What is the ruling on i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque)? And in which mosque is it performed?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : What is the ruling on i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the month of Ramadan? Is it obligatory or recommended? And in which mosque is it performed?
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory unless the one who makes the vow has vowed it. As for it in general, it is not obligatory; rather, it is a sunnah (recommended practice). Generally, it is a recommended act, but this recommendation becomes more emphasized in Ramadan, so it is prescribed; however, i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not prescribed except in the three mosques.Sunan Abi Dawud 2473Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) He also said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 326Sahih (Darussalam) and he mentioned them, and they are well known, and praise be to Allah.
The Shaykh : Something else.
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory unless the one who makes the vow has vowed it. As for it in general, it is not obligatory; rather, it is a sunnah (recommended practice). Generally, it is a recommended act, but this recommendation becomes more emphasized in Ramadan, so it is prescribed; however, i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not prescribed except in the three mosques.
there is no i'tikaf except in a congregational mosque.
لا اعتكاف إلا في المساجد الثلاثةA mount is not saddled (for a journey) except to three Masajid
إنما تشد الرحال أو لا تشد الرحال إلا إلى ثلاثة مساجدThe Shaykh : Something else.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.