We are approaching the last ten days of Ramadan after the middle ten days. What is your advice, may Allah guide you to success, especially for those observing i'tikaf?
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The questioner : He says: May the Shaykh be honored. We are approaching the last ten days of Ramadan after the middle ten days. What is your advice, may Allah guide you to success, especially for those observing i'tikaf? It is common for those observing i'tikaf to ask: When does one begin i'tikaf, and when does one leave? Is it from the Sunnah not to leave except for the 'Id prayer on that day? Is it from the Sunnah for the one observing i'tikaf to take a full ritual bath after the Maghrib prayer every night of the ten nights?
The Shaykh : Yes, we will take them one by one. The last ten days are undoubtedly the best part of Ramadan, because the Night of Decree is in them, either on the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh, or twenty-ninth. These odd-numbered nights are the most likely. It is also possible that it is on the twenty-second, twenty-fourth, twenty-sixth, twenty-eighth, or thirtieth. The most likely of the odd-numbered nights is the twenty-seventh. However, the twenty-seventh night, or indeed the Night of Decree in general, is not singled out for anything except the emphasis on standing in night prayer, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Ibn Hibban 10:853. As for what some people do, such as increasing charity on the twenty-seventh night, claiming it is the Night of Decree, or performing the lesser pilgrimage on the twenty-seventh night, claiming it is the Night of Decree, this is an error in two ways:
First: The twenty-seventh night is not the Night of Decree, as the Night of Decree coincided with the twenty-first night during the time of the Messenger.
Second: Even if it were established that it is the Night of Decree—and it will not be established, except by what is observed of signs and circumstances, which is possible but not certain—it is not to be singled out except for what the Lawgiver has singled out, which is standing in prayer. There is no increased reward for charity in it, nor for the lesser pilgrimage in it. This is an important issue.
As for the issue of i'tikaf, a person enters i'tikaf when the sun sets on the twentieth day—that is, from the beginning of the night of the twenty-first—and it ends with the setting of the sun on the last day of Ramadan, whether it is the twenty-ninth or the thirtieth. He leaves for his home, and there is no need to remain in the mosque until he goes out for the 'Id prayer, for although some scholars have said this, there is no evidence for it. Also, the one observing i'tikaf leaves, like others, in the most beautiful and best clothing, not as some have said: he leaves in the clothes he is wearing, claiming they are a trace of his worship, like leaving the blood of a martyr on him. We say: clothes are not a trace of i'tikaf; i'tikaf does not change anything about the clothing. Likewise, it is recommended for the one observing i'tikaf, since he has observed i'tikaf and confined himself to the mosque, to spend his time in the obedience of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such as reading, dhikr, and prayer, other than in the times of prohibition, and other acts of nearness to Allah. And he should not make this place—I mean the mosque—a place of visitation that his friends, relatives, and others visit from one conversation to another, from one coffee shop to another "and perhaps from one gathering to another" Yes? And the like of that. This is an error. I'tikaf: staying in the mosque, or more accurately: worshipping Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by staying in the mosque for what? For the obedience of Allah.
I ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to grant us and you a share of this month, and a share of the Night of Decree, and to employ us in His obedience and protect us from His disobedience.
The questioner : He says: What about the full ritual bath for the one observing i'tikaf after Maghrib?
The Shaykh : The full ritual bath after Maghrib is not from the Sunnah. What was known among the Salaf regarding the full ritual bath was to energize themselves for standing in prayer. It is not intended for its own sake. Based on this: in the days of winter, a person does not need energizing, because the weather is cold and laziness is little. And in days other than winter, as well, regarding our current time, there are stimulants other than the full ritual bath, such as coffee, tea, juice, and the like. Yes. That is the last thing.
The Shaykh : Yes, we will take them one by one. The last ten days are undoubtedly the best part of Ramadan, because the Night of Decree is in them, either on the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh, or twenty-ninth. These odd-numbered nights are the most likely. It is also possible that it is on the twenty-second, twenty-fourth, twenty-sixth, twenty-eighth, or thirtieth. The most likely of the odd-numbered nights is the twenty-seventh. However, the twenty-seventh night, or indeed the Night of Decree in general, is not singled out for anything except the emphasis on standing in night prayer, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever stands in prayer on the Night of Decree with faith and seeking reward, Allah will forgive him what has passed of his sins.
من قام ليلة القدر إيماناً واحتساباً غفر الله له ما تقدم من ذنبهFirst: The twenty-seventh night is not the Night of Decree, as the Night of Decree coincided with the twenty-first night during the time of the Messenger.
Second: Even if it were established that it is the Night of Decree—and it will not be established, except by what is observed of signs and circumstances, which is possible but not certain—it is not to be singled out except for what the Lawgiver has singled out, which is standing in prayer. There is no increased reward for charity in it, nor for the lesser pilgrimage in it. This is an important issue.
As for the issue of i'tikaf, a person enters i'tikaf when the sun sets on the twentieth day—that is, from the beginning of the night of the twenty-first—and it ends with the setting of the sun on the last day of Ramadan, whether it is the twenty-ninth or the thirtieth. He leaves for his home, and there is no need to remain in the mosque until he goes out for the 'Id prayer, for although some scholars have said this, there is no evidence for it. Also, the one observing i'tikaf leaves, like others, in the most beautiful and best clothing, not as some have said: he leaves in the clothes he is wearing, claiming they are a trace of his worship, like leaving the blood of a martyr on him. We say: clothes are not a trace of i'tikaf; i'tikaf does not change anything about the clothing. Likewise, it is recommended for the one observing i'tikaf, since he has observed i'tikaf and confined himself to the mosque, to spend his time in the obedience of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such as reading, dhikr, and prayer, other than in the times of prohibition, and other acts of nearness to Allah. And he should not make this place—I mean the mosque—a place of visitation that his friends, relatives, and others visit from one conversation to another, from one coffee shop to another "and perhaps from one gathering to another" Yes? And the like of that. This is an error. I'tikaf: staying in the mosque, or more accurately: worshipping Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by staying in the mosque for what? For the obedience of Allah.
I ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to grant us and you a share of this month, and a share of the Night of Decree, and to employ us in His obedience and protect us from His disobedience.
The questioner : He says: What about the full ritual bath for the one observing i'tikaf after Maghrib?
The Shaykh : The full ritual bath after Maghrib is not from the Sunnah. What was known among the Salaf regarding the full ritual bath was to energize themselves for standing in prayer. It is not intended for its own sake. Based on this: in the days of winter, a person does not need energizing, because the weather is cold and laziness is little. And in days other than winter, as well, regarding our current time, there are stimulants other than the full ritual bath, such as coffee, tea, juice, and the like. Yes. That is the last thing.