A Response to Those Who Say: There Is No I'tikaf Except in the Three Mosques
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What is your opinion regarding the statement of some scholars: That there is no i'tikaf except in the three mosques: in al-Haram, al-Masjid al-Nabawi, and al-Masjid al-Aqsa. Is there evidence for this, and is this statement correct?
This is one instance of the issue I mentioned to you a moment ago, which is: looking at some texts while ignoring others. This is the cause.First: As you know, the hadith where Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Hudhayfah: [Perhaps they memorized and then forgot] meaning: it is as if Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) criticized the understanding of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Second: That there is no i'tikaf means: there is no complete i'tikaf, just as in the saying: (There is no prayer in the presence of food) meaning: there is no complete prayer.
Third: How can Allah the Mighty and Majestic say: [al-Baqarah: 187] This is an address to the Ummah, and then we say: this great Quranic address is restricted to three places on the face of the earth. Which is greater: the number of people who perform i'tikaf in the three mosques, or in other places? Yes.
The second, without a doubt. How can we apply the verse to a specific case when it is general for all people? This is a mistaken understanding. Even if some of the previous scholars said it, from each one we take and we leave. So, i'tikaf is prescribed in every mosque.
This is one instance of the issue I mentioned to you a moment ago, which is: looking at some texts while ignoring others. This is the cause.First: As you know, the hadith where Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Hudhayfah: [Perhaps they memorized and then forgot] meaning: it is as if Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) criticized the understanding of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Second: That there is no i'tikaf means: there is no complete i'tikaf, just as in the saying: (There is no prayer in the presence of food) meaning: there is no complete prayer.
Third: How can Allah the Mighty and Majestic say:
And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques
وَلا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِThe second, without a doubt. How can we apply the verse to a specific case when it is general for all people? This is a mistaken understanding. Even if some of the previous scholars said it, from each one we take and we leave. So, i'tikaf is prescribed in every mosque.