Spiritual Retreat (Khalwah) in the History of Sufism and the Role of Khalwah in Spiritual Training

In the process of spiritual training, Sufism utilizes specific methods to educate human. Spiritual retreat (khalwah) is one of these methods peculiar to Sufism. The concept of khalwah refers to a continual effort to distance human from the base and immoral aspects of his/her lower self, which are regarded as the source of his/her bad characteristics. Solitude and concealment function as the two main principles in the khalwah training. Therefore, a person who practices khalwah is required to spend his entire time in a secluded place on educating and purifying his soul, performing acts of worship, ascetic disciplines, contemplation, and dhikr (remembrance of God). In the practical dimension of Sufism, the aim of “khalwah” for a person is to major on the idea that he is always in the presence of Allah, remaining separate from the others for a while.