Section : I’tikaf, its meaning. I’tikaf means to stick to something, whether good or bad, and to block out everything else. Allah says in the Qur’an: “What then are images that you pay devotion [akifun] to them?” [alAnbia’ 52] –…
Section : I’tikaf, its legitimacy. All scholars agree on its legitimacy. The Prophet would perform i’tikaf for ten days every Ramadan. In the year that he died, he performed it for twenty days. This is related by alBukhari, Abu Dawud,…
Section : I’tikaf, the different types of i’tikaf. I’tikaf is of two types: sunnah and obligatory. The sunnah i’tikaf is that which the Muslim performs to get closer to Allah by following the actions of the Prophet, upon whom be…
Section : I’tikaf, the length of i’tikaf. The obligatory i’tikaf is to be as long as the oath states it to be. If one makes an oath to make i’tikaf for one day or more, he is to fulfil that…
Section : I’tikaf, the sunnah or preferred i’tikaf has no specific time limit. It can be fulfilled by staying in the mosque with the intention of making i’tikaf for a long or short time. The reward will be according to…
Section : I’tikaf, the condition for i’tikaf. The one who preforms i’tikaf must be a Muslim adult, a discerning child who is free of sexual defilement, or an adolescent who is free of menstrual or childbirth bleeding. I’tikaf is not…
Section : I’tikaf, the principles of i’tikaf. I’tikaf will be fulfilled if a person stays in the mosque with the intention of becoming closer to Allah. If the person is not in the mosque or did not do it with…
Section : The opinion of the jurists concerning the mosques in which the i’tikaf is to be performed. There is a difference of opinion among the jurists concerning what mosques are acceptable for i’tikaf. According to Abu Hanifah, Ahmad, Ishaq,…
Section : I’tikaf, the Beginning and Ending of i’tikaf. We have already mentioned that the voluntary i’tikaf does not have any specific time period. Whenever a person enters the mosque and makes the intention of becoming closer to Allah by…
Section : What is preferred for the person who is fasting and what is disliked for him?. It is preferred for the one who is making i’tikaf to perform many supererogatory acts of worship and to occupy himself with prayers,…
Section : Fasting while performing i’tikaf. It is good for the person performing i’tikaf to fast, but he is not under any obligation to do so. Al-Bukhari records from Ibn ‘Umar that ‘Umar said: “O Messenger of Allah, during the…
Section : Permisible Acts for the Mu’takif. The following acts are permissible for one who is making i’tikaf: 1. The person may leave his place of i’tikaf to bid farewell to his wife. Safiyyah reported: “The Prophet was performing i’tikaf…
Section : Actions that Nullify the I’tikaf. If a person performs one of the following acts, his i’tikaf will be nullified: 1. Intentionally leaving the mosque without any need to do so, even if it is for just a short…
Section : Making Up I’tikaf. If an individual intends to perform a voluntary i’tikaf and then ends it before he completes it, he should make up that i’tikaf later. Some say that it is obligatory to do so. Writing on…
Section : Retiring of the Mu’takif to the Mosque and Setting Up of a Tent. Ibn Majah recorded from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet made i’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan. Nafi’ reported: “Ibn ‘Umar showed me the…