As the 2026 Spring Quarter settled in, bringing with it bright skies and a familiar warmth, UCLA’s Muslim Student Association eagerly prepared for another annual retreat. This year, the group journeyed north into the great giants of Sequoia National Park.
The four-hour drive was a welcome contrast to last year’s eight-hour trip to Zion National Park. Along the way, students stopped in Bakersfield for lunch and prayed Jummuah at the Al Farooq Islamic Center before continuing on to their rental homes. There, they spent the evening settling in, playing icebreakers, sharing meals and getting to know one another. With so many new faces, especially among the Sisters, the space quickly filled with laughter, connection and ease. Alhamdulillah, students spent the evening resting and getting to know one another.
On Saturday morning, the group entered Sequoia National Park. As they drove deeper into the forest, the landscape seemed to welcome them with towering trees swaying gently in the breeze. Surrounded by greenery and vast mountains, the students gathered beneath the sequoias for an opening khaṭirah, a spiritual reminder, led by UCLA undergraduate Omar Slayyeh.
“Alhamdulillah [All praise and thanks are due to Allah], the One that gathered us here today to be in His remembrance,” Slayyeh began. “Alhamdulillah, the One that has given us the ability to marvel at His creation and praise Him while doing so.”
Slayyeh’s khatira reminded the students that the purpose of the retreat was to reflect not only on the beauty of the natural world, but on the One who created it. “Allah is Al-Khaaliq, The Creator, The One who created everything from nothing,” he said. “Be in awe of the might and power that your Lord possesses, constantly being in His remembrance.”
With this intention set, the groups split off for their hikes. One group of sisters took on the trail to Tokopah Falls, a breathtaking journey that led to a cascading waterfall spilling down rocky cliffs into a basin below. Some sisters sat near the falls, letting the mist settle onto them, while others rested on rocks or gathered by the water’s edge.
Subhan Allah, Glory be to Allah, just the action of relaxing beside the rushing waters, laughing with friends, or standing beneath the trees served as a reminder of the beauty of Allah’s creation. In that environment, the group developed a deep appreciation for nature and the One who sculpted it, and a sense of unity grew among the students.
After the hikes and lunch, the groups returned to their Airbnbs, where conversations continued late into the evening. New friendships formed, old ones strengthened and hearts remained grounded in remembrance.
Alhamdulillah for the trees, the mountains, and the countless blessings of Allah. In Shaa Allah, if God wills, next year’s retreat will be just as meaningful.