Sacred Sounds Retreat
Learn the Sacred Arts of Drumming, Devotional Singing and Poetry in Andalusia, Spain, from 20th to 27th June 2026
Set within the stunning Azahara International Resort, nestled in the Alpujarras mountains of southern Spain and just an hour from Granada, the Sacred Sounds Retreat is your passport into a world of the traditional arts of drumming, devotional singing and poetry. Designed for beginners and anyone who wants to explore these sacred skills.
This retreat is a pathway to increasing in love, knowledge and obedience to the Divine and His Noble Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ, by connecting hearts and minds to him ﷺ through the beauty of Arabic poetry, sacred gatherings, nature’s serenity, wholesome food and the stunning, picturesque, Andalusian countryside.
What to Expect
Over seven days, you will be immersed in three daily learning sessions, together with regular gatherings of praise where you will have the chance to implement your new skills. Our teachers will ensure you get the help and support needed to really grow and achieve your goals.
There will be plenty of time to relax, recharge and enjoy the scenic views of the Andalusian hills.
The resident expert chef will prepare locally sourced and wholesome food and we will have time to visit nearby villages and other places of interest. As we will be on an olive tree farm, there are plenty of walking routes and spots to sit and reflect.
Most importantly, you’ll be with likeminded people in a safe environment, away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives.
Learn to play the traditional daff drum to your favourite qasā’id with Umm al-Khair. In gatherings of praise, the daff sets the rythm and accompanies the singers to help set the mood of the gathering. Designed for beginners, you will learn about the history of the daff, how they are held, various daff beats and how to sing whilst playing.
Ghizlane Gzili will teach you how to sing your favourite qasīda, with an emphasis on proper articulation of each letter by applying the rules of tajwīd where possible. This method will also help to improve your recitation of the Qur’ān. She will also demonstrate the basics of the art of maqāmāt (melodic melodies). You will go through warm-up and singing techniques, sing in solo or in unison, ready for your next gathering of praise.
Where would the singer and the drummer be without the words of the poet? As the foundational art, poetry has the power to inspire, teach and express what regular speech can not. In Ayman Muhammed’s classes, you will dive into the world of writing praise poetry in English. You will learn a variety of useful techniques and be able to share your writings with the class in a safe and non-judgemental environment.
Programme Contents
7 nights at Azahara Well-Being Centre (45 minutes from Granada) from 20th to 27th June 2026.
- Daily lessons on learning the daff, qasā’id singing (with an emphasis on correct pronunciation) and poetry writing.
Delicious and locally sourced meals cooked by renowned chef Nabil (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner).
Evening gatherings of remembrance including; the Burdah by Imam Busiri, the Shimmering Light Mawlid by Habīb ʿUmar bin Hafīz and the Prophet’s Presence (a new English Mawlid).
Optional opportunities to visit local villages, swimming, nature walks, contemplation and more.
Retreat Pricing
Early Bird (valid until end of April):
£950 (2-3 sharing) – (Approximately €1100 / $1275)
£900 (Room of 4) – (Approximately €1040 / $1200)
Normal Price:
£999 (2-3 sharing) – (Approximately €1150 / $1340)
£950 (Room of 4) – (Approximately €1100 / $1275)
All prices are per person.
N.B. Please make all payments in Sterling, as US and Euro rates above are approximates according to the exchange rate.
What’s Included:
Accommodation, all meals, classes and workshops and gatherings of remembrance.
There will be time to rest and reflect, use the onsite swimming pool, take walks in the local nature and enjoy the scenery.
What’s Not Included:
Flights and airport transfer.
Day trip to local villages (small fee to cover hire of minibus).
Our Teachers
Umm al-Khair
Umm al-Khair is the compiler of the Breezes of the Elect book and is a teacher of tajwīd, qasā’id and daff. She has worked internationally over the years, assisting communities in setting up regular gatherings of remembrance.
As well as being an accomplished daff drum player, she has ijāza (licence) in Qur’ānic recitation, recitation of the Burdah, Shimmering Light and all qasā’id in the book and has been singing and teaching for the last 12 years.
The purpose of reciting qasā’id is to increase in love and connection with the Prophet ﷺ, which is the intention behind the Breezes of the Elect book and any subsequent teaching.
Ayman Muhammed
Ayman is best described as a creative across multiple disciplines, ranging from photography, graphic design and poetry. He was part of the critically acclaimed hip hop duo ‘The Planets’, who broke barriers by working with a number of high profile American artists.
Gradually, Ayman turned his attention to the world of qasā’id and discovered Habīb ʿUmar bin Hafīz's 'Shimmering Light' mawlid over 15 years ago. He now writes poetry which takes inspiration from this rich tradition.
His time in 2019 in Morocco and Tarim studying Arabic opened his eyes to a new variety of traditional devotional poetry and the centrality of these poems to the spiritual life of a Muslim.
Ghizlane Gzili
Ghizlane Gzili is a Moroccan vocalist and educator specialising in Arabic inshād (devotional singing), with a particular focus on the muwash-shahāt - a poetic and musical tradition spanning the Levant, Egypt, and al-Andalus. She refined her mastery of maqamāt (melodic modes) and iqā’āt (rhythmic patterns) under the mentorship of distinguished masters, including the Syrian scholar Ustadh Khaled al-Hafīz.
At the Sacred Sounds Retreat, Ghizlane will lead inshād workshops centered on vocalizing spiritual expression. Her sessions emphasize precise articulation - incorporating the principles of tajwīd - and provide an accessible introduction to the maqām system as a vehicle for deepening the soul's connection to the voice.
Azahara International
Azahara is a retreat centre established in 2018 on a functioning olive grove farm in the hills of Andalusia, less than an hour from Granada. Their purpose is to deepen connection to Allah through nature, service, learning, and living in community.
