Quloob min Thahab. Hearts of Gold.
That was our team name in the sisters’ division of Camp Sunnah. But what inspired this name?
It all started when our camp director, Dr. Syed, mentioned self-discipline as one of the themes for this year’s camp. Later on, I glanced at my camp backpack with the word persevere written in front of an emblem of the Dome of the Rock.
As one of my teammates started talking about pure hearts for a team name, it finally clicked. Hearts of Gold was something that goes way back to our weekly ‘Ilm Circle sessions with Dr. Syed.
I recall the example of metal that he kept bringing up – that if you really want to purify and test a metal to see what it’s made of, you’ve got to put it through everything – heat, stress tests, you name it. That very same day at the camp, Sh. Murad brought up the example during his lecture.
SubhanAllah, it’s incredible how the camp experience itself reflected exactly that: purifying oneself by pushing outside of their comfort zone, so you can really see what you’re made of. Since we couldn’t use our phones at the camp (Alhumdulillah), I tried to pay extra special attention to every moment so I could cherish it.
Without further ado, I present to you – Camp Sunnah – An Unforgettable Journey for Muslim Sisters
The Journey Begins…
… on a cold, extra-foggy Friday morning after fajr salah. We slowly shuffled into the van at four o’clock in the morning, sleepy but anticipation buzzing for what was to come. I’ve always told people that I can’t really describe Camp Sunnah because it’s something you need to experience to truly understand, and it’s true.
We sped past fields, fog, and traffic lights while reciting our morning adhkar. Our provincial team lead reminded us to purify our intentions because this was going to be one life-changing journey.
After some time, the sun rose and the fog cleared away – everyone was dozing off, catching up on the last few hours of the night. Through the windows, the vast yellow and green prairie fields stretched out as far as the eye could see. I stared off at those roads that forked off into different paths, wondered where they went. It seems like they’re all heading to nowhere, I thought. Alhumdulillah, I’m headed somewhere. With a purpose.
If you see the prairies, they’re basically an ocean of grass and canola. When you see them, you might wonder, when will it end? Until you watch them fade into industrial zones and sprawling urban centres, and you regret it just a tiny bit.
We had reached the city, and it would be several long hours of driving before we finally got to our destination…
The Campsite
Have you ever seen those rolling hills and valleys next to the mountains, the ones that could be in a picturesque postcard with horses and cows grazing peacefully? That was the view before we reached the campsite, and my favorite part of the ride.
My fellow sisters in the van and I made a pact: it didn’t matter who was taking a nap – once you see the mountains, you wake the other sisters up. It’s a view you can’t miss.
We passed lush green fields and pastures, rocky roads, the occasional horse carelessly swishing its tail as it wandered the field. Silhouettes of the Canadian rockies were becoming even more and more vivid, like the sky was a giant canvas and these mountains were painted on.
As we drove on the road to the campsite, everyone in the van eventually quieted down and stared out the window in awe. The view was breathtaking and incredibly humbling, a vivid reminder of how Allah (SWT) creates everything in such a perfect form. Raindrops pattered against the car windows as our provincial lead reminded us to make use of this opportune time to make du’a, as we were travelling and it was raining.
Even so, passing by the Frank slide was a startling reminder – when I think back to it now, it reminds me of this statement from one of Dr. Syed’s Camp Sunnah lectures this year:
Al-Harith ibn Suwaid reported: Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Verily, the believer views his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain, fearing it will fall upon him. The wicked views his sins as if they were a fly passing over his nose.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5949
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari
For context, the Frank slide is considered Canada’s deadliest rockslide – when you pass by, you see tons of crushed rock that came tumbling down Turtle Mountain in late April of 1903.
Eventually, though, our van reached a clearing surrounded by trees and shrubs. I was itching to get out – excited to meet the sisters at the campsite, but I also needed to stretch my legs after the long ride.
It seems odd to say, but can you believe that within 48 hours of Camp Sunnah, the strangers you meet become closer to you as if they’ve known you for ages?
Jerusalem Shawarma, and Introductions
Something I’ve noticed at every Camp Sunnah is that the moment I get there, I just act differently by default. It’s like my mind and body know something’s up and that I need to step up and get things done. I don’t even know how to describe it. SubhanAllah, that is part of the barakah of this incredible experience.
When we got to the campsite, a good chunk of the campers were already there, setting up and preparing for dinner. We got the sisters’ area ready and, despite the long journey, were as excited as ever to welcome the others. After a delicious dinner of Jerusalem Shawarma (that hummus is something else, it’s so good), we waited. Before we knew it, we were embracing the sisters who had arrived and talking like old friends. Introductions were made and we hustled off to our dorms to get everything settled before salah.
After we prayed, the camp director, Dr. Syed, made some announcements about how the next few days were going to be very busy but full of blessings – truly, a life-changing experience. I was tired. Everyone was tired.
But we knew we were going to make the most of this, inshaAllah.
Stay tuned for Part 2!
