Heartwork: Purification of the Heart

A wellness retreat designed for Muslim women who are seeking peace, connection, and spiritual revival.

Uplifting spiritual reminders, coastal nature walk, sisterhood, spiritual sessions, nourishing meals, therapeutic art, luxury retreat house + more.

Dates: Friday 6 November – Sunday 8 November 2026

Location: Cape Schanck, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Retreat Program:

Our Heartwork retreat is designed to purify the heart and nourish the soul, offering a peaceful coastal escape into nature, sisterhood, and spiritual growth. Across three days and two nights, you'll embark on a journey that blends meaningful Islamic teachings, creative expression, and personal reflection. From the moment you arrive, you'll connect with fellow sisters, engage in a beautiful Tezip Islamic art activity, and set intentions for the days ahead. Each morning begins with prayer, dhikr, Quran, and mindful islamic practices, grounding you in serenity and connection to Allah SWT.

Day 2 features a powerful combination of spiritual and physical rejuvenation, including a heart-opening Islamic sessions with Ustadha Saara, and a scenic coastal walk along the stunning coastline of Cape Schanck. As the retreat draws to a close, we'll gather one final time for a morning of spiirtual sessions with Ustadha Saara followed by journaling, personal reflection, and heartfelt connection with renewed intentions as we return home.

Retreat Location:

Nestled in the heart of Cape Schanck, our luxury retreat house offers the perfect blend of comfort and coastal beauty. Surrounded by breathtaking bay and ocean beaches, you'll find serenity in every corner — from elegantly designed guest suites to tranquil shared spaces that invite relaxation. Whether you're lounging by the fireplace or taking in the stunning views from the sun-drenched deck, this retreat feels like a peaceful escape from the everyday.

With its light-filled interiors and soothing natural surroundings, this expansive property creates a safe space where you can truly unwind and reconnect. Just 90 minutes from Melbourne city, yet worlds away in atmosphere, you'll leave feeling inspired, refreshed, and deeply restored by the beauty and tranquility of this unforgettable setting.

Who can attend this retreat?

The indicative age range of women who attend our retreats is 20 to 50. If you are over this age range, you of course may still join us. However, please ensure that you are physically fit and able to walk continuously for up to 2 hours and partake in the full program.

This Retreat is for you if:

• You want to be in a welcoming and safe space with like-minded Muslim women who are also open and willing to learn, grow and evolve.

• You want to find your peace and cultivate a lifestyle that invites Allah's blessings.

• You want to renew your purpose and boost your Iman, surrounded by righteous company.

• You like to prioritise and carve out time for personal reflection and growth.

• You feel distant in your relationship to Allah and want to improve this.

• You feel tired or burnt out and want to care for your soul.

• You want to gain clarity on where it is you're going, and what direction to take.

• You want to create life long memories and seek adventure with likeminded sisters.

Meet Our Teacher: Ustadha Saara Sabbagh

Ustadha Saara Sabbagh is a community leader, spiritual educator, and founder of Benevolence Australia. For over three decades, she has been dedicated to nurturing a faith-centered identity for Australian Muslims, with a special focus on women's spiritual growth and belonging. Ustadha Saara brings wisdom, warmth, and a deep love for the sacred to every space she holds.

About Sakinah Retreats

Sakinah Retreats is a global movement of soulful travel experiences designed for Muslim women seeking peace, purpose, and connection. Rooted in the essence of sakinah — tranquility of the soul — our retreats weave together spirituality, nature, sisterhood, and reflection. From the mountains of New Zealand to the deserts of Morocco, we curate sacred spaces for women to pause, realign, and return to Allah with renewed hearts. We have hosted over 2000 women from around the world at our offerings and strive to create all our retreats with Ihsan (excellence). This is our third annual Mornington Peninsula Sakinah Retreat

Ready to Book?

• Secure your place with a non-refundable deposit of $350 (deducted from the total retreat price)

• Limited spots available to maintain an intimate and intentional space

• Your booking is confirmed once the deposit is received

Flexible payment plans are available, with full payment due 22 September 2026.

Bismillah — step into a space of healing, remembrance, and revival.

A space to purify the heart, reconnect with Allah, and be held by sisterhood and nature.

✨ Spaces are limited — we encourage early booking to avoid disappointment.

Any questions, please email: info@sakinahretreats.com

Arrive at our stunning retreat home and settle into your room, taking in the calm and beauty of your surroundings. Check-in opens from 3:00 PM, with light refreshments available as you unwind and begin to shift into retreat mode.

We'll begin our program with a warm welcome and introductions, followed by a creative Tezip Islamic art painting session — a gentle, creative way to slow down and connect. After a nourishing dinner prepared with love, we'll gather for our opening spiritual session with Ustadha Saara Sabbagh, where we'll set our intentions for the retreat, ground ourselves in the remembrance of Allah, and open our hearts to the days ahead. The evening will conclude with dessert, connection, and quiet free time to relax before bed.

The day begins before sunrise with Fajr prayer and morning adhkar, grounding the heart in remembrance as the first light emerges over the Peninsula coastline.

After breakfast, we'll set out for a scenic walk through the dramatic clifftops and coastal bushland of Cape Schanck — taking in the fresh air, expansive ocean views, and the beauty of Allah's creation. The walk is taken at a steady, accessible pace, with opportunities to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the signs of Allah in nature. Moderate fitness is required.

Following the walk, we'll return to the retreat home for a nourishing lunch before gathering for a soul-centred teaching session with Ustadha Saara Sabbagh. Ustadha Saara will guide us through the theme of purification and spiritual rootedness — exploring the inner dimensions of the heart, self-accountability, and what it means to draw closer to Allah with intention and awareness. A dedicated Q&A and group discussion segment allows space for questions, personal reflection, and practical integration.

The afternoon offers free time for rest, journaling, prayer, or quiet contemplation. As evening sets in, we'll gather for another session with Ustadha followed by a comforting dinner, fireside reflections, dessert, and tea — a warm and gentle close to a full and nourishing day, allowing what was received to settle inwardly rather than remain only intellectual.

For those who wish, the final morning begins with optional tahajjud before Fajr prayer and morning adhkar. A short post-Fajr reminder offers a final spiritual anchor before breakfast is shared together.

The morning session with Ustadha Saara draws the retreat to a meaningful close — guiding participants to consolidate what has been received, clarify their intentions moving forward, and consider how the inner work of these days can be carried into daily life with sincerity and steadiness. This is followed by a reflective journaling activity, offering space to articulate hopes, commitments, and the quiet shifts of the heart that words don't always capture easily. We'll close the retreat with collective duʿāʾ, sealing the experience with gratitude and trust.

The official retreat program concludes at 11:00 AM, with departure to follow. You'll leave Cape Schanck carrying something quieter and more settled than when you arrived — a heart that has been tended to, softened, and reminded of what it was always reaching for, in shāʾ Allāh.