Is it prescribed to travel to any mosque for the purpose of i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque)?
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Question:
What is the ruling on traveling to one of the mosques for the purpose of performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in it, other than the three mosques?
Answer:
It is not obligatory to travel, and in fact, it is not permissible to travel to any of the ordinary mosques for the purpose of performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in it. So, if a person vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in a mosque, he performs it in any nearby mosque. For example, if he vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in a mosque in al-Kharj or in al-Qasim, it is not permissible for him to travel; rather, he performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in any of the mosques of Riyadh where the congregational prayer is performed, and he does not travel for this purpose. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 1409Sahih (Darussalam) As for the one who vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in one of the three mosques, it is not permissible for him to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) except in what he vowed.
Except in what he vowed among these three mosques, because it is permissible to travel to them for worship. However, if he vows the lesser of the two, it suffices for him to perform it in the greater. So, if he vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Aqsa, it is permissible for him to fulfill his vow in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, because al-Masjid al-Nabawi is better than al-Masjid al-Aqsa.
And if he vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, it is permissible for him to perform his i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Haram, because it is better than al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Thus, i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is only performed in a mosque. But if he vows it in a mosque other than the three, it is not permissible for him to travel to it; rather, he performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in any mosque where the congregational prayer is performed and which does not require travel.
As for if he vows it in one of the three mosques, he is required to travel to fulfill his vow, and it is permissible for him to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the better mosque, even if he vowed the lesser of them, as we have explained. Yes.
What is the ruling on traveling to one of the mosques for the purpose of performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in it, other than the three mosques?
Answer:
It is not obligatory to travel, and in fact, it is not permissible to travel to any of the ordinary mosques for the purpose of performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in it. So, if a person vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in a mosque, he performs it in any nearby mosque. For example, if he vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in a mosque in al-Kharj or in al-Qasim, it is not permissible for him to travel; rather, he performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in any of the mosques of Riyadh where the congregational prayer is performed, and he does not travel for this purpose. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
No one should prepare a mount (travel) to visit any mosque except three: the Sacred Mosque, this mosque of mine, and Aqsa Mosque.
لاَ تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلاَّ إِلَى ثَلاَثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ مَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ وَمَسْجِدِي هَذَا وَالْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَىExcept in what he vowed among these three mosques, because it is permissible to travel to them for worship. However, if he vows the lesser of the two, it suffices for him to perform it in the greater. So, if he vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Aqsa, it is permissible for him to fulfill his vow in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, because al-Masjid al-Nabawi is better than al-Masjid al-Aqsa.
And if he vows to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, it is permissible for him to perform his i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Haram, because it is better than al-Masjid al-Nabawi. Thus, i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is only performed in a mosque. But if he vows it in a mosque other than the three, it is not permissible for him to travel to it; rather, he performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in any mosque where the congregational prayer is performed and which does not require travel.
As for if he vows it in one of the three mosques, he is required to travel to fulfill his vow, and it is permissible for him to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the better mosque, even if he vowed the lesser of them, as we have explained. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل يشرع السفر لأي مسجد للاعتكاف به؟ #صالح_الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.