Khalwa (Sufism)
In Sufism, Khalwa (Arabic: خلوة, also khalwat; lit., "solitude"; pronounced in Iran, "khalvat"; spelling in Turkish, halvet) is a solitary retreat, traditionally for forty days, during which a disciple does extensive spiritual exercises under the direction of a shaykh. A Sufi murid will enter the khalwa spiritual retreat under the direction of a shaykh for a given period, sometimes for as long as 40 days, emerging only for salah (daily prayers) and, usually, to discuss dreams, visions and live with the shaykh.