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Journey to the city of saints
Fez, moroCco
April 13th - 18th 2024
Fez, the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco.
A UNESCO world heritage site called the “Mecca of the West” and “Athens of Africa”, it is the largest preserved medieval city on earth. It is a living museum containing over a thousand years of history.
It has been a center of Sufism for centuries and many of the world's greatest Sufi saints lived, studied or were buried within its confines. It is also a center of ancient arts and crafts with living artisan traditions.
After receiving numerous requests from our community, Rumi Center is excited to launch our first retreat in Morocco; where we will gather in the spiritual heart of the country, the venerated ‘City of Saints’.
Come experience the mystical charm of one of the most spiritually, culturally and intellectually rich cities in human history. Learn from prominent artisans, craftsmen, musicians and teachers in the largest preserved medieval city on earth.
The City of Saints, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Fez is an ancient city and its sacred roots run deep. Founded by the “shurafa” or descendants of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), Moulay Idris I + II, for over a thousand years renowned Sufi masters and scholars have lived, taught, and been laid to rest there. It produced so many spiritual luminaries that it became known as medinat ul-awliya – the City of Saints.
Discover the miracles, spiritual enlightenment and mystical secrets embedded in the ancient archways, historic gates and beautifully colored zellige tiles.
A Sensory & Suprasensory Experience
Fez is a journey for the senses. Soak in the aromas of incense, perfumed oils, leather, coffee, mint tea and spices. Listen to the hum of the foot traffic and the metal workers clanking on brass as the melody of the call to prayer echoes through the air. Feel the texture of the textiles, the expertly woven wool rugs and the intricate details of artisanal wood carvings. From the bustling, winding streets to the tranquil courtyards and sacred sites that offer spaces for contemplation – the city promises a transformative experience.
But it is the world beyond the senses—that of the spirit—that has inspired seekers to flock to Fez for over a thousand years. Full of countless Sufi lodges (zawiyas), ancient mosques, gatherings of remembrance, and tombs of revered saints—Fez is above all an experience for the soul.
A Cultural, Intellectual and Spiritual Haven
The City of Saints retreat is a rare opportunity to discover the cultural, intellectual and spiritual legacy of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient city that functions as a living museum.
you can look forward to:
Tracing the footsteps of the great spiritual masters of Fez.
Receiving baraka, or blessings, from our visits to the sacred sites and tombs of Sufi Saints – such as Moulay Idris, Ahmad Tijani, and Sidi Ali Jamal.
Visiting al-Qirawaeen university, the oldest continually operating higher learning institution in the world.
Weaving through the ancient streets, learning from the traditional artisans and craftsman.
Daily reflections on the poetry and wisdom of local Sufi saints, led by Baraka Blue.
Guided tours exploring some of the most exquisite Islamic art and architecture in the world with local artisan and scholar Hamza El Fasiki.
Attending gatherings of remembrance with local Sufis and learning about the famous Dalayl al-Khayrat from scholar Hisham Mahmoud.
Evenings filled with poetry, qasidas and zikr in blessed company.
Warm Moroccan hospitality, delicious local cuisine and serene courtyards at the beautiful, traditional riads we will stay in.
This retreat provides space to reflect and introspect – to gain a deeper understanding of self and the spiritual path. In addition to the exploration of the city there will be ample time for contemplation and good conversation with fellow travelers over copious cups of moroccan mint tea.
pricing
SOLD OUT
Our Fez retreat is fully booked!
However, due to demand from our community, we are expanding the opportunity for a few more to join us with a new package option!
Book Your Own Accommodation
$1850 per person (does not include accommodation)
(discounts available for Moroccan residents email angel@rumicenter.love )
payment plans available
Please note: this new package would require that you book your own accommodation in Fez as we have reached full capacity at our Riad (Dar Andalous)
In order to make the booking process easier for you, we have compiled a list of recommended Riads located near our main one:
Riad El Yacout (3 min walk from our Riad, Dar Andalous)
Riad Salam (6 min walk from our Riad)
Riad Al Makan (3 min walk from our Riad)
Riad Zamane (2 min walk from our Riad)
Le Grand Alcazar (3 min walk from our Riad)
Note: please contact the Riads directly as they tend to have additional rooms available that are not listed on booking.com or other hotel websites.
