It is prescribed to perform i'tikaf in any mosque where the congregational prayer is held, with an explanation of the time it begins.
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The Shaykh : As for its rulings, i'tikaf is not valid except in a mosque where the congregational prayer is held. It is not valid except in a mosque where the congregational prayer is held, because if one performs i'tikaf in a mosque where the congregational prayer is not held, one of two things must inevitably follow: either one leaves the congregational prayer, or one is not truly in i'tikaf, because one will have to leave the place of i'tikaf to join the congregation. Therefore, it must be in a mosque where the congregational prayer is held.
Now, what about the prayer hall in the office, since some offices have a prayer hall prepared for the midday prayer, for example, or the afternoon prayer? Is i'tikaf valid there? Answer, everyone.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : It is not valid because it is not a mosque where the congregational prayer is held. The best is for it to be in a Jami' (a mosque where the Friday prayer is held); that is the best, so that you are not forced to leave on Friday for the Friday prayer. The i'tikaf that is a recommended practice, my brothers, pay attention to this: the i'tikaf that is a recommended practice is from the night of the twenty-first to the end of the month. It is not for two or three or four days. If you want to truly apply the Sunnah in i'tikaf, you must follow the example of whom? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not i'tikaf for a month of the Ramadans that passed through his life without i'tikafing for at least ten days. The one who is i'tikafing wants to imitate the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him); how can he sit for two days and then leave or wait? And if two days remain, the one in i'tikaf enters? No, this is not correct. This is it, and although it is sufficient according to the opinion of some scholars, the person has not brought forth the Sunnah. My brothers, pay attention to this i'tikaf that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed in all of the last ten days, from the beginning to the end. But if a person enters at the beginning of the ten days intending to i'tikaf for all ten days, but a circumstance arises that obligates him to leave, what do we say? Does he leave or not? He leaves. Now, if he leaves, is the reward for the days he i'tikafed invalidated or not? It is not invalidated because he is excused.
Now, among its rulings, the rulings of i'tikaf are that a person does not leave his place of i'tikaf except for a need. The exit of the one in i'tikaf from his place of i'tikaf is of three categories. I hope you pay attention, everyone. The exit of the one in i'tikaf from his place of i'tikaf is of three categories.
An exit that invalidates in all cases, meaning whether a condition was set or not.
And an exit that is permissible in all cases, meaning whether a condition was set or not.
And an exit that is permissible with a condition but not permissible without a condition.
Brother, brother, sleep has crept into your eyes. Be patient, man. You were staying up a little, weren't you? Yes. Well done for your honesty. We say, sit down. Now, listen, my brother.
Now, what about the prayer hall in the office, since some offices have a prayer hall prepared for the midday prayer, for example, or the afternoon prayer? Is i'tikaf valid there? Answer, everyone.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : It is not valid because it is not a mosque where the congregational prayer is held. The best is for it to be in a Jami' (a mosque where the Friday prayer is held); that is the best, so that you are not forced to leave on Friday for the Friday prayer. The i'tikaf that is a recommended practice, my brothers, pay attention to this: the i'tikaf that is a recommended practice is from the night of the twenty-first to the end of the month. It is not for two or three or four days. If you want to truly apply the Sunnah in i'tikaf, you must follow the example of whom? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not i'tikaf for a month of the Ramadans that passed through his life without i'tikafing for at least ten days. The one who is i'tikafing wants to imitate the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him); how can he sit for two days and then leave or wait? And if two days remain, the one in i'tikaf enters? No, this is not correct. This is it, and although it is sufficient according to the opinion of some scholars, the person has not brought forth the Sunnah. My brothers, pay attention to this i'tikaf that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed in all of the last ten days, from the beginning to the end. But if a person enters at the beginning of the ten days intending to i'tikaf for all ten days, but a circumstance arises that obligates him to leave, what do we say? Does he leave or not? He leaves. Now, if he leaves, is the reward for the days he i'tikafed invalidated or not? It is not invalidated because he is excused.
Now, among its rulings, the rulings of i'tikaf are that a person does not leave his place of i'tikaf except for a need. The exit of the one in i'tikaf from his place of i'tikaf is of three categories. I hope you pay attention, everyone. The exit of the one in i'tikaf from his place of i'tikaf is of three categories.
An exit that invalidates in all cases, meaning whether a condition was set or not.
And an exit that is permissible in all cases, meaning whether a condition was set or not.
And an exit that is permissible with a condition but not permissible without a condition.
Brother, brother, sleep has crept into your eyes. Be patient, man. You were staying up a little, weren't you? Yes. Well done for your honesty. We say, sit down. Now, listen, my brother.