One who cannot perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) for the last ten days of Ramadan because he is not accustomed to doing so: should he perform part of it? And if my work does not allow me to do so during the ten days...
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The questioner : One who cannot perform i'tikaf for the last ten days of Ramadan because he is not accustomed to doing so: should he perform part of it?
The second question: If my work does not allow me to do so except in the last part of the ten days, am I permitted to perform i'tikaf for the remainder of the ten days?
The Shaykh : Yes, i'tikaf in the last nights of Ramadan, the nights of the ten days, is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory. However, if a person has obligations to his family or his job, fulfilling these obligations may be better than performing i'tikaf.
So here is 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said:Sahih al-Bukhari 3418.
So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called him and said: Did you say that?
He said: Yes.
So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:.
So if a person abandons his obligations to his family and what is required of him toward them in order to perform i'tikaf, this is a deficiency on his part in knowledge, and also a deficiency in wisdom, because fulfilling a person's obligations to his family is better than his performing i'tikaf.
As for the person who is free and has no responsibility, neither from the side of his job nor from the side of his family, then yes, i'tikaf is certainly prescribed for him.
So if he has obligations in the first part of the ten days, but he is free from them in the middle of them, and he wants to perform i'tikaf for the remainder, there is nothing wrong with this, because it falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Taghabun 64:16].
That is, yes.
Is there a second question?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, fine.
The second question: If my work does not allow me to do so except in the last part of the ten days, am I permitted to perform i'tikaf for the remainder of the ten days?
The Shaykh : Yes, i'tikaf in the last nights of Ramadan, the nights of the ten days, is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory. However, if a person has obligations to his family or his job, fulfilling these obligations may be better than performing i'tikaf.
So here is 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said:
By Allah, I will fast all the days and pray all the nights as long as I live
والله لأصومن النهار ولأقومن الليل ماعشتSo the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called him and said: Did you say that?
He said: Yes.
So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Fast and break your fast, and stand in prayer and sleep, for your body has a right over you, and your Lord has a right over you, and your family has a right over you.
صم وأفطر، وقم ونم، فإن لنفسك عليك حقا، ولربك عليك حقا، ولأهلك عليك حقاSo if a person abandons his obligations to his family and what is required of him toward them in order to perform i'tikaf, this is a deficiency on his part in knowledge, and also a deficiency in wisdom, because fulfilling a person's obligations to his family is better than his performing i'tikaf.
As for the person who is free and has no responsibility, neither from the side of his job nor from the side of his family, then yes, i'tikaf is certainly prescribed for him.
So if he has obligations in the first part of the ten days, but he is free from them in the middle of them, and he wants to perform i'tikaf for the remainder, there is nothing wrong with this, because it falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمThat is, yes.
Is there a second question?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, fine.