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25 May 2026 / 8. Zil-Hajj 1447

The Najaf Retreat

 

The Mainstay Foundation UK and USA and The World Federation of KSIMC, in collaboration with The World Federation’s regional partners CoEJ and NASIMCO, are pleased to announce this year’s Najaf Retreat.

The Najaf Retreat is a capacity building project that targets accomplished young leaders who are active Shia Muslim Community. The project aims to invest in such individuals by taking them on an uplifting educational and spiritual journey to Najaf, Iraq, where they will be exposed to one of the epicenters of Shia Muslim heritage and education. This project is within one of The Mainstay Foundation’s primary objectives of fostering education amongst Shia Muslims.

Over the course of 10 days, the retreaters will meet and benefit from renowned scholars of the Islamic Seminary who will provide focused guidance on, and deep insights into, a variety of topics in Islamic history, theology, jurisprudence, and ethics. Furthermore, the retreaters will have the opportunity to visit the holy shrines in Najaf, Karbala, Kathimiya, and Samarra, as well as important historical sites and academic institutions. 

This trip is for the attendees to understand and appreciate the rich Islamic heritage that has been preserved by our scholars in the seminary, have a general understanding of the role and framework of the seminary, and answer all of their pressing questions and issues that they face as young leaders in the West.*

You can find more information such as FAQ, Application form, Terms and conditions all on The Najaf Retreat website.

Please note the application deadline is on Friday, September 27th, 2019.

*Text taken from The Najaf Retreat website


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Updated on 23/12/2013

This year, over two million people around the world will InshAllah flock to Iraq to commemorate Arbaeen. We share below reflections from one of the zawaars who will be going to Iraq this year and inshAllah undertake the walk from the Holy City of Najaf to the land of Karbala:

“In a day’s time, I’ll be leaving with a group of my family and friends, leaving behind everything familiar, to make this amazing trip to the land of my Imams (AS).

I cast my mind back remembering another time, another family who left their hometown, and everything they loved, to venture out into an unknown future. Except their fate was different. For Husayn and his family (AS), only the women and children were to return back. And this drives me on..


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