Itikaaf

Allah is Rich (free of all needs) and you (mankind) are poor1. Suppose this
poor decides to get bound to the door of the Rich. Will the Rich Whose treasure is
literally infinite ever refuse his begging servant? Certainly no.

In i'tikaaf also, the servant attaches himself to the door of Allah asking for
forgiveness and mercy, repenting for past sins and training himself to get bound to
Allah's commands from morning till evening, through day and night. The biggest
advantage which a mu'takif (a person observing I'tikaaf) can never miss is to protect
himself from numerous sins – the big ones and the small ones – like gazing at an
unrelated person of opposite sex, telling a
lie, taking part in backbiting and spreading
slanders. And by Allah's mercy, he also Visit musarhad.blogspot.com for
gets the reward of those good deeds which more articles on Islam.
he was used to, but cannot do now because
of I'tikaaf2 like accompanying a funeral procession, visiting a sick to console him, etc.

Holy Prophet's I'tikaaf

Because of its great importance, the holy Prophet ٌ‫ٔ ٗسي‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬attached
great importance to its observance. He used to observe the i'tikaaf of the last ten days
of Ramazaan (almost) every year 3 in search of Lailatul Qadr. No form of worship can
be more rewarding on Lailatul Qadr than breaking away from the world and devoting
oneself entirely to salaat, Allah's remembrance, sending blessings on the holy
Prophet, praying to Allah for fulfillment of needs, etc. which is the sole business of a
person during i'tikaaf. In the yearly years after Hijra, he once performed the I'tikaaf
for 30 days4. One year, he could not perform the i'tikaaf due to a journey, so he
performed twenty days' i'tikaaf in the subsequent year 5. In his last year also, he
performed twenty days' i'tikaaf in Ramazaan6. To ensure that this sunnat-e-muakkada
is not made into a farz (obligatory deed) by some over-zealous persons, he did not

ُّ ِ َ‫َواللَّهُ الْغ‬
)47:38( .‫ِن َوأَنتُ ُم الْ ُف َقَراء‬ 1

‫ ىٔ ٍِ اىحسْاخ معاٍو اىحسْاخ كىٖا‬ٛ‫جش‬ٝٗ ‫عنف اىزّ٘ب‬ٝ ٕ٘ ( ‫ اىَعرنف‬ٜ‫ٔ ٗسيٌ قاه ف‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ أُ سس٘ه هللا صي‬: ‫ عِ اتِ عثاس‬2
)Ibn Maaja: 1781(
Bukhari: ( .ُ‫عرنف اىعطش األٗاخش ٍِ سٍضا‬ٝ ٌ‫ٔ ٗسي‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ ماُ سس٘ه هللا صي‬: ‫ هللا عَْٖا قاه‬ٜ‫ عِ عثذ هللا تِ عَش سض‬3
)1921, Muslim: 1171
‫ٔ ٗسيٌ اعرنف اىعطش األٗه ٍِ سٍضاُ ثٌ اعرنف اىعطش‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ هللا عْٔ قاه إُ سس٘ه هللا صي‬ٜ‫ سض‬ٛ‫ذ اىخذس‬ٞ‫ سع‬ٜ‫ عِ أت‬4
‫ح اىقثح ثٌ أطيع سأسٔ فنيٌ اىْاس فذّ٘ا ٍْٔ فقاه‬ٞ‫ ّاح‬ٜ‫ذٓ فْحإا ف‬ٞ‫ش ت‬ٞ‫ش قاه فأخز اىحص‬ٞ‫ سذذٖا حص‬ٚ‫ح عي‬ٞ‫ قثح ذشم‬ٜ‫األٗسظ ف‬
ُ‫ اىعطش األٗاخش فَِ أحة ٍْنٌ أ‬ٜ‫ إّٖا ف‬ٜ‫و ى‬ٞ‫د فق‬ٞ‫يح ثٌ اعرنفد اىعطش األٗسظ ثٌ أذ‬ٞ‫ اعرنفد اىعطش األٗه أىرَس ٕزٓ اىي‬ّٜ‫ إ‬:
‫ِ ٗقذ‬ٝ‫ ٗعطش‬ٙ‫يح إحذ‬ٞ‫ِ ٍٗاء فأصثح ٍِ ى‬ٞ‫ ط‬ٜ‫حرٖا ف‬ٞ‫ أسجذ صث‬ّٜ‫يح ٗذش ٗأ‬ٞ‫رٖا ى‬ٝ‫ أس‬ّٜ‫عرنف فاعرنف اىْاس ٍعٔ قاه ٗإ‬ٞ‫عرنف في‬ٝ
ِٞ‫َٖا اىط‬ٞ‫ْٔ ٗسٗثح أّفٔ ف‬ٞ‫ِ فشغ ٍِ صالج اىصثح ٗجث‬ٞ‫ِ ٗاىَاء فخشج ح‬ٞ‫ اىصثح فَطشخ اىسَاء ف٘مف اىَسجذ فأتصشخ اىط‬ٚ‫قاً إى‬
) Muslim: 215(.‫ِ ٍِ اىعطش األٗاخش‬ٝ‫ ٗعطش‬ٙ‫يح إحذ‬ٞ‫ ى‬ٜٕ ‫ٗاىَاء ٗإرا‬
ً‫ اىعا‬ٜ‫عرنف عاٍا فيَا ماُ ف‬ٝ ٌ‫ اىعطش األٗاخش ٍِ سٍضاُ في‬ٜ‫عرنف ف‬ٝ ٌ‫ٔ ٗسي‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬ٜ‫ قاه ماُ اىْث‬: ‫ عِ أّس تِ ٍاىل‬5
)Tirmizi: 803( .ِٝ‫اىَقثو اعرنف عطش‬
‫ فيَا ماُ ٍِ اىعاً اىَقثو اعرنف‬. ‫ فسافش عاٍا‬. ُ‫عرنف اىعطش األٗاخش ٍِ سٍضا‬ٝ ُ‫ٔ ٗسيٌ ما‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬ٜ‫ أُ اىْث‬:‫ تِ معة‬ٜ‫عِ أت‬
.‫ٍ٘ا‬ٝ ِٝ‫عطش‬
) Ibn Maaja: 1770( [.‫] ش ( فسافش عاٍا ) اىظإش أّٔ عاً اىفرح‬
ٔٞ‫ قثض ف‬ٛ‫اً فيَا ماُ اىعاً اىز‬ٝ‫ مو سٍضاُ عطشج أ‬ٜ‫عرنف ف‬ٝ ٌ‫ٔ ٗسي‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬ٜ‫ ماُ اىْث‬:‫ هللا عْٔ قاه‬ٜ‫شج سض‬ٝ‫ ٕش‬ٜ‫ عِ أت‬6
)Bukhari: 1939( .‫ٍ٘ا‬ٝ ِٝ‫اعرنف عطش‬
 perform the i'tikaaf of the last ten days of Ramazaan on a certain year and instead
recompensed for it in Shawwal1.