Your Feedback
“Superb! The retreat was set in a stunning natural environment. Organised by professionals with a systematical structure to the timetable. Much needed time for reflection, practice and rest was catered for.”
“The teachers were dedicated, encouraging and supportive in the drumming, singing and poetry classes. The finale was the most amazing mawlid, displaying immense talent from just five days of lessons.”
“This retreat has allowed me to self reflect and recharge my batteries, to gain more knowledge of our Prophet ﷺ, allowed me to make intentions to further improve myself and share with others."
"It brought me depth, it gave me rhythm, it releases joy, it gave me skills (singing, appreciating poetry, daffing) and it increases my love for the Prophet and Allah."
"My overall experience has been surpassed by my expectations in many ways. This retreat has allowed me to self reflect and recharge my batteries, to gain more knowledge of our Prophet ﷺ, allowed me to make intentions to further improve myself and share with others what the retreat has taught me. I have also made new friends which I will want to maintain going forwards."
"It felt like we had been transported to paradise for a week, witnessing Allah's beauty in everything around us, and singing selawat, mentioning his name, writing poetry about our beloved Rasul ﷺ all day long, in the company of beautiful, inspiring like minded souls."
“Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”
[Ibn Battuta]
FAQs
A retreat centered on traditional daff drumming, devotional singing, tajwīd and English poetry, set in the breathtaking scenery of the Andalusian mountains. Chef Nabil will cook up the most delicious wholesome food, and you will be consistently surrounded by the sounds and rhythms of remembrance, making the retreat a once in a lifetime experience.
Yes, the retreat is for beginners. We are working on curating retreats for the more advanced student. We will share details of any new and upcoming retreats.
Sacred Sounds is for adults aged 16 and over. There is no upper age limit, but we recommend a good level of mobility.
Early Bird (valid until end of April):
£950 / €1100 / $1275 (2-3 sharing)
£900 / €1040 / $1200 (Room of 4)
Normal Price:
£999 / €1150 / $1340 (2-3 sharing)
£950 / €1100 / $1275 (Room of 4)
All prices are per person.
What’s Included:
Accommodation, all meals, classes and workshops and gatherings of remembrance.
There will be time to rest and reflect, use the onsite swimming pool, take walks in the local nature and enjoy the scenery.
What’s Not Included:
Flights and airport transfer.
Day trip to local villages (small fee to cover hire of minibus).
Once you have registered for the retreat, you will be contacted via email with payment details. Payment is made by an online transfer. Your space is only secure once your payment is made.
Yes, we have installment plans available for all of out retreats. Rates are indicated during the registration process.
The accommodation is limited and so we only allow adults on the retreat. You do have the option of staying offsite, however, in a nearby hotel and attending the retreat daily. We could help arrange childcare if needed. Please contact us to discuss your requirements info@breezesoftheelect.org
The retreat is currently women only, although there are males onsite (lmam, chef and one of the teachers). We are however looking into having a male only Sacred Sounds retreat. Watch this space!
Granada is 50 minutes away from Azahara and Malaga is 90 minutes away.
Once you have registered and paid for the retreat, shortly before the retreat commences, you will be sent a pre-retreat form to fill out, where we will ask you for your flight information. Once the majority of guests have made their flight bookings and filled out the form, we will arrange a taxi or minibus pick up with the costs to be shared by the passengers. The cost can be anything from €100 – €200 to be shared between you. You will also be sent the phone number of the driver who is to meet you at the airport. Alternatively local buses are available from the airport, details can be sent on request.
Please aim to arrive on Saturday 20th in the morning/early afternoon. This gives you time to be picked up and settle into your accommodation. The programme will start on Saturday 20th June at 5.45pm.
Departure on the final day 27th June is at 10.00am. You will need to vacate your rooms by 10am.
There is a resident Imam as well as a few male volunteers, one of the teachers (Ayman Muhammed) and the chef. However, there are female specific areas where no men will be allowed, with the majority of the retreat being a women only held space.
Once you have registered and paid for the retreat, shortly before the retreat commences, you will be sent a pre-retreat form to fill out, where we will ask you about any allergies.
All participants will be required to bring a copy of Breezes of the Elect with them, available from this website.
You must also bring with you a daff frame drum. For beginners, we would recommend plastic skinned drums by Remo, minimum 12” in size, such as this one here.
You can contact Mystic Beats on robina23@hotmail.com, or message her on Instagram
@mysticbeatsinstructor to purchase a Moroccan natural skin drum.
Please bring a note book and pen with you.
Bring a refillable bottle to stay hydrated, a sun hat, sun glasses, and comfortable footwear. We will be taking walks, so ensure you have suitable footwear and clothing for that.
As Azahara is a functioning olive tree farm, bring along mosquito repellant, but expect a few bugs too!
Most of the rooms for 2-3 people come with their own bathrooms with some being ensuite. They will be allocated on a first come basis with the ensuite ones being allocated out first and the room for 3 being allocated last.
The room for 4 has its own bathroom and contains 4 single beds and furniture.
You will be supplied with towels, shower gel, and soap in the bathrooms. You will need a two pin plug adapter and will need to bring your own hair-dryer, should you require one.
Yes, thats possible. Please send an email to info@breezesoftheelect.org and we can see how we can make that happen.
Yes, it’s possible – with your help! Contact us to see how we can make this happen – info@breezesoftheelect.org
Please contact:
cortijoazahara1@gmail.com for logistical questions.
info@breezesoftheelect.org for questions regarding the content of the retreat.
Secure Your Spot
Secure your spot for this summers Sacred Sounds Retreat. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.