The questioner says: I know that i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not permissible except in a congregational mosque, but I am blind, and there is no mosque near our home, nor do the distant mosques have a designated area for women.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : I know that i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not permissible except in a congregational mosque, but I am blind, and there is no mosque near our home, nor do the distant mosques have a designated area for women. Is it permissible for me to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) at home, given that nothing at home distracts me from worship?
The Shaykh : Devoting yourself to worship in your home, provided it does not distract you from what is more important and beneficial than these acts of worship, is permissible. However, it is not the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) prescribed by the Shari'ah, because the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) prescribed by the Shari'ah must be in a mosque. As Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:187] Therefore, i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is only valid in a mosque where the congregation is held. You do not have a mosque in your home where the congregation is held. But it is sufficient for you to devote yourself to worship, such as dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), reciting the Qur'an, praying, and other things that bring one closer to Allah.
The questioner : Yes, so a woman may be restricted in this matter, because it is not easy for a woman to stay in the mosque, and she might stay in the mosque without a mahram (a relative one may not marry)?
The Shaykh : No, there is no restriction, because she is not obligated to do it.
The questioner : I mean, she is not required to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque)?
The Shaykh : I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not obligatory, so we do not say that it falls under the category of being commanded to do what is beyond one's capacity.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, there are many other acts of worship besides it.
The questioner : But does she not perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the mosque of her home?
The Shaykh : It is not valid; it is not permissible to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the mosque of her home.
The questioner : She also says...
The Shaykh : But I told you there is no harm in devoting yourself to worship.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This means she stays in the mosque of her home, remembers Allah, reads, and glorifies Allah, on the condition that it does not distract her from other acts of worship that are more important. Because some people may limit themselves to these lesser acts of worship and leave behind things more important than them. The believing person moves between what is most obedient to Allah and most pleasing to Him. Look at the state of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): he would stand in prayer until it was said he does not sleep, and he would fast until it was said he does not break his fast, and he would break his fast until it was said he does not fast, and he would sleep until it was said he does not stand. This means that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) looked at what was most beneficial, and every situation has its own place.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : In fact, she has a second question, and although she may have other questions, we must start with this one, but...
The Shaykh : Devoting yourself to worship in your home, provided it does not distract you from what is more important and beneficial than these acts of worship, is permissible. However, it is not the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) prescribed by the Shari'ah, because the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) prescribed by the Shari'ah must be in a mosque. As Allah the Exalted said:
as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques
وأنتم عاكفون في المساجدThe questioner : Yes, so a woman may be restricted in this matter, because it is not easy for a woman to stay in the mosque, and she might stay in the mosque without a mahram (a relative one may not marry)?
The Shaykh : No, there is no restriction, because she is not obligated to do it.
The questioner : I mean, she is not required to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque)?
The Shaykh : I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not obligatory, so we do not say that it falls under the category of being commanded to do what is beyond one's capacity.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, there are many other acts of worship besides it.
The questioner : But does she not perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the mosque of her home?
The Shaykh : It is not valid; it is not permissible to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the mosque of her home.
The questioner : She also says...
The Shaykh : But I told you there is no harm in devoting yourself to worship.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This means she stays in the mosque of her home, remembers Allah, reads, and glorifies Allah, on the condition that it does not distract her from other acts of worship that are more important. Because some people may limit themselves to these lesser acts of worship and leave behind things more important than them. The believing person moves between what is most obedient to Allah and most pleasing to Him. Look at the state of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): he would stand in prayer until it was said he does not sleep, and he would fast until it was said he does not break his fast, and he would break his fast until it was said he does not fast, and he would sleep until it was said he does not stand. This means that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) looked at what was most beneficial, and every situation has its own place.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : In fact, she has a second question, and although she may have other questions, we must start with this one, but...