Sirah Caravan

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EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Capacity: 30 students
(14 and older)

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For the first time, Lanturna is combining our ʿumrah/sīrah caravan and our week-long, 16 session sīrah intensive into one transformative experience.

In the blessed cities of Mecca, Ṭāʾif, and Medina, students will have the opportunity to perform ʿumrah and study the sīrah of the Prophet ﷺ on-site.

Our program this year culminates in Medina, where our students will pray, eat, and learn together, in a spacious home with 12 bedrooms (26 beds) and 12 bathrooms, equipped with everything needed for a comfortable sojourn, to study the sīrah together, as guests of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Join El-Hajj Hisham Mahmoud and Shaykh Hasib Noor on this transformative sīrah caravan and intensive to experience “The Years of the Beloved ﷺ” in Mecca, Ṭāʾif, and Medina, where the milestones of his life ﷺ alight in the landmarks of his path ﷺ.

Sīrah Caravan & Intensive
Through Mecca, Ṭāʾif, and Medina
(Program commences with ʿumrah)
January 10 – 18


Airfare and visa excluded

Registration Deadline USD
Early 11.22 1000
General 12.13 1250
Late 12.27 1500

Click Join the Caravan below to learn the sīrah in the sacred lands of revelation, or Sponsor a Student to quench the yearning of a sincere soul in your stead.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Reaching the house of Allah and the presence of His Messenger ﷺ has become egregiously cost-prohibitive, obstructing the hope of sincere souls the world over. An alternative model must be forged for the spiritual migration of those yearning most to embark but lack the means.

Among the greatest of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ are those who would coil into themselves on the ground to quell the pangs of hunger, those who would turn back from the Prophet ﷺ in tears because they could not afford the arms to join him in war, those who could not afford their own burial shrouds and left nothing as legacy save the verses of the Qur’an they had taught their families. Those companions, today, would never be able to afford ʿumrah or ḥajj, though their circumstances mirror that of the overwhelming majority of the ummah of the Prophet ﷺ today.

Lanturna purposes to facilitate the response of the ummah to the call of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام and we arrange our own logistical itinerary to minimize the costs of every line item associated with your travel and sojourn. We will furthermore pull resources to undertake one local community service initiative in gratitude for all that we continue to receive.

لبيك اللهم لبيك لبيك إله الحق لبيك
labbayka l-lāhumma labbayk · labbayka ilāha l-ḥaqqi labbayk
At Your behest, Allah, at Your behest! At Your behest, God of Truth, at Your behest!

Our Sīrah Caravan and Retreat excludes the cost for visa and airfare. Read closely the instructions below to obtain your tourist visa and to ensure that your arrival and return timings coincide with our scheduled shuttle buses.

VISA

You may obtain your “Tourist Visa” at the airport in Jeddah upon arrival. If you will be flying with an American passport, then please do not apply for a ʿumrah visa because it has several requirements and restrictions that will prevent you from joining Lanturna throughout your stay in Mecca and Medina.

TRAVEL

Arrival at Jeddah: Plan your travel such that you arrive at Jeddah airport (JED) before 1 am on Sunday, January 10. We encourage you to reserve with Turkish Airlines such that you are able to catch Flight TK94 leaving Istanbul (IST) Saturday, January 9 at 9:10 pm, scheduled to arrive at Jeddah (JED) Sunday morning at 12:55 am. This is also the most affordable ticket we have found. Our shuttle bus will leave the airport at 3:30 am. You may taxi your way to al-Ebaa Hotel should you miss the shuttle bus.

Return from Medina: Reserve your return flight from Medina airport (MED) anytime on Monday, January 18 or after should you decide to extend your stay in Medina or return to Mecca. Our first shuttle bus is scheduled to leave the hotel at noon and our second shuttle bus is scheduled to leave the hotel at 4 pm. You may also arrange your own transportation via taxi or Uber to the airport should these timings conflict with your itinerary.

NOTE: Be certain that your passport does not expire within 6 months of your return date.

This sīrah retreat is not your conventional ʿumrah trip demarcated by accommodation packages. This is a return to Lanturna’s house model, in the spirit of the formative years at Dār al-Arqam. 

MECCA – Quad rooms at al-Ebaa Hotel, within walking distance of the sacred precinct. Breakfast provided.

MEDINA – A spacious home that accommodates 30 guests comfortably. Our group shuttle will transport us to and from the sacred precinct for all audible prayers. Breakfast will consist of light refreshments.

We will cover the sīrah in four sessions online before we travel and continue for 16 more sessions over four days at the villa in Medina.

