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Walking with Guidance: A Four-Day Journey of Inner Cultivation

In our time, the traditional way of walking with guidance has grown quiet. Surrounded by endless information, many have lost touch with how to walk the path with steadiness, how to place deep roots in the heart, and how to recognize guidance when it gently appears. What was once transmitted through presence and companionship is now often obscured by noise, speed, and distraction.

This four-day weekend workshop is an invitation to return. It is a journey of inner cultivation (tarbiya) through presence, reflection, and shared companionship. True inner cultivation is not formed through pressure or force, but through love, clarity, and remembrance. When the soul is tended in this way, outer refinement (adab) arises naturally, like a quiet fragrance. It becomes visible in how one walks through the world, how one speaks, listens, and serves.

Together, we will explore the purification of the heart, the deepening of adab (outer refinement), and the living role of the Sufi guide as a source of orientation rather than authority. Each day opens a space to listen more deeply: to the soul, to creation, and to the subtle call of the Divine that is already present within. This is not a course designed to accumulate knowledge, but a space to remember what has never been absent.

The days will unfold in a gentle rhythm between indoor and outdoor gatherings, allowing inner and outer worlds to meet. Time in nature, moments of service, and shared evenings around the fire will invite humility, presence, and connection. There will be space for quiet reflection as well as companionship, for turning inward and stepping outward, so that what is cultivated within may be lived through how we relate to one another and to the world.

If this invitation speaks to you, you are warmly welcome to join us for a four-day weekend workshop led  by Fawzia Al-Rawi at Nanpantan Hall From 19-22 November, 2026. Secure your spot by booking your ticket today.

Our Teacher

Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi Al-Rifai was born in Baghdad and spent her childhood in Iraq and Lebanon. Her grandmother initiated her into the culture and traditions of the Middle East where belly-dancing played a major part as an expression of the world of the feminine.

Fawzia Al-Rawi holds a PhD in Islamic studies. She completed her Arabic, Islamic and ethnological studies at the Universities of Vienna and Cairo. She then spent 12 years in Jerusalem where she brought up her children and worked at the Institute for the Promotion of Palestinian Agriculture and at the University of Jerusalem, while deepening both her theoretical and practical knowledge of Sufism under the guidance of Sidi Shaykh Muhammad Al-Rifai. She has been living in Vienna with her husband and their three children since 2001.

Fawzia Al-Rawi has been teaching Sufism for over 20 years. She holds workshops in various countries and works particularly with women. Her teaching draws on a wealth of experience from a bicultural environment which uniquely enables her to build a bridge of understanding between different cultures, open a space where these can meet and thus contribute to peace.

She has published several books in Arabic, German, English and French.

Event Details

Where

Nanpantan Hall, Nanpantan Road, Loughborough LE11 3YF, UK (Google Maps Link)

Participants are free to explore Nanpantan’s delightful woodland estate. There are several walks, a hidden dell ideal for quiet contemplation, a well kept garden and means of entry to public footpaths for those wishing to explore the local countryside. There is a garden terrace along the back of the house overlooking the lawns and far reaching picturesque views of the Leicestershire countryside. Wheelchair access is available from the house onto the terrace.

How to get there?

Situated in the heart of England Journey times vary by car, rail (2-hour train ride from London St Pancras Station to Loughborough Station, followed by a 10-minute taxi ride) or air (Birmingham airport or any London airport), yet nestled in the forest, guests can have a genuine and authentic experience of peace and stillness.

If you are planning to fly from abroad and would like to discuss logistics further, we would be delighted to help! Please email: info@thelaylacalling.com

Service -An essential part of the Weekend Workshop!

We are renting a house for our community to gather in retreat, creating a shared space for reflection and connection. As one family, we will all take responsibility for its care, ensuring it remains clean, peaceful, and welcoming. In tending to this space together, we cultivate a spirit of service, harmony, and belonging.

Service is a sacred act that humbles the soul and draws us closer to the Divine. Each day, we will have a dedicated time for every participant to engage in an act of service—be it the set-up of the teaching rooms, the hygiene of the dining rooms, or the care for the common areas. Each person will be placed in a team, which will be assigned a few tasks each day.

