Chestnut Retreat Center — Local services in Ross Township

A Place of Peace, A Heart Full of Longing

I have been blessed to visit Chestnut Retreat Center three times, and each time, my heart felt the presence of something beyond this world—a place where true faith, sincerity, and love for Allah flourished. This was not just a retreat center; it was a sanctuary where Muhammed Fethullah Gulen Hocaefendi lived, taught, and embodied the pure essence of Islam.

Now, knowing that he has passed, my heart aches with an indescribable longing. The peace and beauty of this place remain, but his physical absence is deeply felt. Yet, his wisdom, his kindness, and his unwavering devotion to Allah continue to echo through every corner of this sacred space.

I love him with all my heart—not just for his knowledge, but for the light he carried, the way he lived Islam with the utmost sincerity, and the love he showed to all. I pray that Allah grants me the honor of reuniting with him and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Jannatul Firdaus. This world feels emptier without him, but I find solace in knowing that his soul is in a place far greater than anything we can imagine.

For anyone seeking to witness the legacy of a true servant of Allah, Chestnut Retreat Center still holds his presence in every whisper of the wind, every moment of silence, and every prayer lifted to the heavens. May Allah have mercy on his soul and allow us to be together again in the eternal gardens...

I first stepped foot in this beautiful camp in 2014 as a young man, and I had the opportunity to see Fetullah Gulen Hocaefendi. Since then, this place has been a place that I have been visiting every so often-- every time I had the chance, since I live in New Jersey. This place is the epitome of what I can describe as the utmost sensation of tranquility and peace. There is this palpable yet unquantifiable atmosphere to the place that I cannot put into words. Even the 5 daily prayers here feel different than they do back at home. Now, nearly 10 years later, the one man who bright light to this place; my only excuse to even drive an hour and a half to PA, has passed. The air isn't the same as it used to be anymore unfortunately, and Fetullah Gulen Hocaefendi will...

On November 23, 2024, I was blessed to visit my teacher Fethullah Gülen’s grave. I witnessed the serene places where memories of him live on the tiny room where he spent 14 years, and the vast world that fit within that small room, all without him being there❤️🥲 After bidding him farewell in his beautiful resting place, filled with peace and spirituality in every aspect, I returned back. May we reunite again, God willing. Entrusted to God’s mercy, my dear teacher, the perfect...