The Subtleties of Suhbat
Conversation, Companionship, and Communion
w/ Pir Zia Inayat Khan & Special Guest Shaykha Fariha
The Astana & Via Zoom December 5-7, 2025

Exceeding difficult an easy task can prove to be
Not every man can manage to achieve humanity
– Ghalib

We reunite at the Astana, the Inayatiyya’s home in Richmond, Virginia, for a weekend on The Subtleties of Suhbat, Being Human with Pir Zia and special guest Shaykha Fariha of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi lineage of Sufism. 

Fame, fortune, power, prestige—these much coveted adornments have their allure while they last but amount to little in the end. But to live as a full-fledged human being, embodying the sacred purpose for which we were created, now there is something worth striving for! Fortunately, the awakened ones who came before us have shown us the way. Their teachings and example will be the glowing subject of our suhbat (spiritual conversation).

Please come join us for the depth of Sufi suhbat as we explore the essence of being human, interspersed with music, practice, sweets, and zikr. All are welcome, with options online and in-person. (Advance registration is required.)

We are offering a two-tiered tuition for in-person attendance, $185 as general tuition, and $145 for young adults and those on a limited income. Both options include tea, coffee, snacks, sweets, and our luncheon on Saturday. There are also partial discounts by request sent to astana@inayatiyya.org. 

If you are joining us online, the cost is $85 with select discounts based on national currency valuations and also with partial discounts, as mentioned above.

Please send any question about our Suhbat gathering to us at astana@inayatiyya.org, and make sure to plan for travel and accommodations as soon as possible if you hope to attend. Details about travel, parking, accommodations, and local restaurants may be found at astanarva.org. 

SUHBAT SCHEDULE

Friday, December 5th

• 7:00 pm Doors Open
• 7:30-9 pm Opening Suhbat | The Divine Being and the human being 

Saturday, December 6th

• 9:00 am Doors Open
• 9:30-10:45 am Suhbat | The Prophet: A Shining Lamp and Beautiful Model
• 10:45-11:15 am Tea Break
• 11:15-12:30 pm Suhbat | The Way of Friendship shown by God’s Friends
• 12:30-1:30 pm Luncheon
• 3:00-4:30 pm Suhbat | The Divine Names reflected in the human being
• 7:00-10:00 pm Zikr & Sweets

Sunday, December 7th

• 9:00 am Doors Open
• 9:30-10:45 am Suhbat | Questions and responses
• 10:45-11:15 am Tea Break
• 11:15-12:30 pm Closing Words, & Prayers

BIOGRAPHY

Pir Zia Inayat Khan, PhD, is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the universalist Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is president of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy, a school of Sufi contemplative study and practice. He is the author of the forthcoming Tears from the Mother of the Sun with the visual artist Amruta Patel (Inner Traditions, Feb 2026); Immortality: A Traveler’s Guide; Mingled Waters: Sufism and the Mystical Unity of Religions; Saracen Chivalry: Counsels on Valor, Generosity and the Mystical Quest; and the editor and compiler of Dream Flowers: The Collected Works of Noor Inayat Khan, for which he also wrote the critical introduction. Pir Zia divides his time between Richmond, Virginia and Suresnes, France. inayatiyya.org

Shaykha Fariha is the spiritual guide of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order in New York City. She was born in 1947 into a socially committed, eclectic Catholic family in Houston, Texas. At the age of 29, she met her teacher, Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak of Istanbul, and received direct transmission from him in 1980. Shaykh Muzaffer also gave direct transmission to Lex Hixon (Shaykh Nur al-Jerrahi), who envisioned a radical and illumined path of the heart which he called Universal Islam. After Shaykh Nur’s death, Fariha took on the guidance of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order, with circles around the world. This lineage offers the nectar of teachings of the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, which guide the seeker to self-knowledge and immersion in God. The sacred practices of zikr, prayer, charitable living, fasting and retreat are all embraced. nurashkijerrahi.org