During the i'tikaaf, the Prophet ٌ‫ٔ ٗسي‬ٞ‫ صيح هللا عي‬would dedicate himself entirely
to different kinds of worship and zikr (Allah's remembrance). He would spend most
of his time in a small enclosure of tent-material built inside the masjid for this
purpose. He would not come out of the masjid except for relieving himself. He would
not visit a sick in these days nor accompany a funeral procession, but sometimes he
would just pass by a sick person and see his condition without staying near him2.
Sometimes he would enter his head into Hazrat Aaisha's ‫ هللا عْٖا‬ٜ‫ سض‬house (whose
door opened into the masjid) while his body remained outside (inside the mosque) and
she would comb it 3. This noble tradition of i'tikaaf was carried on by the glorious
Prophet's (wives) and other companions and then pious and righteous men of all
ages4.

Rules and Regulations Regarding I'tikaaf

‫َو َوي ُرُتَو ِشا ُر ُرو َّن ي َو َو نُر ْم ي َو اِش ُر َووي ِش ي ْما َو َو ِشا ِشي‬
Do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are
in I'tikâf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and
invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques. (Quran:
187).

I'tikaaf
 I'tikaaf is confining oneself to a masjid where congregational salaat is
regularly held with the intention of i'tikaaf.

Kinds of I'tikaaf
1. Waajib (compulsory): It is the i'tikaaf of vow. Whoever takes a vow
that he would observe i'tikaaf, it becomes compulsory for him.
2. Sunnat e Muakkada Kifaaya (emphasized tradition for which
observance by at least one person from every locality is enough): It is
the i'tikaaf of the last ten days of Ramazaan.
3. Mustahabb (desirable): It is other than the above two kinds.

