Winter Student Retreat 2026

The Winter Student Retreat is primarily for current and former Al-Salam Institute students, at all stages of their studies.

It is an opportunity to benefit from the company of Shaykh Akram Nadwi and other ASI teachers, reconnect with fellow students, reflect on our learning and strengthen our relationship with Allah.

Yes, subject to availability. Although the retreat is primarily intended for ASI students, we welcome enquiries from others who are interested in attending.

Many participants will be current or former ASI students, but this should not prevent others from benefiting from the teaching sessions and wider retreat experience.

ASI Student Priority discounts are reserved for eligible ASI students.

The retreat is open to both brothers and sisters. Separate seating arrangements will be provided during lectures and formal sessions, while communal areas and dining facilities will be shared.

No formal qualifications, entrance tests or particular level of Arabic are required.

While the sessions will explore Islamic subjects in some depth, participants from different educational backgrounds should be able to benefit. Some familiarity with Islamic studies may be helpful, but it is not a prerequisite.

One of the main benefits of the retreat is the opportunity to spend time in the company of our teachers.

Alongside the scheduled teaching sessions, there will be opportunities for informal conversations, questions and interaction with Shaykh Akram and other ASI teachers.

However, individual appointments or one-to-one meetings with Shaykh Akram cannot be guaranteed.

The published retreat schedule is provisional and subject to change.

ASI may make reasonable adjustments to teaching topics, session content, workshop themes, speakers, timings, duration and other activities for retreat or operational reasons.

While we will make every effort to deliver the advertised programme, we cannot guarantee that every session or workshop will take place exactly as originally published.

Any significant changes affecting essential elements of the retreat will be communicated to participants and handled in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Yes. The programme includes opportunities for congregational prayers, with breaks arranged around the local prayer timetable.

Exact prayer times and arrangements will be confirmed closer to the retreat.

Complete the retreat registration form on the ASI website, select your preferred attendance option and make payment through the ASI Store.

If you are requesting a twin bedroom, interconnecting rooms or other special accommodation arrangements, please provide the details during registration.

The final booking deadline is Tuesday 10 November 2026 for residential places and day attendance, and Wednesday 18 November 2026 for graduation tickets, subject to availability.

Bookings are confirmed once registration and payment have been accepted.

For further information, please contact residentials@alsalam.ac.uk.

The final booking deadlines are:

• Full residential retreat bookings: Tuesday 10 November 2026.
• Friday, Saturday and Sunday day attendance: Tuesday 10 November 2026.
• Graduation Ceremony and Dinner tickets: Wednesday 18 November 2026.

All bookings are subject to availability and may close earlier if capacity is reached.

If you wish to book after these dates, please contact ASI. Late bookings may be considered where accommodation, catering and other arrangements can still be confirmed, but availability cannot be guaranteed.

We strongly recommend booking early, particularly if you require residential accommodation, twin rooms or family accommodation.

Yes. The Early Bird Price is available until Thursday 5 November 2026: £455 for single occupancy, or £440 per person sharing (family members only). No code is needed.

From 6 November 2026, the standard price is £495 for single occupancy, or £480 per person sharing, until residential bookings close on Tuesday 10 November 2026. See Residential Fees for full details.

We generally require full payment at the time of booking to secure your place, as accommodation and other arrangements must be confirmed with the venue in advance.

However, we appreciate that paying the full amount at once may not be possible for everyone.

If you would like to attend but require some flexibility with payment, please contact us before booking. We will be happy to consider your circumstances and discuss whether a suitable arrangement is possible.

Please note that any alternative payment arrangement must be agreed with ASI in advance.

The full residential package includes:

• Three nights’ en-suite accommodation at The Willows, Wyboston Lakes.
• The retreat programme, including sessions with Shaykh Akram Nadwi and interactive workshops.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as scheduled.
• Tea, coffee and refreshments.
• Admission to the Student Recognition and Graduation Ceremony.
• Access to designated teaching and communal spaces.
• On-site parking.

Travel to and from the venue is not included.

Yes. Non-residential attendance is available for those who live locally or prefer to arrange their own accommodation. You can book a single day or combine days, for example Friday and Saturday, or all three days.

Children’s day prices, per child:

Graduation Ceremony and Dinner Only: children aged 0–2 free, 3–5 £10, 6–12 £20.

Day tickets include the relevant retreat programme, advertised meals and refreshments, but do not include accommodation.

Day tickets must be booked by Tuesday 10 November 2026, and graduation-only tickets by Wednesday 18 November 2026. All bookings are subject to availability.

If you cannot attend the entire retreat, please contact us before booking.

We may be able to arrange a shorter residential stay, subject to room availability and confirmation of pricing.

For participants who have booked the full residential package, arriving late or departing early does not automatically entitle them to a partial refund.

Yes. Shared accommodation is available for two adults from the same family, such as spouses or other family members, with the fee charged per person.

Please provide the details of the person you intend to share with when registering.

Room-sharing arrangements are subject to availability and confirmation.

Yes. A limited number of twin rooms with two separate beds are available.

Please indicate in the special requests section of your booking form if you would prefer a twin room.

We will do our best to accommodate your preference, but twin rooms are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

Accommodation at The Willows is hotel-style, with each bedroom having its own private en-suite bathroom.

Bedrooms are provided with towels, bedding and basic toiletries, so there is no need to bring these with you.

Housekeeping services are available upon request, rather than automatically provided every day. Guests can contact hotel reception if they require assistance with their room, fresh towels or additional supplies.

Please note that in-room dining or room service is not available as part of the retreat package. Meals will be served in the designated dining facilities.

