"Celebrate the praises of Allah during the Appointed Days
but if anyone hastens to leave in two days there is no blame on him and
if anyone stays on there is no blame on him if his aim is to do right.
Then fear Allah and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him." [Qur'an 2:203]
An important aspect of Ramadan is now upon us. The last ten days is more important than the previous 20 days. This is because the last ten days is when acts of iba’dah (worship) are intensified. This is to the extent that this period is spent by many in seclusion, a practice termed I’tikaf. Seclusion in the mosque (I’tikaf) in the last ten days of Ramadan is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was the practice of the Prophet to perform I’tikaf till he passed away. I’tikaf helps to enhance one's spiritual growth and to strive hard to worship Allah better as there is nothing to distract one's attention from this noble pursuit. I’tikaf can only be observed in the mosque preferably a Jumuah Mosque (where Friday Congregational Prayer is made).
I’tikaf is of two types the 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 (peace be upon him), especially during the last ten days of Ramadan. The obligatory I'tikaf is that which the person makes obligatory upon himself. This may be done, for example, by an oath “By Allah! I must make I'tikaf” or by a conditional oath “If Allah cures me (or grants my request), I shall make I'tikaf...” In a hadith it is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever makes an oath to obey Allah should be obedient to Him.” 'Umar (RA) said “O Messenger of Allah, I made an oath to perform I'tikaf one night in the mosque at Makkah.” The Prophet (peace be upon him), said: "Fulfil your oath." (Bukhari)
The person who performs 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 acceptable from an unbeliever, a non-discerning child, a sexually defiled person, and a menstruating woman with post-childbirth bleeding. 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 (peace be upon him), and supplicating to Allah. Included among these actions is studying and reading books of tafseer and Hadith.
It is disliked for one to engage in affairs that do not concern him. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Part of a man's good observance of Islam is that he leave alone that which does not concern him.” It is, however, disliked for a person to think that he can draw closer to Allah by not speaking, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was delivering a speech, he saw a man standing and asked about him. The people said, “He is Abu Israel. He has vowed to stand and not to sit, and not to speak, and to fast.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Order him to speak, go to the shade, to sit, and to complete his fast.” (Bukhari)
Certain acts are not permitted when one is performing I'tikaf, these act if done would nullify the I'tikaf. Intentionally leaving the mosque without any need to do so nullifies the I’tikaf, 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. Further, abandoning belief in Islam, also nullifies the I’tikaf just as it does all acts of worship. Whoever ascribes partner to Allah, his deeds are lost and he will be among the losers. Losing one's reasoning due to insanity or drunkenness, or the onset of menstruation or post-childbirth bleeding, sexual intercourse, etc all disqualifies a person for I’tikaf. Allah says, “But touch them not (that is, your wives) and be at your devotions in the mosque.”
Also when in I’tikaf, it is recommended that the voice should not be raised such that it disturbs others, once the Prophet (peace be upon him) was in I’tikaf in the mosque and he heard the people reciting aloud. He removed the covering and said, “Verily, each of you is in a private conversation with his Lord so you should not disturb each other. And you are not to raise your voices against each other in the recitation.” (Bukhari)
It is agreed that the one who performs I’tikaf 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 I’tikaf, even if they take a long time.
- Contributed by Shamsideen Abu Suad, UK.
A Point to Ponder
"With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan,
the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard)
and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers." (Bukhari)
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