Ready to Start Your Adventure?
Risala Foundation’s annual retreat is truly a treat for everyone. From Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, immerse yourself in dhikr and reflection in the company of esteemed scholars. Enjoy time spent with friends, old and new, and walk the beautiful grounds of Camp Cullen. The beautiful, 530 acre, camp is situated on Lake Livingston and offers a variety of outdoor activities.
9th Annual Retreat
November 4th – 6th 2022
Applications for the 9th Annual Retreat are now open!
From Friday through Saturday, November 4th-6th 2022, we will reconvene once again, God-willing, with a group of esteemed scholars on the serene grounds of YMCA Camp Cullen in Trinity County, Texas.
Wisdom, friendship, and serenity abound at this family camp which caters to all age groups at all walks of life, from children, to teenagers, to young adults, to families.
Mark your calendars and apply now!
Wisdom, friendship, and serenity abound at this family camp which caters to all age groups at all walks of life, from children, to teenagers, to young adults, to families.
Mark your calendars and apply now!
Don’t miss our highly anticipated annual retreat!
We are thrilled to announce a top-notch roster of respected scholars and artists. Ustadh Amjad Tarsin joins us from Al-Maqasid, and Dr. Nadia Katrangi comes to us as the beloved chairman of Good Tree Institute. We also have with us Sidi Uthman Ames, whose nasheeds will fill your heart with love for Allah and His Beloved Prophet ﷺ, while brother Fiyyaz Jaat will, as always, inspire and engage our youth with his unique gifts and wisdom. Applications are now open! Don’t miss this opportunity to spend time at the beautiful YMCA Camp Cullen and learn from our blessed scholars and teachers as they speak on what it means to be a courageous steward and stand your ground in the midst of many cultural difficulties. Situated in the serene grounds of Camp Cullen, this will be a spiritual experience to remember! Apply at the link below! |
FOR EVERYONE
Our retreats are for everyone - families, couples, singles, young adults, and kids. We build our events based on the demographics of the attendees and provide something for everyone. |
RECONNECT AND
REJUVENATE Away from the daily bustle, give yourself the space and the time you need to reconnect. |
SPEND TIME WITH
SCHOLARS Dr. Tamara Gray is one of the scholars we have been blessed to have with us for our retreat. |
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Set 90 minutes from Houston and 3.5 hours from Dallas, Camp Cullen offers breathtaking views and plenty of outdoor activities, including canoeing, zip lining, and archery. |
About the Speakers
USTADH AMJAD TARSIN was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and he obtained his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Michigan in English Literature and Islamic Studies. He then spent an intensive year studying at Dar al-Mustafa for Islamic Sciences in Tarim, Yemen. There, he studied under such luminaries as Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Ali Abu Bakr, Habib Muhammad al-‘Aydarus, Sayyid Salim Bin Hafiz, Sh. Munir Ba-Zhayr, and others. Following his studies in Tarim, he enrolled at Hartford Seminary’s Islamic Chaplaincy program where he complete his Master of Arts in June of 2012. He then served as Muslim Chaplain at the University of Toronto for seven years before joining the faculty at al-Maqasid in June 2019.
Ustadh Amjad is the host of SoulFood FM, a podcast about practical ways of achieving spiritual refinement. Additionally, he has translated Sufism: Its Essence and the Traits of Its People, Sacred Knowledge: Aims and Objectives, and The Islamic Discourse: Its Current State and Future Development, all of which were authored by al-Habib ‘Umar Bin Hafiz.
DR. NADIA KATRANGI is the chairman of the Good Tree Institute and one of those rare scholars who has both the gift of communication – able to share what they learn easily with those around them – and a penchant for the written word, giving her the ability to read and translate easily. As a scholar who is highly intellectual, especially in the field of medicine, Nadia uses her gifts at Good Tree Institute to teach, translate, and inspire. Growing up in Syria, Nadia was drawn to religious studies as well as to academic studies, receiving multiple certifications by renowned scholars in Damascus. Her training in the Islamic Sciences included the biography of the Prophet Mohammad ﷺ, Quranic Sciences and interpretation, Islamic History, Islamic Jurisprudence and the Sciences of Hadith, and an ijaza in memorization and tajweed in Quran from the esteemed scholar Shaykh Hasan al-Kurdi.
As Dr. Katrangi studied medicine and eventually moved into pathology as a career path, she found her academics and her faith continued to be intertwined. As she says, “Our body, mind, and soul as humans are very connected; to live to your highest potential, you must use all three.”
At Good Tree Institute, Dr. Katrangi created a place that felt like home to her, and felt like home to the other original founders. Today, she prides herself on finding beauty in the Quran, provoking thoughtful and nurturing conversations and encouraging an open space for all who attend Good Tree retreats, classes, or camps. “One of the biggest things you can do is recognizing who God is for you,” she says. “There is so much love in The Divine. When you live your life from that place, you have that on your side.”
