All About RAMADAN

I'tikaf: The Spritiual Retreat

Everything you need to know about I'tikaf...

The guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with regard to i'tikaf was the most perfect and moderate of guidance. 

Once he observed i'tikaf in the first ten days of Ramadan, then in the middle ten days, seeking Laylat al-Qadr . Then he was told that it is in the last ten days, so then he always observed i'tikaf during the last ten days, until he met his Lord. 

On one occasion he did not observe i’tikaf during the last ten days, so he made it up in Shawwal and observed i'tikaf during the first ten days thereof. This was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim. In the year in which he died, he observed i’tikaf for twenty days. Narrated by al-Bukhari, 2040. 

•I'tikaf is Sunnah, not compulsory, unless one made a vow to do it, in which case it becomes obligatory.

• I'tikaf is prescribed in Islam and it is an act of worship that draws one closer to Allah.

•Once this is established, there are many ahadith which encourage us to draw closer to Allah by doing nafl acts of worship. The general meaning of these ahadith includes all kinds of worship, including i'tikaf.

Conditions of i’tikaf

It is prescribed to observe i’tikaf in a mosque in which prayers in congregation are held. If the mu’takif is one of those for whom Jumu’ah is obligatory and the period of his i’tikaf will include a Friday, it is better for him to stay in a mosque where Jumu’ah prayer is observed. 

It is not a condition for him or her to be fasting. 

Things to avoid during i’tikaf

The Sunnah is for the mu’takif not to visit any sick person during his i'tikaf , or to accept any invitation, attend to his family’s needs, attend any funeral or go to work outside the mosque.

‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Sunnah for the mu’takif is not to visit any sick person, or attend any funeral, or touch or be intimate with any woman, or go out for any reason except those which cannot be avoided.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 2473)

I'tikaf for females at home or in the mosque

The scholars are agreed that a man's I'tikaf is only valid if observed in the mosque, because Allah swt says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in I‘tikaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques.” [al-Baqarah 2:187]

So i'tikaf is something that should be done specifically in the mosque. (See al-Mughni, 4/461)

I'TIKAF FOR FEMALES:

The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked him for permission to observe i’tikaf in the mosque and he gave them permission, and they used to observe i’tikaf in the mosque after he died. 

If it were permissible for a woman to observe i’tikaf in her house , the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would have told them to do that, because it is better for a woman to remain concealed in her house than to go out to the mosque.

MINIMUM TIME OF I'TIKAF:

Shaykh Ibn Baz said in Majmu’ al-Fatawa (15/441): 

“I’tikaf means staying in the mosque to worship Allah, whether that is for a long time or a short time, because as far as I know there is no report to indicate a set time, whether one or two days or more. This is an act of worship which is prescribed in Islam unless one vows to do it, in which case it becomes obligatory. This applies equally to men and women.”

Is it permissible to talk to others during i‘tikaaf?

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

With regard to talking in the mosque: if it is about worldly matters and is a conversation between brothers and friends about some of their worldly concerns, if it is brief then there is nothing wrong with it, in sha Allah, but if it goes on at length then it is makrooh. It is makrooh to take the mosques as places for talking about worldly matters, because they were built for the remembrance of Allah, reading Qur’an, offering the five daily prayers and other good deeds, such as offering supererogatory prayers, observing i‘tikaaf and holding study circles. 

Can I’tikaf Be Observed at Any Time?

I’tikaf is Sunnah and can be observed at any time of the year but it is better to observe it in Ramadan, especially in the last ten days.

Shaykh Ibn Baz said in Majmu’ al-Fatawa (15/437): 

“Undoubtedly i'tikaf in the mosque is an act of worship, and (observing it) in Ramadan is better than at other times. It is prescribed in Ramadan and at other times.” 

Can You Leave the Mosque During I’tikaf?

You can leave the mosque during i’tikaf for unavoidable reasons such as to relieve yourself, to do wudu or ghusl, or to bring food if you do not have anyone to bring food for you. If you leave the mosque to do your work, your i’tikaf is invalidated.

Al-Bukhari (2092) and Muslim (297) narrated that 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used not to enter the house except for things that a person needs when he was observing i’tikaf .  

Virtues of i’tikaf

I’tikaf is prescribed in Islam and it is an act of worship that draws one closer to Allah. 

Once this is established, there are many ahadith which encourage us to draw closer to Allah by doing nafl acts of worship . The general meaning of these ahadith includes all kinds of worship, including i’tikaf . 

For example, there is the hadith qudsi in which Allah says: “My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6502) 

السلام و علیکم ورحمتہ اللہْ
May Allah help us all. Remember me and the entire Muslim Ummah in your Duas.