Ustadha Suzane Derani is a distinguished scholar, hafidha, and educator with over 20 years of experience in Qur’anic sciences and spiritual leadership. Her rigorous training began in Damascus, Syria, where she studied Arabic, Seerah, Aqeedah, and Shāfiʿī fiqh under renowned scholars. A dual-ijāzah holder in the Ḥafṣ recitation and the 10 Qirāʾāt, she has taught Qur’an internationally for over a decade, guiding students across diverse communities with precision and care. She has also studied under notable scholars from California and Syria, further enriching her scholarly grounding.

Beyond her traditional credentials, Ustadha Suzane holds a Master of Divinity and a B.A. in History, bringing a robust spiritual care background as a Muslim chaplain, as well as being a board member for the Rahmah Foundation. Her unique blend of traditional ijāzah, academic excellence, and compassionate mentorship makes her a powerful guide for a reflective and educationally grounded Umrah experience.

Dr. Naila Althagafi is originally from Makkah, the program curator and the founder of The Retreat, a company dedicated to enriching women’s spiritual journeys through meticulously crafted Umrah pilgrimages and reflective retreats rooted in the prophetic tradition and excellence (ihsan). With a lineage of Mutawefeen – caretakers of pilgrims in the holy lands – her family’s service during Hajj inspired her path. A filmmaker with an MFA and PhD in Communications, she’s also a certified Saudi tour guide from the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. Combining her expertise in convert care and organizing spiritually immersive retreats, she blends practical guidance, cultural wisdom, and profound historical insights to create transformative journeys to pilgrims. Her passion for amplifying Muslim women's narratives through film and research further enriches her holistic approach, ensuring every journey she curates is both deeply personal and authentically rooted in the Islamic tradition and the heritage of the holy lands.