E'tikaf (Seclusion at the place of prayer)

I'tikaf [I'tikaf is derived from 'akafa 'alai-hi, meaning he kept, or clove, to it constantly or perseveringly (LL.)] means literally to stay in a place; technically it is staying in a mosque for a certain number of days, especially the last ten days of the month of Ramadzan.I`tikaf is the seclusion and staying in the mosque with the intention of becoming closer to Allah. This was the practise 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. Bukhari has devoted a whole book to I'tikaf (book 33), showing the practice of the Prophet in this connection

'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]

Sayyid Sabiq says in Fiqhus-Sunnah :

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."

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.

Ibn Qayyem says that the sole reason of observing E’tikaf is to create a bond between Allah and his slave to such an extent that the slave leaves everything aside and becomes engrossed in the worship of Allah.

He becomes cut off from everything else so much so that all his thoughts are lost in the remembrance of Allah until he reaches such a stage that his love for the creation is changed into the love for Allah because of which he will be helped when he has to face the frightful sight of the grave. On that day, apart from Allah, there will be no friend and no protector. If a person has true love for Allah, then there is no limit to the ecstasy and happiness he will feel. Even if the most hard hearted of people were to perform E’tikaf with sincerity then there will be no barrier whatsoever to stop him from attaining the state mentioned above. Allah is such that He accepts any excuse to forgive and many times He forgives without any reason because of His mercy and love for forgiving.

E’tikaf is to sit in the mosque with the specific intention of E’tikaf. In the opinion of the Hanafi scholars, E’tikaf is of three types.

1. Waajib (compulsory)

2. Sunnat-e-Muakkadah (emphasized Sunnah)

3. Mustahabb (desirable)

Waajib E’tikaf

If a person takes an oath that if a certain task is fulfilled then he will observe E’tikaf for a fixed period of time and the task is completed, then E’tikaf is compulsory (waajib) on that person. To fast during waajib E’tikaf is a condition.

Sunnah-e-Muakkadah

This is in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadhan. This is because the Holy Prophet May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him has emphasized observing E’tikaf in these ten days. This can be clearly understood from the following Hadith. It is reported from Hazrat Aisha May Allah be pleased with him that the Holy Prophet May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him used to observe E’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadhan until the time of his demise. After this, the Holy Wives May Allah be pleased with them of the Prophet May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him used to observe E’tikaf. (Bukhari, Muslim, Mishkaat).

This is the reason why the Hanafi scholars categorize it as a Sunnah-e-Muakkadah. Hazrat Ibn Abbas May Allah be pleased with him relates that Rasullullah May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him said:

“The person performing E’tikaf remains free from sins, and he is indeed given the same reward as all those who do righteous deeds. (Inspite of not having done those deeds as a result of having been secluded in the Masjid). (Ibn Majah)

In another Hadith, it is stated that the Prophet May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him’s conduct was the Qur’an. The E’tikaf is a Sunnah of the Prophet May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him and although the Prophet May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him himself performed it punctually and never missed it, he never rebuked those who did not observe it so the scholars are of the view that E’tikaf is a Sunnah-e-Muakkadah (an emphasized Sunnah) which is incumbent on the (local) community so if one person fulfilled this obligation (Sunnah-e-Muakkadah), the Sunnah will have been discharged. The blessings of this Sunnah are such that its observance by one individual will unburden the community of its performance and everyone will benefit.

By remaining secluded in the Masjid during the last ten days of Ramadhan, one completely avoids falling into unintentional evil acts, and by this E’tikaf, if one does miss an opportunity for any good deeds such as the funeral prayer, attending burials, visiting the sick etc; one is rewarded for these deeds without performing them.

Mustahabb

There is no fixed period of time for this type of E’tikaf. One may perform this for as many days or as long as one desires. It is appropriate that a person makes the intention of E’tikaf whenever he enters the Masjid, so that he receives reward until he remains within the Masjid.

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.

Additional Rules For Ladies In E’tikaf

The following five rules apply to women only:

1. A woman may perform E’tikaf in the room that is used for her daily Salaah.

2. A woman must have the permission of her husband for E’tikaf. Once the husband has consented to his wife’s E’tikaf, he then cannot withdraw his permission.

3. If there is no person to serve her meals during E’tikaf, the woman is allowed to go to the kitchen to prepare a quick simple meal.

4. If during the E’tikaf the woman has her monthly periods or nifaas (bleeding after child’s birth) the E’tikaf is nullified. She must observe Qadha (recompense) of the remaining days after she is purified. This is if the E’tikaf is waajib or Sunnah, in which vowed days are fixed. In the case where the E’tikaf is Mustahab in which the days vowed for are not fixed, she will have to observe Qadha of the full E’tikaf.

5. A woman is allowed to sleep on her bed and use a chair while she is in E’tikaf. She can also walk around in her room for a short while to relieve the stiffness in her limbs.

E’tikaf enjoys a special relationship with Ramadhan. So what is the essence of E’tikaf? Its essence is an integral part of sacrifice because it constitutes four essential requirements:

1. Eating less

2. Sleeping less

3. Speaking less

4. Less intermingling with people.

Abul Hasan ash-Shadili said, "There are ten benefits from seclusion:

1. Safety from all misconduct of the tongue, because there is no one to talk to in seclusion
2. Safety from all misconduct of the eyes, because there is no one to see from human beings
3. Safety of the heart from all kinds of show, and other like illnesses
4. It will lift you to the state of asceticism
5. It will save you from accompanying evil people
6. It will give you free time to do dhikr
7. It will give you the sweet taste of worship, and prayers and supplication to the Divine Presence
8. It will give satisfaction and peace to the heart
9. It will keep your ego from falling into bad manners
10. It will give you the time to meditate and make account of yourself, and to make your goal the Divine Presence.

That is what the Prophet mentioned in his hadith, narrated by Bukhari, in the book of Riqaq. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet said (s), "There are seven who will be kept under Allah's Shadow, on the Day when there is no shadow other than Allah's Shadow... One of them is a man who makes dhikr in seclusion, and the tears are coming from his eyes."