When completing the registration form, please thoughtfully select the service team you feel most called to join.

Schedule (For in-person Attendees)

Based on demand, we have expanded this weekend workshop to 4 days and 3 nights. Please note that this is a tentative schedule, as some teachings may be longer or shorter than the set times, depending on the needs of the group. All times are Greenwich Mean Time 'GMT' (for more information, please click here). For online participants, please scroll down for more information.

Each afternoon will also include an outdoor session focused on connecting with nature, creating a gentle rhythm between indoor and outdoor gatherings that allows the inner and outer worlds to meet through time spent in the natural environment.

📅 Day 1: Thursday 19 November, 2026 Evening Schedule (GMT)
04:00-06:00 pm Arrival & room check-in
06:30-07:30 pm Dinner in Dining Hall
08:00-09:30 pm Opening Session & Dhikr 

📅 Day 2: Friday 20 November, 2026 Schedule (GMT)
07:30-08:30 am Breakfast 
09:00-09:30 am Al Wird 
09:30-11:45 am Morning Session (with 15-minute breaks depending on teaching)
12:15-01:30 pm Afternoon Outdoor Session 
01:45-02:45 pm Lunch 
01:45-04:30 pm Service & Personal Time (with 15-minute breaks depending on teaching)
04:30-06:00 pm Afternoon session (with 15-minute breaks depending on teaching)
06:30-07:30 pm Dinner
08:00-09:00 pm Evening Session (Q&A)

📅 Day 3: Saturday 21 November, 2026 Schedule (GMT)
07:30-08:30 am Breakfast
09:00-09:30 am Al Wird
09:30-11:45 am Morning Session (with 15-minute breaks depending on teaching)
12:15-01:30 pm Afternoon Outdoor Session
01:45-02:45 pm Lunch
01:45-04:30 pm Service & Personal Time (with 15-minute breaks depending on teaching)
04:30-06:00 pm Afternoon session (with 15-minute breaks depending on teaching)
06:30-07:30 pm Dinner
08:00-09:00 pm Evening Session (Q&A)

📅 Day 4: Sunday 22 November, 2026 Schedule (GMT)
07:30-08:30 am Breakfast
09:00-09:30 am Al Wird
09:30-11:45 am Morning Session (with 15-minute breaks depending on teaching)
12:15-01:30 pm Afternoon Outdoor Session
01:45-02:45 pm Lunch
03:00-04:00 pm Reorganising the Venue
04:00 pm Departure from Nanpantan Hall

Note: this is a community event and we invite everyone to participate in the upkeep of the venue during our stay.

Food

Meals provided (& included in ticket): Thursday dinner, Friday breakfast, lunch and dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner and Sunday breakfast and lunch (as part of the weekend workshop). Food will be simple and mostly vegetarian. Please notify us if you have any allergies/dietary requirements on the registration form.

Accommodation

The venue has various bedrooms sizes available, from single bedrooms to large triple rooms some with ensuite and some with shared bathrooms. Rooms will have towels and basic soap/shower gel. If you wish to book a double or triple room with your friends, please note the names of your friends in the comments section on the Registration Form, when purchasing your ticket. Otherwise, we will match you randomly.

What to wear

As there will be daily outdoor sessions, please come well prepared with warm coats, raincoats and sturdy outdoor shoes to stay comfortable, warm, and dry throughout the sessions. Please note that Nanapantan Hall is a shoe-free venue. You will be asked to leave your outdoor shoes at the door. If you are unable to be barefoot, kindly bring clean, indoor-only footwear.

Tickets 

In-person Tickets

The ticket price includes tuition, room and board for 4 days and 3 nights.

It’s likely this event will sell out, so please register now to reserve your place. Registration closes on the 2nd of November, 2026.

Online Offering

We are delighted to offer the weekend workshop on Zoom too. Please select the relevant ticket (payment can also be through a heartfelt donation for those unable to afford the full ticket), and we will be sending you the link and details two days ahead of the event (Noting that the time zone will be Greenwich Mean Time 'GMT' -for more information, please click here). Sessions will be recorded and shared after the weekend. 

*Simultaneous interpreting into Spanish will be available to participants via Zoom for all the sessions with Fawzia Al-Rawi (teaching, Q&A, dhikr, etc.).

