Rabata

In the heart of the lush English countryside, where rolling green hills stretch under skies that often kissed the earth with mist and sunshine in equal measure, a gathering of over one hundred Muslim women from across Europe—mostly from the United Kingdom—came together for something rare and extraordinary: a spiritual retreat grounded in tradition, knowledge, and sisterhood.

Born in Iraq and raised in the United States, Intidar Aljabery has lived nearly three decades in her adopted homeland. Her journey brought her from Detroit, Michigan, where she first learned American Sign Language (ASL) in elementary school, to her current home in Minnesota. Deaf since childhood, ASL has been her primary language and a key to her flourishing life of service and learning.

Alhamdulilah, I had the privilege of attending an interfaith intensive through Ribaat this summer—an experience that was both humbling and transformative. The retreat brought together three different cohorts, representing all the Abrahamic faiths, for four days of learning, teaching, and genuine connection. We navigated challenging topics, but we also found joy in the small, everyday details of our lives, discovering common ground in unexpected places.