, ‘must attend’ event for all seekers of knowledge everywhere, and there are special places reserved for both New Zealanders and Australians to be able to attend.
What can I expect from the SeekersRetreat?
This first retreat of its kind in the history of New Zealand is sure to inspire, elevate, and nurture your relationship with Allah and His Beloved, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
Continuously nurturing ones relationship with Allah is the goal of the believer. The Beloved Prophet, upon whom be peace and blessings of Allah, said, “Your actions alone will not save you”, which raises a most important question – how does one nurture their relationship with Allah? What are the paths leading to Him alone and being under His protection?
New Zealand will be dawned upon for the first time by teachers who’ve never set foot on this beautiful blessed land. These teachers will bring with them an interest in this land, and awaken us to its great blessings. The scholars will also be hosted like no scholars have in this country before – we will be immersed together with them for five full days and nights, developing our relationship with our Creator and Sustainer and His Beloved through teaching, remembrance and regime, further inspired by the singing of famous and popular nasheeds from our Islamic tradition.
We are expecting in New Zealand four world renowned teachers, two of which will be here for the first time:
- Dr Umar Faruq Abd-Allah (Nawawi Foundation, United States of America)
- Shaykh Faraz Rabbani (Seekers Guidance – Canada)
- Ustadth Usama Canon (Ta’leef Collective, United States of America)
- Imam Afroz Ali (Al Ghazzali Centre & Seekers Guidance – Australia)
The learning curriculum for this retreat will be based on authoritative texts of erudite Classical Scholars like Imam al-Ghazzali, Imam al-Haddad and Shaykh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali.Together with the above great scholars, and for heart-softening and heart-awakening effects of remembrance and special expressions of love for Allah and His Beloved, we will be honoured to host, also for the first time in New Zealand:
- The Singapore Haqqani Ensemble – a full complement of six nasheed singers all the way from Singapore!
You are most warmly invited to five days and five nights of absolute awe, inspiration, learning, and closeness to our Lord and His Beloved – be ready to be inspired by knowledge, moved by spiritual renditions, and ennobled by companionship – Do not miss what is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with such scholars in New Zealand.
