The Place, Time, and Ruling on Breaking I'tikaf
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Question: What is the ruling on i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) for men and women? Is fasting a condition for it? What should the person in i'tikaf occupy himself with? When does he enter his place of i'tikaf, and when does he leave it?
Answer: I'tikaf is a recommended practice (sunnah) for men and women; for it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to perform i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, and some of his wives used to perform i'tikaf with him, and they continued to do so after him (peace and blessings be upon him).
The place for i'tikaf is the mosques where congregational prayer is held. If his i'tikaf includes a Friday, it is better for his i'tikaf to be in the main mosque (masjid al-jami') if that is feasible.
There is no specific limit to its time according to the most correct opinion of the scholars, and fasting is not a condition for it, but it is better with fasting.
The recommended practice (sunnah) is for him to enter his place of i'tikaf when he makes the intention, and to leave after the period he intended has passed. He may break it if there is a need to do so; because i'tikaf is a recommended practice (sunnah) and does not become obligatory by starting it, unless it was vowed.
It is recommended to perform i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
It is recommended for the one who performs i'tikaf in these days to enter his place of i'tikaf after the Fajr prayer on the twenty-first day, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and to leave when the ten days end. If he breaks it, there is no blame on him, unless it was vowed, as mentioned earlier.
It is better for him to choose a specific place in the mosque where he can rest, if that is feasible. It is prescribed (mashru') for the person in i'tikaf to increase in the remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Qur'an, seeking forgiveness, supplication, and prayer, except during the prohibited times.
There is no harm in some of his companions visiting him and talking with him, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was visited by some of his wives, and they would talk with him.
Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) visited him once while he was in i'tikaf in Ramadan. When she stood up to leave, he stood up with her to the door of the mosque, which indicates that there is no harm in that. This action of his (peace and blessings be upon him) indicates the perfection of his humility and the goodness of his conduct with his wives. May the best of prayers and peace be upon him from his Lord.
And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence.
Answer: I'tikaf is a recommended practice (sunnah) for men and women; for it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to perform i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, and some of his wives used to perform i'tikaf with him, and they continued to do so after him (peace and blessings be upon him).
The place for i'tikaf is the mosques where congregational prayer is held. If his i'tikaf includes a Friday, it is better for his i'tikaf to be in the main mosque (masjid al-jami') if that is feasible.
There is no specific limit to its time according to the most correct opinion of the scholars, and fasting is not a condition for it, but it is better with fasting.
The recommended practice (sunnah) is for him to enter his place of i'tikaf when he makes the intention, and to leave after the period he intended has passed. He may break it if there is a need to do so; because i'tikaf is a recommended practice (sunnah) and does not become obligatory by starting it, unless it was vowed.
It is recommended to perform i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
It is recommended for the one who performs i'tikaf in these days to enter his place of i'tikaf after the Fajr prayer on the twenty-first day, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and to leave when the ten days end. If he breaks it, there is no blame on him, unless it was vowed, as mentioned earlier.
It is better for him to choose a specific place in the mosque where he can rest, if that is feasible. It is prescribed (mashru') for the person in i'tikaf to increase in the remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Qur'an, seeking forgiveness, supplication, and prayer, except during the prohibited times.
There is no harm in some of his companions visiting him and talking with him, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was visited by some of his wives, and they would talk with him.
Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) visited him once while he was in i'tikaf in Ramadan. When she stood up to leave, he stood up with her to the door of the mosque, which indicates that there is no harm in that. This action of his (peace and blessings be upon him) indicates the perfection of his humility and the goodness of his conduct with his wives. May the best of prayers and peace be upon him from his Lord.
And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.