Six of our eight days will be spent traveling to the blessed milestones of the Prophet’s life ﷺ in and around Mecca, Ṭāʾif, and Medina, and we will only join audible prayers in the sacred mosques. Our spiritual itinerary includes the following touchstones on our path of ascent—may Allah grant us rank above rank:

MECCA

  • ʿumrah upon arrival to answer the call of our father, Ibrāhīm عليه السلام
  • the site of the home of al-Arqam b. Abī al-Arqam رضي الله عنه where the free and enthralled first sat side-by-side in fraternity, and where faith first grew thicker than blood
  • the site of the birth of the Beloved ﷺ to glean the traces of light that his mother, Āminah, beheld in a vision
  • the site of the home of the Prophet’s noble wife ﷺ, our mother Khadījah رضي الله عنها whereupon Jibrīl عليه السلام descended to convey the greetings of God
  • jabal al-nūr, whereupon Jibrīl عليه السلام descended with the advent of truth
  • the valley of al-ṭāʾif, whereat the Beloved ﷺ turned to heaven with heartfelt hands pleading for those who stoned him
  • masjid al-ʿaqabah, whereat the anṣār pledged their lives to the Prophet ﷺ
  • jabal thawr, whereat a dove and a spider conspired to protect their Prophet ﷺ before his migration
  • the tomb of our mother Maymūnah bt. al-Ḥārith رضي الله عنها, where she spent her last days remembering their first days
  • Ḥudaybiyyah, where the Prophet ﷺ was granted a manifest victory over his enemies notwithstanding the misgivings of his companions
  • jabal al-raḥmah, whereat sins are forgiven for an entire lifetime past

MEDINA

  • dār al-madīnah exhibit (with replicas of Medina at the time of the Prophet ﷺ)
  • masjid qubāʾ with the echoes of voices that aforetime welcomed the Beloved of their hearts and ours ﷺ as they sang طَلَعَ الْبَدْرُ عَلَيْنا “The full moon shone upon us”
  • the well of al-ʿidhq to drink from the water that quenched Abū Bakr’s thirst as the Beloved ﷺ sipped
  • the masjid of the Prophet ﷺ, wherein the spiritual life of the community was established
  • the homes of the companions, wherein angels beheld at dawn the recitation of verses just revealed that twilight
  • the marketplace of manākhah, where the ethics of trade were coined into proverbial maxims
  • masjid al-qiblatayn, where hearts turned toward God turned toward God
  • the battlegrounds of badr and uḥud, where companions gave their lives for us to come to know him ﷺ as they knew him ﷺ
  • the site of al-khandaq, whereat Salmān the Persian رضي الله عنه was ascribed to the Prophet ﷺ as family
  • the orchard of Salmān the Persian رضي الله عنه, whose freedom was bartered for 100 date palms that the Prophet ﷺ planted, himself
  • the graveyard of al-baqīʿ, where we hope to be buried in unmarked graves, lost among the Prophet’s uncles, his aunts, his wives, his children, his descendants, ten thousand of his companions, the greatest sages and scholars of his ummah, and the pious dead of Medina, whose death-right is to be buried in al-baqīʿ and granted his intercession on the Day of Reunion

We welcome you to our sīrah caravan, wherein we seek to tread the path of our Prophet ﷺ throughout some of the pivotal milestones of his life. Allah has graced us with eight full days in Medina and Mecca, to draw closer unto Him while journeying through the sacred lands that hosted the Message and the Messenger ﷺ. From all corners of Earth, our travels begin with our arrival at Medina, home to the Prophet’s maternal ancestors, and onwards to Mecca, home to the Prophet’s paternal ancestors. Though Medina was home, our return to Mecca is homecoming.

And so we migrate to Allah and to the Beloved of Allah ﷺ, pressing toward Medina at the behest of our Lord وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا “If only after they had sinned to their own hurt, they had come to thee asking pardon of Allah, and the Apostle had asked for their pardon, they would surely have found Allah relenting, compassionate” (al-nisāʾ 4:64). Behold, our Lord invites us into forgiveness in the presence of His Messenger ﷺ.