Retreat registration closes March 13
WHAT’S INCLUDED
5 nights accommodation in a beautiful traditional Moroccan Riad. We have two closely located riads reserved for our group: Dar Mahal, and Dar Andalous.
Airport and Train shuttles (valid only in Fez for arrivals on April 13th & departures on April 18th.
All ground transportation
2 meals daily (breakfast + dinner)
Daily teachings and dhikr with Baraka Blue on the wisdom of Sufi Saints
All local musical and sacred arts programming
Visits to sacred sites
Bullet points that are crossed out are part of packages that are now sold out
WHAT’S not INCLUDED
Airfare
Visa Fee if applicable
Travel/Medical Insurance
Additional Expenditures / Shopping
Extra meals
Accommodations for “Book Your Own” packages
Featuring:
Baraka Blue
Baraka Blue is a Sufi poet, musician, and author. In addition to releasing multiple studio albums, authoring books of poetry, and performing internationally, he has a degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Washington and a Masters in Islamic Studies from Berkley’s Graduate Theological Union. After a life-altering encounter with Rumi’s poetry as a teenager he has been a student of Sufism and Sufi poetry for the past 20 years.
Medina Whiteman
Medina Tenour Whiteman is a British-American Muslim writer, poet and singer based near Granada in Spain. She is the author of the poetry collection Love is a Traveller and We Are Its Path (Ecstatic Exchange, 2016), Huma’s Travel Guide to Islamic Spain (2016), and The Invisible Muslim: Journeys Through Whiteness and Islam (Hurst, 2020). Her work has appeared on BBC Radio, Alchemiya, Critical Muslim, and Sacred Footsteps, and other international platforms, as well as being anthologised in A Kaleidoscope of Stories by Lote Tree Press. She has over 20 years’ experience writing, editing and translating fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scripts and songs, and regularly holds creative writing workshops online and in person. She is the cofounder of the Muslim Writers' Salon and the Sufi women's art collective Ruh Karima.
hisham mahmoud
El-Hajj Hisham Mahmoud has studied theology, hadith, legal theory, jurisprudence, ethics, Qur’an recitation, and Arabic with scholars in Morocco, Mauritania, and Egypt. He has taught for more than a decade at Yale, Princeton, and Harvard, then left the Academy to institute Lanturna, an educational initiative that intends to establish learning collectives throughout the world. Hajj Hisham resides in Fes with his wife and three children.
Hamza El Fasiki
Hamza El Fasiki is an artisan, author and instructor. A specialist on traditional Moroccan art, he has published a book entitled "Sacred Space: Geometric Patterns in Moroccan Art". He received his MA in Moroccan Cultural Studies with a focus on the Fes medina crafts from Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University in Fes, Morocco. A Fes native, he apprenticed under his father, Master Mokhtar El Fasiki (the head of the brass guild in Fes) learning Moroccan geometric patterns, brass Engraving and bookbinding. He has traveled the world teaching about Moroccan art and culture.
AMEER NOURELDIN
Ameer is a singer, percussionist and student of Qur’anic tilawah and tajwid (recitation) from Chicago, IL. He learned to recite from his mother as a child, and has been a munshid at Ta’leef Chicago since its opening in 2017. Since then he has been a student of the sacred music and spiritual poetry of the Islamic tradition, focusing on the classics of the Arabic language but also incorporating song from other languages including Urdu, Turkish, and Spanish. He has sung and performed all across the world at a wide range of retreats, conferences, and spiritual gatherings. He resides in Cairo, Egypt where he is continuing his studies in the arts of Quranic recitation.