There are SO many places you "can" go....but finding somewhere relaxing, that at the same time respects your values as Muslim women was hard. If you want to go swimming....there aren't many female only times. If you go all-inclusive, they look at you weridly when you ask if the chicken and pork were cooked together.

We also wanted to do something for our own self-development. Relax, sure....but also to feel like we have grown or experienced something new. We weren't looking for a "religious" retreat as such, but it would be nice to learn about Islamic history and culture...and strengthen our iman. We didn't find any "packages" that enabled us to do this.

After weeks of unsuccesful Google searches, we decided to put everything together ourselves...something relaxing, halal food, private pool, beautiful views, respects our Muslim values, private enough to wear what we wanted without worry about who was watching us!

For the 2 of us, the quotes were CRAZY expensive, so we took to Instagram to see who out there is the big wide web would be up for joining us....expecting maybe 1 or 2 people max, which would still save a lot of money.

The response we had on Instagram was SO BIG that we filled up the retreat centre ourselves...in 24 hours (less than that in fact). 20 of us, all wanting the same thing....relaxation, fun, expereince something new...and hanging out with like-minded sisters.

A month before, we have never spoken to each other...yet here we are, on Zoom, laughing, chatting, joking and getting SO excited to meet in person, in Spain!!!

It's scary, travelling to another country to meet 20 women you've only met on Zoom. But we all got on SO well....the Whatsapp groups was on fire! 🔥 I don't think anyone WASN'T nervious, but nervious excited I think. Ellie and I actually travelled together...and so did some of the other sisters. So much sell scary when you travel together.

It's hard to describe how wonderful the week was. I don't know what was better....the stunning views of the muontains, the delicious halal food, the wonderful meals chatting and laughing over the most silly things. The beautiful Islamic history and culture, the walks, the private swimming pool, the yoga sessions.....or the company! Women you had never met before....5 minutes later you are sharing things you've never told anyone!

I think it was day 2 of the retreat that we looked at each other and said...."we need to do more of these." Half of the sisters who joined that first week volunteered to help out on another week...if we found enough sisters to join.