Siraat al Mustaqeem

I'tikaaf

I'TIKAAF

I'tikaaf means to stay in the masjid with the niyyah of i'tikaaf for the sake of Allah Ta'ala. The purpose of such stay in the masjid is ibaadah and to gain proximity to Allah Ta'ala.

SUNNATUL MUAKKADAH I'TIKAF
I'tikaaf of the last ten days of Ramadhaan is the only masnoon i'tikaaf. This masnoon i'tikaaf is Sunnatul Muakkadah alal Kifaayah. If a few, or even just one person observes this I'tikaf in a particular area/neighborhood, the duty will be discharged on behalf of the entire community of that locality. On the other hand, if no one observes this i'tikaaf, the whole community will be guilty of neglecting a sunnatul muakkadah obligation. Such neglect is sinful.

1. The Mu'takif (the one who observes I'tikaaf) will enter the masjid before sunset of the 20th day of Ramadhaan.

2. The Mu'takif will remain in the masjid until the sighting of the moon for Eid.

3. Niyyah (making intention) is a necessary condition for masnoon i'tikaaf.

4. If the masnoon i'tikaaf is broken or nullified, Qadha of one day (24 hours) is obligatory.

THE VENUE FOR I'TIKAAF
1. For men. i'tikaaf is only valid in a masjid.

2. Females can observe i'tikaaf in a place in their homes, set aside for salaah or specially  cordoned off for the purpose of i'tikaaf.

3. It is not permissible for women to come to the masjid to observe i'tikaaf.

4. The wudhu area, courtyard, kitchen, store-rooms and any other adjacent buildings are all excluded from the masjid.

5. It is essential that the mu'takif remains inside the masjid or inside the special place set aside at home (for women) throughout the duration of the i'tikaaf. Leaving the place of i'tikaf unnecessarily for even a moment will render the i'tikaf null and void.

VALID REASONS FOR LEAVING THE MUSJID WHICH WILL NOT BREAK THE I'TIKAAF
It is permissible to leave the masjid for the following acts of need:
1. To answer the call of nature - to go to the toilet.
2. To take an obligatory bath
3. To make wudhu
4. Juma'h salaat, if Jumu'ah salaah is not performed in the masjid where the i'tikaaf is
being observed. In this case the mu'takif should leave the masjid at such a time to
enable him to reach the other masjid in time to perform his sunnah salaah. He should
leave immediately after having completed the six rakaats sunnahs after the fardh
salaah. He should not delay for du’a and dhikr.

5. To proclaim the adhaan, if he is the muadhin. This is permissible for even a
mu'takif who is not the permanent Muadhin.

6. To bring food if there is no one to tend to this need of his.

7. If one is compelled to leave the masjid either because of danger or forceful eviction, one may immediately proceed to another masjid to continue with the i'tikaaf. An unnecessary delay in the process of changing masjids is not permissible and will break the i'tikaaf.

When leaving the masjid for the above mentioned reasons, the mu'takif must return to the masjid immediately after having fulfilled the need. An unnecessary delay of even a minute will break the i'tikaf.

THINGS WHICH INVALIDATE (BREAK) THE I'TIKAAF
Unnecessarily leaving the masjid for even a moment whether intentionally, unintentionally or under compulsion, will invalidate the i'tikaaf. All acts and reasons besides the valid reasons (see above) will be regarded as 'unnecessary' in the context of i'tikaaf. Thus, leaving the masjid due to illness, although permissible, will invalidate the i'tikaaf.
To leave the masjid for janazah
salaah, visiting the sick or for any other permissible activity besides the VALID REASONS, will render the i'tikaaf null and void.

The i'tikaaf will also become void (break - be invalid) if the mu'takif's fast breaks.

THINGS WHICH ARE PERMISSIBLE DURING I'TIKAAF
During i'tikaaf, the following acts are mubah (permissible):
1. To eat and drink.
2. To sleep.
3. Necessary conversation.
4. To change clothes and apply perfume and oil.
5. To cut hair and nails. These should not be allowed to fall in the Masjid.
6. To walk inside the masjid.
7. To sit anywhere inside the masjid.
8. To tend to a sick person inside the masjid.
9. If necessary, to buy and sell goods provided that the goods are not brought into the masjid nor is payment made inside the masjid.
10. To teach deeni lessons.
11. To sew clothing.
12. To study deeni books.
13. To get married and to perform a nikah.
14. All such acts which are lawful and allowed in the masjid are permissible for the mu'takif.

THINGS WHICH ARE DETESTABLE AND NOT PERMISSIBLE FOR THE MU'TAKIF
The makruhaat during i'tikaf are as follows:
1. To maintain total silence.
2. To indulge in idle talk.
3. To sleep excessively merely to wile away the time.
4. To unnecessarily pass wind inside the masjid.
5. To sew garments or engage in any occupation for a fee.
6. To read books and magazines which are not of a deeni nature.
7. To erect the mu'takaf in a way which inconveniences the musallees. (Mu'takaf is the area which is enclosed for the sleeping and eating of the one who observes i'tikaaf).
8. To engage in any worldly activity unnecessarily.

*WHAT TO DO DURING I'TIKAAF*
The mu'takif should engage himself in ibaadah to the best of his ability. Nafl salaat, tilawah (Recitation of Qur’an), Durood, Istighfar and dhikr in general should be the mu'takif's occupations throughout the duration of his i'tikaaf.

When the mu'takif speaks, he must speak only what is virtue or what is necessary.

The mu’takif should not do anything which conflicts with the spirit of i'tikaaf. He should
guard his heart, mind, ears, eyes and limbs against all evil, thus deriving maximum benefit from his seclusion in the masjid.

The mu'takif is the guest of Allah. He should therefore, be careful of his behavior in the
House of Allah.

SOME MASAAIL (RULES) PERTAINING TO I'TIKAAF
1. The same rules which apply to a man observing i'tikaaf in the masjid, apply to a
woman observing i'tikaaf in her place of seclusion at home.

2. When necessity, e.g. Jumuah Salaah in another masjid, compels the mu'takif to leave his masjid, it will be permissible for him to enquire about a sick person or generally engage in good conversation without departing from the road. He must not unnecessarily stop on the road.

3. During i'tikaaf it is not permissible to leave the masjid for even a sunnah ghusl.

4. It is permissible for the muadhin who is in i'tikaaf to enter the minaret for the
adhaan.

5. Whilst standing inside the masjid it is permissible for the mu'takif to protrude his
head out of the window.

6. Emission of semen, e.g. in a wet dream, does not invalidate the i'tikaaf

7. A woman's i'tikaaf is permissible if she has the consent of her husband.

8. The i'tikaf of a child who understands the meaning of i'tikaaf, is valid. Buloogh
(puberty) is not a condition for the validity of i'tikaaf.

9. It is permissible to sleep on a bed in the mu'takaf (the place cordoned off for sleeping and eating).

10. The mu'takif should remain at all times with wudhu. If his wudhu breaks, it will be
permissible for him to leave the musjid for the purpose of wudhu, even if it is not yet
time for salaah. After making wudhu, he should perform at least two raka'ts
Tahiyyatul-wudhu. Similarly, it will be permissible for him to leave the masjid to make wudhu at night to enable him to sleep with wudhu.

11. If for some reason the i'tikaaf of Ramadhaan was rendered void (broken), it will not be necessary to leave the masjid. The remaining days may still be observed and Qadha of the day rendered void should be made.