Performing I`tikaf in the Masjid (seclusion in the Mosque)
I`tikaf is the seclusion and staying in the mosque with the intention of becoming closer to
Allah 
. This was the practice of the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, during the last ten
days of Ramadan especially. He would do it during other months as well.
‘Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah , salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, used to practice
I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the
last ten nights of the month of Ramadan” [Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu ‘anhu said: “Allah ’s Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam,
used to perform i`tikaf for ten days every Ramadan, then when it was the year in which he
was taken (died), he performed I`tikaf for twenty days. [Bukhari]
‘Aisha reported that the Prophet,salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, used to practice I`tikaf in the
last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice I`tikaf after him.
[Bukhari]
`Aishah radhiya Allahu `anha also reported that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam,
“Used to perform i’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah the Mighty and Majestic,
took him. [Bukhari and Muslim]
Al-Bukhari records from Abu Said that the Prophet (S) said: “Whoever makes I`tikaf with
me is to make I’tikaf during the last ten [nights].”
This Sunnah of the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, has been abandoned by many
Muslims and it is worth reviving it in this era.
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 how long one stays in the mosque. If one leaves the mosque and then returns,
he should renew his intention to perform itikaf.
Ya’la ibn Umayyah said: “I secluded myself in the mosque for some time for I`tikaf.” ‘Ata
told him: “That is I`tikaf, as long as you secluded yourself there.”
One who is performing Sunnah (like in Ramadan) i’tikaf (i.e. not the obligatory one that is
made after a vow) may end his i`tikaf at any time, even if it is before the period he intended
to stay.
It is preferred for the one who is making I`tikaf to perform many supererogatory acts of
worship and to occupy himself with prayers, reciting the Qur’an, glorifying and praising
Allah , extolling His oneness and His greatness, asking His forgiveness, sending salutations
on the Prophet, upon whom be peace, and supplicating Allah – that is, all actions that bring
one closer to Allah . Included among these actions is studying and reading books of tafsir
and hadith, books on the lives of the Prophets, upon whom be peace, books of fiqh, and so
on. It is also preferred to set up a small tent in the courtyard of the mosque as the Prophet
did.
Permissible Acts for the Mu`takif (the person performing I`tikaf)
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 and a Woman can
visit her husband who is in I`tikaf} Safiyyah, radhiya Allahu `anha said : The prophet
salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, was making i`tikaf [in the last ten nights of Ramadan],
so I came to visit him at night [and his wives were with him and then departed]. I
talked with him for a while, then I stood up to leave, [so he said:"Do not hurry for I
will accompany you",. He stood along with me to accompany me back -and her
dwelling was in the house of Usaamah Ibn Zayd [until when he came to the door of
the mosque near the door of Umm Salamah], two men of the Ansaar were passing
by, when they saw the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, they hastened by, so
the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said : “Be at your ease for she is Safiyyah
bintu Huyayy.” So they said:” ‘SubhanAllah, O Messenger of Allah ! [we did not have
any doubt about you].’ He said: “Indeed Shaytan circulates in the son of Adam just as
blood circulates, and I feared that he would insert an evil thought” -or he said :
“something – into your hearts” [Bukhari and Muslim, in [] are additional narrations
from Abu Dawud]
(2) Combing and cutting one’s hair, clipping one’s nails, cleaning one’s body, wearing
nice clothes or wearing perfume are all permissible. ‘Aishah reported: “The Prophet
was Performing itikaf and he would put his head out through the opening to my
room and I would clean [or comb in one narration] his hair. I was menstruating at
the time.” [al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Dawud].
(3) The person may go out for some need that he must perform. ‘Aishah reported:
“When the Prophet Performed I`tikaf, he brought his head close to me so I could
comb his hair, and he would not enter the house except to fulfill the needs a person
has.” [al-Bukhari, and Muslim]. Ibn al-Mundhir says: “The scholars agree that the
one who performs itikaf may leave the mosque in order to answer the call of nature,
for this is something that he personally must perform, and he cannot do it in the
mosque. Also, if he needs to eat or drink and there is no one to bring him his food, he
may leave to get it. If one needs to vomit, he may leave the mosque to do so. For
anything that he must do but cannot do in the mosque, he can leave it, and such acts
will not void his itikaf, even if they take a long time. Examples of these types of acts
would include washing one’s self from sexual defilement and cleaning his body or
clothes from impurities.”
(4) The person may eat, drink, and sleep in the mosque, and he should also keep it
clean.
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 time. In such a case, one would not be staying in the mosque, which is one of
the principles of I`tikaf.
(2) Abandoning belief in Islam, as this would nullify all acts of worship. If you ascribe a
partner to Allah , your work will fail and you will be among the losers.
(3) Losing one’s reason due to insanity or drunkenness, or the onset of menstruation or
post-childbirth bleeding, all of which disqualifies a person for itikaf.
(4) Sexual intercourse. Allah says [in meaning]: “But do not associate with your wives
while you are in seclusion (I`tikaf) in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah .
Approach not nigh thereto. Thus does Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they
may learn self-restraint. [al-Baqara; 2:187]
I`tikaf is not restricted to men only, women also can do it :
‘Aisha (the wife of the Prophet) reported that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam,
used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used
to practice I`tikaf after him.[Bukhari]. Dear Sister! when reading this do not forget the
modesty and the Hijab of the wife of the Prophet (S) that you should observe if you intend
to perform I`tikaf.
