A woman asks: I am in i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) and I was looking for a sister of mine whom I love for the sake of Allah. I had been hoping to see her for years, and today Allah willed that I saw her.
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The questioner : A woman asks: I am in i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) and I was looking for a sister of mine whom I love for the sake of Allah. I had been hoping to see her for years, and today Allah willed that I saw her sisters, and they want to take me to her house to see her. If I do not see her today, I may not be able to see her easily afterwards. She cannot come to the mosque because of menstruation. Please answer me now. Is my leaving the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) to see her considered a dire necessity?
The Shaykh : First, we must know that the recommended i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is recommended in its specific form. This means that if a person invalidates it without any excuse, there is no sin on him. Now, the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) of the last ten days is a recommended practice (sunnah), without doubt. But if a person leaves the mosque and invalidates the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), he owes nothing, because it is a recommended practice (sunnah), and it is permissible for a person to leave a recommended practice (sunnah) even without an excuse. However, he should not leave it without an excuse. As for this woman who says she loves to meet a sister of hers for the sake of Allah, but that is not possible for her unless she leaves the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), we tell her: the best is to remain in your i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque). And if you leave, there is no blame on you, but the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) becomes invalid, because leaving for other than a dire necessity invalidates the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque).
Be patient, my brother. As for the competition, my brothers, it will be, if Allah wills, the reading of the answers and the distribution of prizes in the Fajr (the dawn prayer) lesson, if Allah wills. And success is from Allah.
The Shaykh : First, we must know that the recommended i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is recommended in its specific form. This means that if a person invalidates it without any excuse, there is no sin on him. Now, the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) of the last ten days is a recommended practice (sunnah), without doubt. But if a person leaves the mosque and invalidates the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), he owes nothing, because it is a recommended practice (sunnah), and it is permissible for a person to leave a recommended practice (sunnah) even without an excuse. However, he should not leave it without an excuse. As for this woman who says she loves to meet a sister of hers for the sake of Allah, but that is not possible for her unless she leaves the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), we tell her: the best is to remain in your i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque). And if you leave, there is no blame on you, but the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) becomes invalid, because leaving for other than a dire necessity invalidates the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque).
Be patient, my brother. As for the competition, my brothers, it will be, if Allah wills, the reading of the answers and the distribution of prizes in the Fajr (the dawn prayer) lesson, if Allah wills. And success is from Allah.