Are there any hadiths encouraging i'tikaf in Ramadan, and are there specific conditions for the person performing i'tikaf?
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The questioner : Are there any hadiths from the noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraging i'tikaf in Ramadan? And are there specific conditions for the person performing i'tikaf?
The Shaykh : Yes, there are hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicating the encouragement of i'tikaf in Ramadan. Allah the Exalted also referred to i'tikaf in His Book, saying:[Al-Baqarah 2:187] I'tikaf is when a person stays in one of the mosques to engage in the obedience of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), occupying himself with reading the Qur'an, the remembrance of Allah, prayer, and other such acts. I'tikaf is not as some people do it, where they remain in the mosque and their companions come to them, constantly occupying them with idle talk that has no benefit, which may even be forbidden talk involving backbiting. The principle of i'tikaf is that the person should be cut off from people in one of the houses of Allah to worship Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, there is no harm in speaking briefly with some of his companions or one of his family members, provided the conversation is not long and does not distract him from the purpose for which he is performing i'tikaf. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform i'tikaf in Ramadan seeking the Night of Decree, and his wives performed i'tikaf after him. This is evidence that this recommended practice (sunnah) remains and has not been abrogated.
One of the most important conditions of i'tikaf is that the person remains in the mosque and does not leave it except for a dire necessity. The scholars have divided the exit of the person performing i'tikaf into two, or rather three, categories: a category where it is permissible without a condition, a category where it is permissible with a condition, and a category where it is not permissible with or without a condition.
As for what is permissible without a condition, it is for the person to leave for what is absolutely necessary, such as leaving to relieve himself of urine or feces if there is no place in the mosque to do so, or leaving for food or drink if no one brings it to him. As for what is permissible with a condition, it is like if he conditions that if his sick relative dies, he may accompany his funeral, or if he conditions that he may visit a sick person, or the like of these things for which he leaves while he is in the obedience of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because these are acts of worship that do not conflict with i'tikaf. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Suba'ah bint al-Zubayr, who wanted to perform Hajj while she was sick, (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan an-Nasa'i 2766Hasan (Darussalam)
As for the third category, which is leaving that is not permissible with or without a condition, it is for the person to leave for a matter that conflicts with i'tikaf, such as leaving to buy and sell, or leaving to enjoy the company of his family, or the like of these matters that conflict with i'tikaf. It is not permissible to leave for these with or without a condition.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh Muhammad. The listener is Abdullah Fahmi Abd al-Rahim from the Arab Republic of Egypt, working in the Holy City of Madinah.
The Shaykh : Yes, there are hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicating the encouragement of i'tikaf in Ramadan. Allah the Exalted also referred to i'tikaf in His Book, saying:
And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques
وَلا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِOne of the most important conditions of i'tikaf is that the person remains in the mosque and does not leave it except for a dire necessity. The scholars have divided the exit of the person performing i'tikaf into two, or rather three, categories: a category where it is permissible without a condition, a category where it is permissible with a condition, and a category where it is not permissible with or without a condition.
As for what is permissible without a condition, it is for the person to leave for what is absolutely necessary, such as leaving to relieve himself of urine or feces if there is no place in the mosque to do so, or leaving for food or drink if no one brings it to him. As for what is permissible with a condition, it is like if he conditions that if his sick relative dies, he may accompany his funeral, or if he conditions that he may visit a sick person, or the like of these things for which he leaves while he is in the obedience of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because these are acts of worship that do not conflict with i'tikaf. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Suba'ah bint al-Zubayr, who wanted to perform Hajj while she was sick, (peace and blessings be upon him):
And whatever condition you stipulate will be accepted by your Lord.
حجي واشترطي، فإن لك على ربك ما استثنيتيAs for the third category, which is leaving that is not permissible with or without a condition, it is for the person to leave for a matter that conflicts with i'tikaf, such as leaving to buy and sell, or leaving to enjoy the company of his family, or the like of these matters that conflict with i'tikaf. It is not permissible to leave for these with or without a condition.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh Muhammad. The listener is Abdullah Fahmi Abd al-Rahim from the Arab Republic of Egypt, working in the Holy City of Madinah.