What is i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) and does it have a specific time?
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Question:
He is asking about i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), its timing, and how it is performed?
Answer:
I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is a recommended practice (sunnah). It involves staying in the mosque for the worship of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to devote oneself to worship, whether at night or during the day, for an hour or a day, or a night or several nights or days. It is a recommended practice (sunnah), as Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Baqarah: 187].
It is established that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the last ten days of Ramadan. In some years, he left it off for certain reasons and performed it in the first ten days of Shawwal. It is a recommended practice (sunnah), and it is better in Ramadan, and it is better in the last ten days.
If one performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in a month other than Ramadan, such as Shawwal, Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, or any other month, there is nothing wrong with it. It is an absolute recommended practice (sunnah) at all times, but specifically in the mosques where the congregation (jama'ah) is held. If a Friday passes during the period, meaning the duration is more than a week, it is better for it to be in a mosque where Friday prayer is held. It is better for the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) to be in a mosque where Friday prayer is held so that one does not need to go out for it. If one performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in another mosque where there is no Friday prayer, there is nothing wrong with it; when Friday comes, he goes out for it. So, the one performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) intends by his worship the Face of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) , and devoting oneself to worship and intimacy with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) .
For this reason, some of them said: I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is cutting off ties with all creation to connect with the service of the Creator. And the summary is: it is devoting oneself to worship, remembrance, supplication, and worship in the mosque. There is nothing wrong with his family visiting him, just as they used to visit the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). There is nothing wrong with some of his brothers visiting him, but his intention is to devote himself to worship, such as prayer, recitation, seeking forgiveness, and supplication... and the like.
It has no limited limit, even if it is only an hour of time. Fasting is not a condition for it. If one performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) while not fasting, there is nothing wrong with it according to the correct opinion. Some scholars said: It must be while fasting, but this is not the stronger position. This came from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: "There is no i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) except with fasting." And it came from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "There is no fasting required for the one performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) unless he makes it upon himself" — meaning: unless he vows it. The point is that this is not a condition, and this is the correct view, because: acts of worship are based on specific texts, so nothing is required in them except what the Lawgiver has required, except what came from Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And there is nothing in the evidence that indicates the obligation of fasting for i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque).
So the correct view is: there is nothing wrong with performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) even if one is not fasting, and there is nothing wrong with it being at night or during the day. It is established that 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said:Sahih Muslim 1656a, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: , and night is not a place for fasting.
He is asking about i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), its timing, and how it is performed?
Answer:
I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is a recommended practice (sunnah). It involves staying in the mosque for the worship of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to devote oneself to worship, whether at night or during the day, for an hour or a day, or a night or several nights or days. It is a recommended practice (sunnah), as Allah the Exalted said:
And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques
وَلا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِIt is established that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the last ten days of Ramadan. In some years, he left it off for certain reasons and performed it in the first ten days of Shawwal. It is a recommended practice (sunnah), and it is better in Ramadan, and it is better in the last ten days.
If one performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in a month other than Ramadan, such as Shawwal, Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, or any other month, there is nothing wrong with it. It is an absolute recommended practice (sunnah) at all times, but specifically in the mosques where the congregation (jama'ah) is held. If a Friday passes during the period, meaning the duration is more than a week, it is better for it to be in a mosque where Friday prayer is held. It is better for the i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) to be in a mosque where Friday prayer is held so that one does not need to go out for it. If one performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in another mosque where there is no Friday prayer, there is nothing wrong with it; when Friday comes, he goes out for it. So, the one performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) intends by his worship the Face of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) , and devoting oneself to worship and intimacy with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) .
For this reason, some of them said: I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is cutting off ties with all creation to connect with the service of the Creator. And the summary is: it is devoting oneself to worship, remembrance, supplication, and worship in the mosque. There is nothing wrong with his family visiting him, just as they used to visit the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). There is nothing wrong with some of his brothers visiting him, but his intention is to devote himself to worship, such as prayer, recitation, seeking forgiveness, and supplication... and the like.
It has no limited limit, even if it is only an hour of time. Fasting is not a condition for it. If one performs i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) while not fasting, there is nothing wrong with it according to the correct opinion. Some scholars said: It must be while fasting, but this is not the stronger position. This came from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: "There is no i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) except with fasting." And it came from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "There is no fasting required for the one performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) unless he makes it upon himself" — meaning: unless he vows it. The point is that this is not a condition, and this is the correct view, because: acts of worship are based on specific texts, so nothing is required in them except what the Lawgiver has required, except what came from Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And there is nothing in the evidence that indicates the obligation of fasting for i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque).
So the correct view is: there is nothing wrong with performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) even if one is not fasting, and there is nothing wrong with it being at night or during the day. It is established that 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said:
I had taken a vow during the days of Ignorance (Jahiliyya) that I would observe I'tikaf for a night in the Sacred Mosque. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Fulfil your vow.
إني نذرت في الجاهلية أن أعتكف ليلة في المسجد الحرام، فقال له: أوف بنذركFulfill your vow
أوف بنذرك
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.