By Batrisya Nerva Abdullah

I went on a spiritual retreat with Ustaz Sameer and my brothers and sisters from class to Masjid Petempatan Melayu in Sembawang.

At first, I thought it would just be another trip, but it turned out to be so much more meaningful.

It wasn’t just about having fun as it helped me get closer to Allah SWT and appreciate the simple things around me. Masjid Petempatan Melayu is a small mosque in a kampung area. It felt like stepping into another world.

There were old wooden houses, trees everywhere, and even roosters walking around! Every morning, I woke up to roosters crowing instead of noisy traffic or alarms. The mornings felt calm and peaceful which was the perfect time to remember Allah.

We stayed at the mosque for a few days. We prayed together in jemaah (congregation), listened to lessons shared by Ustaz Sameer, and did zikr together.

Ustaz Sameer reminded us how important it is to be close to Allah SWT and how worship can bring peace to our hearts. I liked how he explained everything so we could understand.

On the second day, we took a walk to the nearby beach. It was quiet and beautiful. The sun was shining, the breeze was cool, and we could hear the gentle waves crashing. The men and women sat separately but close, and we started doing zikr together. We repeated Allah SWT’s names slowly and felt calm inside.

Then something amazing happened.

Right after we finished, a strong wind suddenly blew over the beach. It wasn’t scary, it felt refreshing and powerful, like a special gift from Allah SWT.

Everyone was surprised. Some smiled, some stayed quiet, just soaking in the moment. It felt like Allah SWT was listening to us and sending us a beautiful sign. That wind reminded me how close Allah SWT really is, especially when we remember Him.

That night, we talked about how we felt. Many said the beach zikr and the sudden wind was the most unforgettable part of the retreat. It felt like our hearts had been touched. I never thought sitting by the sea and remembering Allah SWT could be so powerful.

On the last day, we packed our bags and cleaned the mosque. I felt sad to leave. The kampung life, the peaceful prayers, and the time with my classmates made the retreat really special.

I learned we don’t need fancy things to be happy. Just being close to Allah, nature, and good friends is enough.

This retreat taught me so much. I realized that being close to Allah SWT brings true peace. Praying together, doing zikr, and taking time to reflect on life are really important.

I saw how calm and beautiful life can be when we focus on our faith instead of rushing around all the time.

I’ll always remember the roosters, the quiet beach, and the strong wind right after our zikr.

But most of all, I’ll remember how it made me feel: peaceful, connected, and thankful to Allah SWT.

I’m also really grateful to Ustaz Sameer for giving us opportunities like this, may Allah SWT bless him abundantly.

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