SIDI WENDELL UTHMAN AMES’ story begins at a hip-hop store in Southern California where he worked during high school. He watched his manager take breaks during the day to pray in a back room. A group of Filipino converts began visiting the store, further triggering his interest in Islam. The Filipino converts befriended him, and he took his shahada with them at the age of 17.
He began driving with them to the Bay Area to take classes with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. Sidi Uthman would eventually move to the Bay Area where he now lives with his wife and four beautiful children. He works as a Registered Nurse and has a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu. He is now a well known munshid and shares his beautiful voice at gatherings all over the world; he loves attending mawlids and singing about the beloved Prophet Mohammad ﷺ
BROTHER FIYYAZ JAAT currently serves as the Director of Youth Programming and Services Department for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He has been involved with the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) as an advisor for over fifteen years. Brother Fiyyaz is known for his ability to connect with youth and tackle sensitive and relevant issues facing youth today. He believes in a balanced approach – of growing and living in today’s society with a strong Muslim identity.
Don’t miss this highly talked about event! Give yourself and your family the gift of a spiritual retreat like no other. Sign up at the link below!
Ustadh Amjad is the host of SoulFood FM, a podcast about practical ways of achieving spiritual refinement. Additionally, he has translated Sufism: Its Essence and the Traits of Its People, Sacred Knowledge: Aims and Objectives, and The Islamic Discourse: Its Current State and Future Development, all of which were authored by al-Habib ‘Umar Bin Hafiz.
DR. NADIA KATRANGI is the chairman of the Good Tree Institute and one of those rare scholars who has both the gift of communication – able to share what they learn easily with those around them – and a penchant for the written word, giving her the ability to read and translate easily. As a scholar who is highly intellectual, especially in the field of medicine, Nadia uses her gifts at Good Tree Institute to teach, translate, and inspire. Growing up in Syria, Nadia was drawn to religious studies as well as to academic studies, receiving multiple certifications by renowned scholars in Damascus. Her training in the Islamic Sciences included the biography of the Prophet Mohammad ﷺ, Quranic Sciences and interpretation, Islamic History, Islamic Jurisprudence and the Sciences of Hadith, and an ijaza in memorization and tajweed in Quran from the esteemed scholar Shaykh Hasan al-Kurdi.
As Dr. Katrangi studied medicine and eventually moved into pathology as a career path, she found her academics and her faith continued to be intertwined. As she says, “Our body, mind, and soul as humans are very connected; to live to your highest potential, you must use all three.”
At Good Tree Institute, Dr. Katrangi created a place that felt like home to her, and felt like home to the other original founders. Today, she prides herself on finding beauty in the Quran, provoking thoughtful and nurturing conversations and encouraging an open space for all who attend Good Tree retreats, classes, or camps. “One of the biggest things you can do is recognizing who God is for you,” she says. “There is so much love in The Divine. When you live your life from that place, you have that on your side.”
SIDI WENDELL UTHMAN AMES’ story begins at a hip-hop store in Southern California where he worked during high school. He watched his manager take breaks during the day to pray in a back room. A group of Filipino converts began visiting the store, further triggering his interest in Islam. The Filipino converts befriended him, and he took his shahada with them at the age of 17.
He began driving with them to the Bay Area to take classes with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. Sidi Uthman would eventually move to the Bay Area where he now lives with his wife and four beautiful children. He works as a Registered Nurse and has a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu. He is now a well known munshid and shares his beautiful voice at gatherings all over the world; he loves attending mawlids and singing about the beloved Prophet Mohammad ﷺ
BROTHER FIYYAZ JAAT currently serves as the Director of Youth Programming and Services Department for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He has been involved with the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) as an advisor for over fifteen years. Brother Fiyyaz is known for his ability to connect with youth and tackle sensitive and relevant issues facing youth today. He believes in a balanced approach – of growing and living in today’s society with a strong Muslim identity.
Don’t miss this highly talked about event! Give yourself and your family the gift of a spiritual retreat like no other. Sign up at the link below!
Why Outdoor AdventureOur annual retreat has been held at Camp Cullen for the last several years and every year we receive positive feedback from our attendees about how much they enjoyed it. Camp Cullen is a treasure hidden on the outskirts of Houston. Come see this beautiful location for yourself this year!
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What You GetSitting in the middle of a densely wooded area, watching the sun rise over the lake in front of you as you listen to a lecture from our attending scholars is an experience you won’t forget quickly. From lectures to group activities to outdoor events – you won’t want to miss our annual retreat.
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