Our teacher, Shaykh Sidi Muhammad Al-Jamal Ar-Rifai Ash-Shadhdhuli taught us about a love that reaches out to the aspirant wherever they are, but does not allow them to stop anywhere. Love which accepts all comers in all stations, but always pulls us deeper towards the Truth.
That which inspires us to say within ourselves, “Yes, I’ll do it, I’ll walk, I want to be a slave for the face of Allah. I know in my deep being this is what’s most important to me.”
The love that Sidi shared with us is not a small or limited love, but a love that contains all the qualities in balance within it. The love of the Prophets (AS), perfected in the example of our final Prophet (ﷺ), and then carried from lover to lover until it reached us. It is both a discipline and a carriage.
Come, let’s take a drink.
Event Information
Dates: Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 @ 4:00 pm EDT – Monday, Oct 19, 2026 @ 1:00 pm EDT
Event Start: Dinner and teaching on Thursday, Oct 15, 2026
Event Stop: Lunch on Monday, Oct 19, 2026
Location: Fort Lauderdale Marriot North, 6650 North Andrews Rd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Check-in/Out: Hotel check-in is 4:00 PM; Check-out is 11:00 AM.
Holy Hijama Healing Method (Level 1) Dates: Tuesday, Oct 13 – Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 (before the International Gathering)
Location: Fort Lauderdale Marriot North, 6650 North Andrews Rd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Note: Hijama Healing days requires a separate registration and hotel booking than the Gathering!
Click Here For Hijama More Information and (separate) Registration.
Reserve your stay at the Fort Lauderdale Marriot North at our negotiated rate!
(Note: if you wish to attend Holy Hijama Healing Method, please go to separate link and book extra nights at the hotel!)
Schedule and Teachers
More information will be coming soon about the schedule insha’allah!
Murshid Dr. Wadude Laird
Murshid Rida Marz Attar
Mahdi al-Jamal
Nura Laird
Dr. Abdul Haqq Godlas
Dr. Rahima Schmall
Amany Shalaby
Amina al-Jamal
Anis Lahlou
Maryam Thea Elijah
Rahima Hayes
Fawzia Al-Rawi (joining remotely)
Travel Recommendations
Recommended Airport:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
We recommend you use Uber/Lyft or a taxi to travel from FLL. The drive is approximately 12.7 miles and typically takes about 25 minutes. Anyone who wants to coordinate splitting a ride, renting a car, etc. we recommend you use the Transportation connections list on WhatsApp.
Ticket Types
General Admission (Adult): $480
Youth (ages 6-15): $200
Young Children (ages 0-5): $0
Newcomers: $300
If your ticket type isn’t listed above, send an email to 2026gathering@suficommunities.org and make an inquiry.
Scholarships & Financial Assistance
If you wish to apply for a scholarship or for financial assistance, click here.
Please do not fill out the Registration form below until you have filled out the scholarship application and met with the scholarship team. Once you complete the scholarship application, the team will schedule a meeting with you.
Register to Join Us!
Click the “Buy Now” button below to register for the event!
FAQs
1. Why did we choose the theme of the Deep Love at this particular time?
We have been seeing some divisions forming between beloveds, and within beloveds’ hearts. Some people have fear about how to walk now without a single clear path, and aren’t sure where they belong.
The Deep Love is a through-line in what Sidi brought to all of us. We want to embody this together. We want to walk in a practical way with what each beloved is carrying, and with what each of us needs as support to access this deep love together.
Here at the conference, we especially want to create a place of belonging for anyone who is looking to connect in their heart with other beloveds of Sidi.
2. We are living in a world -and a community- that is divided. How do we walk with this, individually and together?
The purpose behind how we have crafted the conference schedule is to have time to work with these questions, and walk with these quesitons. There will be time for discussion, healing, and inquiry each afternoon.
You are welcome to come ‘as you are,’ and bring your questions, your places of not being sure, your navigation and your walking around any divisions in the community. Our teachers will specifically be addressing this in their teachings around topics such as how to disagree and even say “No” with love, what it means to be Sufi friends (rather than just a social friend), and how to honor each other’s process of finding our own way.