Online Participants Schedule

Please note that this is a tentative schedule, as some teachings may be longer or shorter than the set times, depending on the needs of the group. Each afternoon will also include an outdoor session focused on connecting with nature, creating a gentle rhythm between indoor and outdoor gatherings that allows the inner and outer worlds to meet through time spent in the natural environment. For Zoom participants, a guided exercise will be offered to support connection with an element of nature in their own surroundings.

📅 Day 1: Thursday 19 November, 2026 Teaching Session
- Evening: GMT 08:00-09:30 pm / EST 03:00pm-04:30pm

📅 Day 2: Friday 15 November, 2024 Teaching Sessions
- Morning Al Wird: GMT 9:00am-9:30am /EST 4:00am-4:30am

- Morning*: GMT 9:30am-11:45pm / EST 4:30am-6:45am

- Afternoon (Outdoor): GMT 12:15-01:30pm / EST 7:15am-08:30am (an exercise will be given to Zoom participants to connect with an element in nature)

- Evening (Q&A): GMT 08:00-09:00 / EST 3:00pm-4:00pm 

📅 Day 3: Saturday 16 November, 2024 Teaching Sessions

- Morning Al Wird: GMT 9:00am-9:30am /EST 4:00am-4:30am

- Morning*: GMT 9:30am-11:45pm / EST 4:30am-6:45am

- Afternoon (Outdoor): GMT 12:15-01:30pm / EST 7:15am-08:30am (an exercise will be given to Zoom participants to connect with with an element in nature)

- Evening (Q&A): GMT 08:00-09:00 / EST 3:00pm-4:00pm

📅 Day 4: Sunday 17 November, 2024 Teaching Sessions

- Morning Al Wird: GMT 9:00am-9:30am /EST 4:00am-4:30am

- Morning*: GMT 9:30am-11:45pm / EST 4:30am-6:45am

- Afternoon (Outdoor & Closing): GMT 12:15-01:30pm / EST 7:15am-08:30am (an exercise will be given to Zoom participants to connect with with an element in nature)

*Please note that there will be several 15-minute breaks during this session depending on the length of the teaching

Payment in Instalments (in-person participants)

We recognise that everyone’s circumstances are different, and we wish for this retreat to be as accessible as possible. While we have shared this event well in advance and worked carefully to keep the cost to a minimum for a 4-day, 3-night experience, we understand that the full amount may still feel difficult for some. If this is the case, we are happy to offer the option of paying in instalments. All payments should be settled by 15 September 2026. If you would like to explore this option, please click on the form here.

Donations

We have kept the tuition fees as low as possible to ensure maximum participation. We welcome any further extra donations you would like to provide, which will be used to support those who would otherwise be unable to attend the workshop.

If you would like to send an extra donation, you could do so in the tickets section. 

Refunds

No refunds are available after 1st September 2026. Please email info@thelaylacalling.com to request a refund, noting that Ticket Tailor fees are non-refundable.

FAQ

Who are we?

The Layla Calling is a Community Interest Company (CIC), who is dedicated to spreading the message of love, peace, freedom, justice and mercy. In recent years, we have organised workshops on Sufi healing led by Wadude and Nura Laird and Samah Ross, Fawzia Al-Rawi as well as Dr. Ibrahim Jaffe. Based on the success and positive feedback from these events, we are delighted that Fawzia Al-Rawi will be returning to lead this workshop.

Who is this event for?

We welcome other like-minded and like-spirited participants for this event, which is dedicated to your own spiritual growth and transformation. We also welcome those who have no previous experience with Sufism who are interested in the topic.

What is the purpose of this event?

Its intention and aim is to create a safe and conducive physical and spiritual space for participants to discover the beautiful secrets and divinity in your own hearts through divine love. This knowledge will allow you to discover your own beauty and holiness as well as to connect to the reality of who you truly are.

What is the approach used?

The weekend workshop is interactive and experiential, working individually and in groups. Participants will benefit from the support of community and interaction with other participants in this small group. There is no end to the journey, but along the way there is replenishment and sustenance in numerous way stations to refresh and nourish you for the journey ahead. If God wills this workshop will be such a place.