Report of our last Tarbiah and Recreational Family Trip – Isle of Wight
All praise and thanks are due to Allah Almighty, whose immense mercy and blessings enabled us to successfully complete our three-day family educational and recreational trip as planned.
On Friday, we gathered at Hayes Community Centre, London, and set off for the coastal city of Portsmouth in a convoy of two buses and several cars.
After a two-hour journey by road, we boarded a multi-deck ferry from Portsmouth Harbour and sailed to the Isle of Wight. We parked our vehicles on the lower deck and took the lift to the spacious and beautifully designed passenger lounge above. Some participants went out onto the open deck to enjoy the view, but because of the freezing weather, they soon returned inside. From the large lounge, surrounded by glass windows, we enjoyed magnificent views of the harbour and the sea throughout the 40-minute crossing before arriving at the Isle of Wight.
After disembarking, we drove to our accommodation, the Youth Hostel, where our sincere and dedicated member, Faizan Lodhi, had already arrived earlier and taken charge of the arrangements.
Upon arrival, Roohan allocated the rooms and beds. Once everyone had settled into their rooms, the participants gathered in the lounge for dinner, where we enjoyed the delicious biryani pulao prepared and sent by Afshan. After dinner, we offered the Isha prayer in congregation.
The following morning, we gathered before dawn for Tahajjud prayers and then performed Fajr in congregation. The women went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for everyone, while the children and the men returned to their rooms for some rest.
Between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., the young men served breakfast. It included fresh fruit, croissants, eggs cooked to individual preference (omelettes or fried eggs), toast, butter, jam, honey, tea, and coffee.
After breakfast, an educational session was held. Following the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and a na’at, Farzan bin Shams delivered an excellent lecture on the attributes of Allah and the concept of Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah). He reminded everyone to love Allah, place complete trust in Him, and remain grateful for His blessings. He emphasized that Allah is sufficient for those who rely upon Him, and even if our prayers are not answered immediately, we should never lose hope or stop making du’a.
Following the session, all participants set off in their vehicles under the guidance of Roohan bin Shams for sightseeing. After about a 30-minute drive, we reached The Needles. The breathtaking view of the vast sea from the clifftop and the striking white chalk cliffs made a lasting impression on everyone.
The children enjoyed driving go-karts through winding tracks in an artificial dinosaur attraction and had great fun on the various amusement rides. Hearing the joyful laughter of the children brought happiness to everyone. Meanwhile, the women explored a small traditional market and purchased a variety of souvenirs and gifts.
Upon returning to the hostel, we performed our prayers in congregation. Roohan bin Shams then delivered another inspiring lecture on strengthening one’s relationship with Allah, the comprehensive message of Islam, and the true purpose of a Muslim’s life, drawing upon the Qur’an, Hadith, Seerah, and the lives of the Companions. During this time, Farzan prepared an excellent chicken karahi in the kitchen.
Dinner was served between the evening prayers, and everyone was advised to retire early so they could wake up refreshed for Tahajjud the following morning.
On the third day, all participants attended Tahajjud. The voluntary Tahajjud prayers were offered collectively. After Fajr, a brief lesson on selected Qur’anic verses was delivered, followed by a lengthy collective supplication (du’a).
Participants were instructed not to return to sleep after Fajr but instead to prepare for departure. They were asked to strip their beds, gather the sheets, blankets, and pillowcases, place them in the lounge, clean their rooms thoroughly, and leave the entire hostel in the same clean condition in which we had found it. Everyone was then asked to come downstairs within an hour for breakfast.
Breakfast began with fresh apples, followed by parathas. Meanwhile, the women prepared packed lunches consisting of kebab burgers, salad burgers, and sausages, which were enjoyed later during the day’s excursion.
After breakfast, the participants received the closing instructions. Following the concluding du’a, we vacated the hostel shortly after 10:00 a.m. and departed for further sightseeing under Farzan’s leadership.
Throughout the stay, many participants also enjoyed playing table tennis in the hostel’s games hall. The entire hostel echoed with laughter, friendly conversations, and cheerful moments.
After leaving the hostel, we visited Compton Bay, which is well known for its unique coastline and large waves, making it a popular destination for surfing. Although none of us dared to enter the icy waters, many local surfers, dressed in full wetsuits, were fearlessly riding the powerful waves on their surfboards.
After spending considerable time there, we drove along the scenic coastal roads of the island, passing through several charming villages before stopping at another beach. Everyone was given their packed lunch and enjoyed eating together by the seaside.
Having completed a scenic tour around much of the island, we arrived at Yarmouth Harbour at approximately 2:15 p.m. to catch our return ferry. We waited in our vehicles until the Wight Light ferry docked. We then drove aboard, parked our vehicles, and went upstairs to the passenger lounge. Some participants relaxed with coffee while enjoying the sea voyage, while others briefly visited the open deck before returning inside because of the cold wind.
We arrived back at Portsmouth Harbour, returned to our vehicles after the ferry docked, and continued our journey towards London. Along the way, we stopped at a mosque in Winchester, where we combined and offered the Dhuhr and Asr prayers before finally arriving safely back in London. Alhamdulillah.
We sincerely thank all the participants for maintaining excellent discipline throughout the trip. Special appreciation goes to the women for preparing our breakfasts and meals; to Afshan for sending the delicious meal for the first evening; and to Faizan for purchasing the food supplies in advance and arriving early at the hostel to manage the arrangements.
Our heartfelt thanks also go to Ibrahim, who set aside the needs of his unwell daughter and his children’s important tuition classes to fulfil his responsibilities. He expertly drove the bus, managed all the ferry arrangements, and even went shopping late at night for any essential items that were still needed.
We also extend our gratitude to Roohan, Farzan, Sarah, Hassan, and Hammad, who, as always, carried out the planning and organisation with remarkable dedication, efficiency, and enthusiasm.
These three days created an atmosphere filled with happiness, simplicity, brotherhood, love for Allah, and renewed faith. It was a truly blessed environment that prevailed throughout our temporary home and left everyone with cherished memories and strengthened hearts.