Why Spiritual Retreats Matter for Muslim Youth Today: A Personal Reflection

I still remember the early days after becoming Muslim—picking up random books from Islamic bookstores along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, trying to make sense of it all. There was sincerity in my search, but little guidance. That personal confusion only deepened in the post-9/11 years, when being Muslim in America suddenly carried new weight, pressure, and visibility. It was during that time that I attended my first Deen Intensive retreat outside of Chicago, where I encountered scholars like Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah and Imam Zaid Shakir.

That experience changed everything. These retreats were more than just classes—they were sanctuaries of clarity. Built around the Hadith of Jibril, they offered a balanced framework of Islam, Iman, and Ihsan—normative practice, theology, and spirituality—taught in ways that respected traditional scholarship and the diverse cultural realities we lived in. Over the years, I attended many more such gatherings across the country and noticed something consistent: students who participated in these retreats were more confident in their faith, more civically engaged, and more deeply committed to their communities.

Eventually, I was able to build upon this foundation by sitting in the study circles of traditional scholars in the Hijaz, and later, after completing my doctoral studies, I began integrating these insights into my teaching of Muslim theology in Germany. Yet, not every Muslim youth will pursue formal theological studies—and that’s precisely why spiritual retreats remain so vital.

These experiences are what inspired me to begin organizing retreats of my own. After years of hosting events with scholars from both the East and the West, and traveling with teachers and colleagues, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of gathering in historically and culturally rich places like the Balkans. With their beautiful Ottoman-era mosques, old towns, and natural landscapes, they offer a unique setting for learning, fellowship, and lasting spiritual growth.

In an age defined by digital overwhelm, declining religiosity, and social atomization, retreats provide something rare: space for religious literacy, spiritual grounding, and authentic community. They are a modest but powerful investment—offering not just information, but transformation. For Muslim youth today, they can be a much-needed lifeline toward faith, meaning, and belonging.