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khilwah

Khilwah, also spelled khalwa, is an Arabic term meaning seclusion. In Islamic and Sufi traditions, it refers to a period during which a seeker withdraws from ordinary life to engage in intensive spiritual practice.

Typically the retreat takes place in a quiet room, cell, or secluded place, and lasts anywhere from

Among Sufi orders, khalwa is often undertaken under the supervision of a murshid (guide) and may precede

The practice has historical roots in Muslim spirituality and appears in diverse regional contexts, including the

several
days
to
several
weeks
or
months,
depending
on
tradition
or
the
guidance
of
a
spiritual
master.
During
khalwa
the
practitioner
may
engage
in
fasting,
quiet
contemplation,
recitation
of
the
Qur’an,
dhikr
(remembrance
of
God),
prayer,
and
listening
for
spiritual
insights.
The
aim
is
to
purify
the
heart,
refine
intention,
and
deepen
spiritual
awareness.
initiation
or
serve
as
a
preparatory
discipline
to
receive
deeper
teachings.
It
differs
from
i’tikaf,
which
is
a
formal
period
of
worship
in
a
mosque,
typically
during
Ramadan,
whereas
khalwa
emphasizes
personal
seclusion
and
inward
work
in
various
settings.
Middle
East,
South
Asia,
and
North
Africa.
In
modern
usage,
khalwa
remains
part
of
some
lineages
and
devotional
routines,
as
a
voluntary
or
prescribed
form
of
spiritual
retreat.