Suffaht

A place of spiritual retreat, contemplation, and closeness to Allah

In Islamic history, a Suffah was a shelter or a shady place, often a covered porch or a roofed section in a mosque, where the poor and the needy could seek refuge from the sun, the rain, and the other elements. It was a space where knowledge was shared, community was formed and the bonds of brotherhood were strengthened. A Sufi convention (Jama'at or Mawlid) was a communal gathering where the teachings of Sufism were shared and discussed, which traditionally took place under a Suffah.