Saturday, October 17, 2026

Al-Wird with Abdullah Dan – 32 minutes – Click here to watch

Welcome Remarks + Reflection on State of the Tariqa with Abdullah Pat – 24 minutes – Click here to watch

Acknowledgements  00:00-05:30 mins

State of the SSC Address  05:30-10:00 mins

Values Foundations from Sidi al Jamal  10:00-15:15  mins

Excerpts of Fawzia’s Letter to the Community  15:15-24:36  mins

Abdullah Pat welcomed attendees in person and via Zoom and introducing himself as the Chairman of the Board of the Shadhiliyya Sufi Communities of Sidi Muhammad Al Jamal. He explained that the board recently added “of Sidi Muhammad Al Jamal” to the organization’s name to clarify its identity and mission. Abdullah thanked the event coordinator, staff, the board, teachers, and financial donors for their support. He reported that the organization had authorized $330,000 for permits at the Napa Valley land, created the Sidi’s Memorial Scholarship Fund, and awarded $25,000 through the ASHA CORE grant program to various initiatives. He also noted the continued work of the Jamia Initiative, the Regional Council, and the Sufi walking program. SSC addressed recent changes in the community, including the birth of a new Tariqa, and emphasized that SSC supports the Tariqa of Sidi Muhammad Al Jamal and the values he taught. He described the organization’s horizontal structure, where each member is a “point of light,” and called for self-responsibility, kindness, and respect for individual choices. Finally, Abdullah read an excerpt from a letter by Murshida Fawzia that urged the community to maintain unity, mercy, and dignity despite differences and to remember that the ultimate destination is Allah.

Al-Uns bi-llah with Qais Ar-Rifai – 1 hour, 3 minutes – Click here to watch

This was a spiritual talk and Q&A session featuring Qais Ar Rifai, the grandson of Sheikh Hasa Rafai and son of Fawzia. Qais delivered a teaching on “Al-Uns,” explaining how closeness to Allah develops from forced remembrance to a natural state of comfort and familiarity with the Divine. He discussed how this spiritual relationship begins with effort, is met by Allah’s nearness, is tested through trials, and is nurtured through good company and sincerity. During the Q&A portion, participants asked about Qais’s background studying psychology in Vienna, resources for supporting individuals with mental health challenges from a spiritual perspective, and his personal relationship with his grandfather. Qais shared that while he studied psychology, he found the Islamic and Sufi approaches more aligned with his beliefs, and he referred attendees to Dr. Francesca Bosacaldi as a resource for Islamic psychology. The session concluded with personal questions about memories of Sheikh Hasa Rafai and Qais’s experience growing up in the spiritual tradition.

The Deep Love in Sufi Poetry with Abd al-Haqq – 1 hour, 23 minutes – Click here to watch

Click here to access Abd al-Haqq’s Powerpoint slides

Dr. Abd al-Haqq Godlas delivered a presentation titled “The Deep Love in Sufi Poetry” at a Sufi gathering, exploring Sufi poetic traditions and their connection to spiritual practice. He explained how Sufi poetry emerges during sama (deep listening) sessions in Sufi gatherings, where participants remember Allah as their beloved making love with them at every moment. SSC shared translations of several Sufi poems from different languages and time periods, including works by Rumi, Ibn Arabi, and others, and played musical performances to illustrate the poetic concepts. He discussed how Sufi poetry conveys the experience of being “cut from the reed bed of unity” and the pain of separation from the divine, using the metaphor of a reed flute expressing its longing. The presentation included calligraphic art and musical performances to demonstrate how Sufi poetry is integrated into both written texts and live performances.

Community Q&A led by Maryam Thea – 1 hour, 38 minutes – Click here to watch

A community Q&A session focused on how to work with difficult or unanswerable questions by turning toward Allah rather than grasping for immediate answers. The panel discussed the “station of uncertainty” as a holy place and shared personal practices for dealing with anxiety, including dhikr, prayer, and seeking guidance from trusted sources. They addressed a question about a teacher training program, confirming that the community is committed to developing new teachers. The conversation also covered the concept of adab as refinement of character and the importance of balancing individual walking with supportive community. Participants reflected on the role of community in mirroring one’s self and the need for both collective support and individual retreat. The panel discussed the problem of evil and hardship, framing it as part of the human experience and a test of character and action. They emphasized the importance of aligning with Allah’s guidance and the Quran and Sunnah to navigate complex global and personal challenges. The session concluded with a final question about practically becoming “fireflies” and carrying the message, which the moderator left as an open reflection for the participants to take to Allah.

Dhikr with Anis – 57 minutes – Click here to watch

Sufi Cafe with various beloveds – 2 hours, 28 minutes – Click here to watch

A Sufi-inspired open mic and community gathering featuring a series of musical and poetic performances. Sarah Kahn introduced various participants, including Pablo and Sabine, who performed a song about the 99 Names of Allah in German, followed by a children’s band called I Rock. Laila Katie Helms recited a poem titled “Where I’m From: A Poem in the Style of George Ella Lyon,” and Ahmad Dan Duggan led the group in a call-and-response song called “Rock My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” Julia Caterina performed on the oud, explaining the instrument’s history and playing a song by Faridel Atrash. Abdul-Rasheed played a Jewish mystical piece on the trumpet and spoke about the connection between Jewish and Middle Eastern musical scales. Amani Shalaby sang a phrase from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Allah’s love for beauty. Pablo and Sabine returned to perform a gratitude song from the Lakota tradition combined with Sufi elements. Laila shared an original Irish-style ballad about the historical connection between the Irish and the Choctaw people. Ahlam recited a poem about breath and mindfulness, and a beloved read a passage from the book “Radical Love” by Omid Safi along with poems by Rabia and Karakhani. Brother Shakir shared poems about fatherhood. Reem, Sam, and Aziz performed a Qaseda called “Nachnu Fi Raudah,” and Julia Aisha performed a Qawwali piece.