1
ٌ‫ اىصثح ث‬ٜ‫صي‬ٞ‫ اىعطش األٗاخش ٍِ سٍضاُ فنْد أضشب ىٔ خثاء ف‬ٜ‫عرنف ف‬ٝ ٌ‫ٔ ٗسي‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬ٜ‫ ماُ اىْث‬: ‫عِ عائطح قاىد‬
ٜ‫ْة تْد جحص ضشتد خثاء آخش فيَا أصثح اىْث‬ٝ‫ذخئ فاسرأرّد حفصح عائطح أُ ذضشب خثاء فأرّد ىٖا فضشتد خثاء فيَا سأذٔ ص‬ٝ
‫ فرشك االعرناف رىل‬. ) ِٖ‫ٔ ٗسيٌ ( آىثش ذشُٗ ت‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬ٜ‫ فأخثش فقاه اىْث‬. ) ‫ح فقاه ( ٍا ٕزا‬ٞ‫ األخث‬ٙ‫ٔ ٗسيٌ سأ‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫صي‬
)Bukhari:1928( . ‫اىطٖش ثٌ اعرنف عطشا ٍِ ض٘اه‬
Abu Dawood: (ْٔ‫ع‬ . ‫سأه‬ٝ ‫عشج‬ٝ ‫َش مَا ٕ٘ ٗال‬ٞ‫ض ٕٗ٘ ٍعرنف ف‬ٝ‫َش تاىَش‬ٝ ٌ‫ٔ ٗسي‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬ٜ‫ ماُ اىْث‬: ‫ عِ عائطح قاىد‬2
)2472
‫خشج ىحاجح إال ىَا التذ‬ٝ ‫ثاضشٕا ٗال‬ٝ ‫َس اٍشأج ٗال‬ٝ ‫طٖذ جْاصج ٗال‬ٝ ‫ضا ٗال‬ٝ‫ع٘د ٍش‬ٝ ‫ اىَعرنف أُ ال‬ٚ‫ اىسْح عي‬: ‫عِ عائطح أّٖا قاىد‬
)Abu Dawood: 2473( ‫جاٍع‬ . ‫ ٍسجذ‬ٜ‫ٍْٔ ٗال اعرناف إال تصً٘ ٗال اعرناف إال ف‬
‫ سأسٔ ف‬ٜ‫ إى‬ّٜ‫ذ‬ٝ ‫ٔ ٗسيٌ إرا اعرنف‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ ماُ سس٘ه هللا صي‬: ‫ عِ عائطح قاىد‬3
.ُ‫د إال ىحاجح اإلّسا‬ٞ‫ذخو اىث‬ٝ ‫أسجئ ٗماُ ال‬
)Abu Dawood: 2467(
ُ‫عرنف اىعطش األٗاخش ٍِ سٍضا‬ٝ ُ‫ٔ ٗسيٌ ما‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬ٜ‫ أُ اىْث‬:ٌ‫ٔ ٗسي‬ٞ‫ هللا عي‬ٚ‫ صي‬ٜ‫ هللا عْٖا صٗج اىْث‬ٜ‫ عِ عائطح سض‬4
)Bukhari: 1922( .ٓ‫ ذ٘فآ هللا ثٌ اعرنف أصٗاجٔ ٍِ تعذ‬ٚ‫حر‬
Things to be done during I'tikaaf
1. The period of the sunnat i'tikaaf is the last ten days of Ramazaan. For the
waajib i'tikaaf, the period is what the person has stated in his vow while that
for the mustahabb is at least a moment and there is no upper limit for it.
2. I'tikaaf is not valid unless it is observed in a masjid where regular
congregational salaats are held, i.e. a masjid which has an appointed imam
(prayer-leader) and a muazzin (prayer-caller). A woman should observe the
i'tikaaf in the masjid (a part of house of designated for worship) of her house.
3. For an i'tikaaf of vow, fasting is a necessary condition whereas fasting is not a
pre-requisite for sunnat and mustahabb i'tikaafs.

Acts which make the I'tikaaf invalid

1. Going out of the mosque without any justification.
2. Commencement of monthly period or postnatal discharge to a woman.
3. Engaging in sexual intercourse or foreplay like kissing and caressing.

Conditions when getting out of the mosque is permitted

1. Natural reasons like relieving oneself and taking a bath that is obligatory upon
him. But he should not stay outside the mosque for more than the period
required for that person.
2. Shara'i reasons: For example, Juma (Friday) prayer, if Juma prayer is not held
in the mosque of his i'tikaaf.
3. Necessary cases: For example, fear for one's life or his property if he remains
in the mosque. If the masjid collapses, the mu'takif (person who is observing
i'tikaaf) should move to another masjid immediately with the intention of
completing his i'tikaaf there.

Things which are makrooh (undesirable) for a mu'takif

1. Conducting business transactions in the mosque when it is not immediately
necessary for his financial needs.
2. Bringing the article of sale to the mosque if he is conducting transaction on
account of necessity.
3. Keeping quiet, if he considers this to be a form of worship. If he does not
consider keeping silent to be a kind of worship, then it is allowed.

I'tikaaf etiquettes
1. The mu'takif should not speak except what is good and rewarding in the
Hereafter.
2. He should choose the most rewarding mosque for his i'tikaaf, i.e. Masjid
Haraam for (Makka residents), then Masjid Nabawi (for Madina residents),
then Masjid Aqsa (for Al Quds – also known as Jerusalem – residents) and
then Jama masjid (masjid where Juma prayer is held).
3. He should engage in Quran recitation, sunnat zikr, invoking blessings on the
Prophet, studying books on Islam, etc.
4. He is allowed to eat, drink and conduct business transactions, if necessary for
his needs, without bringing the sale article inside the mosque.