This International Gathering is an opportunity for the hearts of our brothers and sisters to support each other and to listen to each other. We will be developing the skills for how to walk into the unity in our hearts and embody the love in Sidi’s teachings. These are practical skills for embody Deep Love beyond any division we might be experiencing in our spiritual community, with our neighbors, at work, in families, and in the world.
3. Do I have to be a student of a particular teacher to attend?
No, students of any or no teacher can attend.
4. Can I be a student at the University to attend the gathering?
Yes! You are very welcome to attend.
5. Can I be a student of Sidi Ahmed and attend?
Yes! You are very welcome to attend.
6. Do I need to have taken hand with any teacher to attend?
No, everyone is welcome who seeks to embody Sidi’s teachings more deeply.
Children's Program
Ages 6-15
We are looking forward to hosting the children’s program again this year, providing a container for children to walk, play and learn together. The program will be led by Maryam Dawn Furfaro and Shams Naomi Hed.
We intend to have all children sign-up with the understanding that children can come and go into the Children’s Program as they please. More information will be posted here as it is available.
If you plan to bring your child(ren), select “Youth (ages 6-17)” when you register for the Gathering. Enter your child’s information, and this will automatically enroll them in the Children’s Program.
Youth ages 16 and 17 will attend the main program gathering with the adults, but at the youth rate.
Ages 0-5
Similar to last year, we intend to have our young ones stay with their parents or Sufi friends. If you plan to bring your young child(ren), select “Young Children (ages 0-5)” when you register for the Gathering. Enter your child’s information, and we will automatically know they will be attending.
Volunteers
Alhamdulillah, similar to the past two years we need volunteers! The event cannot run without you. 😀
If you’re interested in volunteering, indicate your interest in the Registration form or the Scholarship application and let us know how you can help.
If you are already ready to sign up to volunteer, please do so here!
For volunteers, please reference these important start and end times:
Event set-up time: Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026 @ 8:00 am ET
Event start time: Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 @ 4:00 pm ET
Event end time: Monday, Oct 19, 2026 @ 1:00 pm ET (after lunch)
Event breakdown time: Monday, Oct 19, 2026 @ 6:00 pm ET
Newcomers Program: A Taste of Divine Love
Learn to Give Hijama Healings
Hijama, which loosely translates as “cupping,” is a unique healing modality bringing significant physical and emotional healing, as well as profound spiritual purification, by Allah’s help and permission. The Prophet Muhammad (saws) said, “Hijama is the best of remedies.”
Most often, in our experience, luminous blessings flow to both those receiving and those offering this work. It is truly a divinely inspired mercy for all people. This October, you are invited to learn how to offer hijama as it has been transmitted to us by our guide, Sidi Muhammad al-Jamal (raa).
Over the past 20 years, building on Sidi’s early directives, this training has become a complete and grounded program, designed to give you the skills to practice competently, effectively, and with confidence.
Note that the Hijama Training requires a separate registration and hotel booking.
If you feel drawn to explore what this path of practice may open for you, you are welcome to learn more and register here:
Florida Residents
Zoom Access
Sufi Gift Store
Recommended Packing List
Here is a guide for what to bring to ensure your comfort and spiritual focus during the gathering.
Essentials
- Photo ID and Registration Confirmation: Have these readily accessible for event check-in.
- Comfortable and Modest Clothing: Layers are best for the Florida weather, even in the fall or winter. Last year many people found the hotel to be cold.
- Prayer/Dhikr Accessories:
- Prayer beads (Tasbih)
- Prayer rug (the hotel will provide plenty of floor space)
- A shawl or wrap for colder meeting rooms.
Health & Comfort
- Re-useable Water Bottle
- Medications and Basic First-Aid
- Scent-Free Products
- Sunglasses and Sunscreen: Florida sun is strong, even in the fall or winter.
For Downtime and Learning
- Notebook and Pens
- Current Reading Materials
- Money for Souvenirs: There is a Sufi Gift Store with beautiful handmade crafts, art, and books.
- Bathing suit, flip flops, etc. if you wish hit the beach or enjoy the indoor pool.