Is it better for a woman to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Haram or al-Masjid al-Nabawi, or is it better not to perform i'tikaf?
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The questioner : Is it better for a woman to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Haram or al-Masjid al-Nabawi, or is it better not to perform i'tikaf?
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with a woman performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Haram, al-Masjid al-Nabawi, or any other mosque, provided that there is no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). The reality of the two noble mosques, al-Masjid al-Haram and al-Masjid al-Nabawi, is that it is better for a woman not to perform i'tikaf there, because she cannot secure a private space for herself, unlike the situation in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when a woman could set up a tent for herself in the mosque and stay in it. However, this is not possible in the present time. Consequently, her i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) may result in evil, calamity, and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that should not occur in the two mosques. A woman might sleep in her place, and people would pass by her as they go and return. She might also become exposed, because some people do not realize what is happening to them when they sleep, and in fact, most people are like that. Therefore, we see that it is not befitting for a woman to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the mosques. Yes, if it were assumed that there are mosques other than the two Holy Mosques that have special areas for women, and a woman wanted to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) there, there is nothing wrong with it, but on the condition that she does not neglect the affairs of her home, her husband, and her children, because attending to her home, her husband, and her children is more important than performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the mosque. It is better for her because she is fulfilling an obligation, whereas i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not obligatory. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with a woman performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Haram, al-Masjid al-Nabawi, or any other mosque, provided that there is no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). The reality of the two noble mosques, al-Masjid al-Haram and al-Masjid al-Nabawi, is that it is better for a woman not to perform i'tikaf there, because she cannot secure a private space for herself, unlike the situation in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when a woman could set up a tent for herself in the mosque and stay in it. However, this is not possible in the present time. Consequently, her i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) may result in evil, calamity, and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) that should not occur in the two mosques. A woman might sleep in her place, and people would pass by her as they go and return. She might also become exposed, because some people do not realize what is happening to them when they sleep, and in fact, most people are like that. Therefore, we see that it is not befitting for a woman to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the mosques. Yes, if it were assumed that there are mosques other than the two Holy Mosques that have special areas for women, and a woman wanted to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) there, there is nothing wrong with it, but on the condition that she does not neglect the affairs of her home, her husband, and her children, because attending to her home, her husband, and her children is more important than performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the mosque. It is better for her because she is fulfilling an obligation, whereas i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not obligatory. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.