​Dar al Islam to host Trail Mapping Weekend 10/24 - 10/28

By Dr. Matthew Schumann, Dar al Islam
 
“And the servants of the All-Merciful who walk gently on the earth, and when ignorant people address them, they say, ‘Peace.’” (The Quran, chapter The Criterion, 25:63)
 
This weekend, Dar al Islam will host a dozen guests and local community members to map hiking trails across our 1400-acre campus. This effort is part of our long-term vision to establish sustainable and accessible hiking trails to enhance nature-based learning and recreation at Dar al Islam. Titled “Walking Gently,” this retreat will also explore the spiritual and moral dimensions of serving as a khalifa, or God’s representative on earth, a key concept in Islamic thought.
 
In the Quran, God explains that He created human beings to serve as his representative or vicegerent on earth. This responsibility is understood as a trust, or amana. Fulfilling this trust is each human being’s life mission. Success in this quest requires the mobilization of our spiritual and moral energy, as well as human and material resources. During “Walking Gently,” participants will reflect on how to strive towards fulfilling this trust and how to do so with beauty and balance.
 
Attendees will arrive at Dar al Islam on Thursday evening, God willing, and will open the program with an evening of prayer, worship and song. On Friday morning, they will take a contemplative hike in Plaza Blanca. Our first discussion session will take place in the canyon and will focus on the spiritual dimensions of the soil and water. After communal Friday prayers, participants will learn about Prophetic character, a key aspect to serving as God’s representative.
 
On Saturday and Sunday, participants will spend the morning hiking in Plaza Blanca and elsewhere on Dar al Islam’s campus. Plaza Blanca is a 200-acre slot canyon formed out of white, volcanic ash. For decades, it has been a prized destination due to its serenity and unique geologic formations. A popular hiking destination, Plaza Blanca receives more than 5,000 visitors every year. It was also frequented by Georgia O’Keefe, who painted portions of the canyon while living in Abiquiu.
 
Additionally, retreat attendees will enjoy field trips to the Poshuouingue ruins and Abiquiu pueblo. Community visioning sessions on Saturday and Sunday will allow participants to focus on how they can enhance their individual spiritual development and service to their communities. The program concludes Sunday night with a bonfire and reflections.
 
Dar al Islam is an educational and spiritual retreat center that was founded in Abiquiu in the early 1979. Today, our mosque complex hosts hundreds of guests each summer. We are dedicated to supporting the religious and spiritual education of American Muslims and fostering bonds of mutual understanding between our faith community and our neighbors. The “Walking Gently” program will not only contribute to the future development of Dar al Islam’s campus, but also help build a community around spiritually-integrated, nature-based programming in the American Muslim community. We are excited to continue developing our educational and recreational offerings for the benefit of our local and national community.
 
Plaza Blanca, which is a 200-acre site consisting of beautiful white rock formations, is part of the Dar al Islam property and has been accessible to visitors for hikes from throughout the nation and the world since its acquisition in 1979. Plaza Blanca, or the White Place, was made famous by several paintings of the national arts icon, Georgia O’Keefe, who spent a significant amount of time at Plaza Blanca in the 1930s and 1940s. Additionally, more than 13 movies have been shot at Plaza Blanca over the years, including The Magnificent Seven, The Lone Ranger, Cowboys and Aliens, Missing, Earth 2, and more.