The retreat takes place at The Willows, a hotel-style conference centre that also accommodates guests who are not part of the ASI retreat.

For this reason, we cannot guarantee separate accommodation wings or floors exclusively for brothers and sisters.

We will make every reasonable effort to allocate sisters’ bedrooms together in one area of the accommodation, but this will depend on room availability and cannot be guaranteed.

All bedrooms have private en-suite bathrooms, and participants will not be required to share bedrooms or bathrooms with unrelated guests.

Yes, families are welcome, subject to suitable accommodation being available.

Children’s residential rates for the full three-night retreat are:

Children aged 13–17 will need to pay the adult price.

For day attendance, children aged 0–2 are free. Children aged 3–5 are £20 on Friday or Saturday and £15 on Sunday; children aged 6–12 are £55 on Friday or Saturday and £40 on Sunday.

Please contact us regarding any particular family accommodation requirements.

Children must remain under the supervision of their accompanying parent or responsible adult throughout the retreat. We do not provide a crèche or childcare service.

A limited number of family-friendly room arrangements may be available, including interconnecting bedrooms and additional sleeping arrangements.

These must be requested in advance and are subject to availability and confirmation.

We recommend contacting ASI before booking if you have particular accommodation requirements, especially when travelling with several children.

Yes. Family members and guests are welcome to attend the Student Recognition and Graduation Ceremony on Saturday 12 December 2026.

Graduation Ceremony and Dinner tickets are priced as follows:

The ticket includes admission to the graduation ceremony and evening dinner, but does not include accommodation or daytime retreat sessions.

The graduation dinner will be served buffet-style, rather than as a formal, waiter-served three-course meal.

Advance booking is required by Wednesday 18 November 2026, and places are subject to availability.

We recommend bringing warm clothing, as the retreat takes place in December. You may also wish to bring a coat and suitable footwear for walks around the grounds.

Please bring whatever you normally use for taking notes, whether that is a notebook and pen, laptop or tablet.

Please note that the teaching sessions will primarily use theatre-style seating, so individual desks or tables may not be available. Charging points may also be limited or not conveniently located near your seat, so we recommend charging electronic devices beforehand and bringing a power bank if needed.

You should also bring your usual personal essentials, medication and anything else you may need during your stay.

Yes. Halal catering will be arranged specifically for ASI retreat participants.

Meals will generally be served at the Cricket Kitchen restaurant at Wyboston Lakes.

Please note that Wyboston Lakes is a shared hotel and conference venue. Its restaurant also caters for other guests, and not all food served elsewhere at the resort is halal.

If you have food allergies or special dietary requirements, please inform ASI in advance so that arrangements can be discussed with the venue.

Tea, coffee and refreshments will also be available at designated stations during the retreat.

Hotel check-in is available from 3:00 pm on Thursday 10 December.

Retreat registration and arrivals are scheduled from 5:00 pm, followed by dinner and the welcome programme.

Bedrooms must be vacated by 11:00 am on Sunday 13 December. Participants should complete their check-out arrangements before the Sunday morning teaching sessions.

The formal retreat programme concludes at approximately 3:00 pm on Sunday, with farewells and departures between 3:00 and 4:00 pm.

The retreat takes place at The Willows, Wyboston Lakes Resort, Bedfordshire, close to the A1.

On-site parking is available for retreat participants.

Participants are responsible for arranging their own transport. Detailed arrival instructions will be shared with registered attendees before the retreat.

The nearest railway station is St Neots, approximately 10 minutes from Wyboston Lakes by taxi.

There are direct train services from London King’s Cross to St Neots, with journeys typically taking around 45–50 minutes.

From St Neots station, you will need to arrange a taxi to The Willows at Wyboston Lakes.

We recommend booking your taxi in advance, particularly if arriving in the evening.

All participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the retreat.

Yes. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout Wyboston Lakes, including the accommodation and conference facilities.

You can connect using the venue’s Wi-Fi network, Wyboston WiFi.

Please bear in mind that internet performance may vary depending on the number of guests connected.

Wyboston Lakes operates as a cashless venue, so any additional purchases at its restaurants, cafés, bars or vending machines will need to be paid for by card or another accepted cashless payment method.

However, ASI’s bookstall and merchandise sales will require cash, so we recommend bringing some cash if you would like to purchase books or other items during the retreat.

The meals and refreshments included in your retreat package are already covered by your booking fee.

All arrangements for the ASI Winter Student Retreat must be coordinated through Al-Salam Institute.

Please do not contact Wyboston Lakes directly regarding retreat bookings, accommodation allocations, room changes, catering, dietary requirements or programme arrangements.

If you have questions or special requests, please contact residentials@alsalam.ac.uk.

Our team will liaise with the venue on your behalf.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate participants with accessibility, mobility or other relevant requirements.

Please contact us before booking, or as early as possible, so we can discuss your needs with the venue and confirm what arrangements are available.

Residential bookings involve substantial financial commitments made to the venue in advance. Consequently, significant cancellation charges may apply.

The following maximum charges apply to adult residential bookings:

Cancellation charges are limited to ASI’s reasonable recoverable losses, taking account of any costs saved and reasonable opportunities to fill the cancelled place.

Different cancellation conditions apply to children’s bookings, day attendance and graduation-only tickets.

Please read our full Winter Student Retreat Terms and Conditions before booking.

Please contact us as soon as possible.

We will consider transferring your booking to another suitable participant, subject to availability and the accommodation arrangements.

Where an equivalent replacement booking is secured, a refund will normally be provided, less any reasonable additional costs incurred in arranging the transfer.

All transfers require prior approval from ASI.