Together in Mecca, we shall visit:

  • the site of the birth of the Beloved ﷺ to glean the traces of light that his mother, Āminah, beheld in a vision;
  • the home of his noble wife, our mother Khadījah رضي الله عنه whereupon Jibrīl عليه السلام descended to convey the greetings of God;
  • jabal al-nūr, whereupon Jibrīl عليه السلام descended with the advent of Truth;
  • the valley of al-ṭāʾif, whereat the Beloved ﷺ turned to Heaven with heartfelt hands pleading for those who banished him, pleading for their progeny;
  • the site of the pledge of ʿaqabah, whereat we will covenant with the Messenger ﷺ;
  • jabal thawr, whereat the dove and the spider conspired to protect their Prophet ﷺ before his blessed migration;
  • ḥudaybiyyah, whereat the companions رضي الله عنهم had to swallow the manifest victory promised them.

Together in Medina, we shall visit:

  • masjid qubāʾ with the echoes of voices that aforetime welcomed the Beloved of their hearts and ours ﷺ as they sang طَلَعَ الْبَدْرُ عَلَيْنا “The full moon shone upon us”;
  • masjid al-jumuʿah, where the companions رضي الله عنهم for the first time thanked God it was Friday;
  • the well of al-ʿidhq to drink from the water that quenched Abū Bakr’s thirst as the Beloved ﷺ sipped;
  • masjid al-qiblatayn, where hearts turned toward God turned toward God;
  • the masjid of the Prophet ﷺ, wherein his companions took to ascend day and night;
  • the marketplace of manākhah, where the ethics of trade were coined into proverbial maxims;
  • the battlegrounds of badr and uḥud, where companions gave their lives for us to come to know him ﷺ as they knew him;
  • the homes of the companions, wherein angels beheld at dawn the recitation of verses just revealed that twilight;
  • the site of khandaq, whereat Salmān the Persian was ascribed to the Prophet ﷺ as family;
  • the graveyard of al-baqīʿ, where we hope to be buried in unmarked graves, lost among the Prophet’s uncles, his aunts, his wives, his children, his descendants, ten thousand of his companions, the greatest sages and scholars of this ummah, and the pious dead of Medina, whose death-right it is to be buried in al-baqīʿ and granted his intercession on the Day of Reunion.

And then we advance toward Mecca with the promise of Allah in His majestic Book إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ  فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ “Verily, Ṣafā and Marwah are of the symbols of Allah, and he who makes the pilgrimage (ḥajj) unto the House or visits it (ʿumrah) shall not be to blame to lap betwixt the twain; and he who obeys his own impulse toward good: God requites and well knows” (al-baqarah 2:158). Behold, our Lord invites us into forgiveness as guests in His House.

We gratefully respond to this bountiful invitation from our Lord to be forgiven in the sacred lands of revelation and to commit our lives and souls to bear the mantle of the Beloved of Allah ﷺ and his pure family and noble companions.

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ إِلَهَ الْحَقِّ لَبَّيْك
labbayka l-lāhumma labbayk, labbayka ilāha l-ḥaqqi labbayk
At Your behest, Allah, at Your behest! At Your behest, God of Truth!

El-Hajj Hisham presented the class with so much love as if he was talking about a very close personal friend mā shāʾ Allāh. I was able to feel the love and pain that our Prophet ﷺ went through. He made me realize how I can draw from our beloved Prophet’s ﷺ personality and attitude in times of trials and tribulations and in times of joy, providing insight into our own life issues and concerns. My three kids enjoyed this class too.

—Maimoona Rashid

The Lanturna Sīrah Retreat was such a beautiful gathering. The insights gained have changed my perceptive about how I relate to the sīrah. I feel a deep connection to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Weeks after the event I still continue some of the beautiful sunnahs we practiced.

—Khadeeja Abdullah

Lanturna’s “Years of the Beloved” Retreat was a wonderful experience for my family. El-Hajj Hisham brought the sīrah to life and helped us view the life of our dear Prophet ﷺ in an entirely different light. I’ve read multiple sīrah books before, but have never felt this close to the Prophet ﷺ. I deeply admire El-Hajj Hisham’s vision for the Muslim community in the United States. His warm, practical approach allows us to truly live the sīrah every moment of our lives. May Allah put barakah in Lanturna and allow El-Hajj Hisham’s wisdom to reach every home.

—Lena Khan

TREAD YOUR PATH
IN HIS STRIDE

TELL YOUR STORY
IN HIS VOICE

LIVE YOUR DREAM
IN HIS EYES

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At the dawn of revelation, the Prophet ﷺ was commanded وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ “And as for the blessing of thy Lord, proclaim it!” (al-Ḍuḥā 93:11). And toward the eve of his passing, he instructed those present to inform those absent. If you have found any benefit in our work, then know that it came solely from Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and with the intention of proclaiming His bounty, feel free to share it with others.