I'tikaf and Some of Its Rulings
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Question:
A message was received by the program from one of the female listeners, saying: Your sister, the one in need of Allah (S. A. A.), Umm Abdullah. Our sister Umm Abdullah has a number of questions. In her first question, she asks: What is i'tikaf?
And if a person wants to perform i'tikaf, what must he do and what must he refrain from? And is it permissible for a woman to perform i'tikaf in the Sacred Mosque, and how is that done?
Answer:
I'tikaf is an act of worship and a recommended practice, and it is best performed in Ramadan in any mosque where the congregation is held, as Allah the Exalted said: [al-Baqarah:187]. There is no objection to performing i'tikaf in the Sacred Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque for both men and women, provided it does not harm the worshippers or annoy anyone; in that case, there is nothing wrong with it.
He is a person in i'tikaf, and it is obligatory for the one in i'tikaf to remain in the mosque, engaging in the remembrance of Allah and worship. He does not leave except for a human need, such as urination or defecation, or for the need of food if it is not easy for someone to bring him food, in which case he leaves for his need. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to leave for his need.
It is not permissible for a woman's husband to have intercourse with her while she is in i'tikaf, and likewise, the man in i'tikaf is not permitted to have intercourse with his wife while he is in i'tikaf; because Allah said: [al-Baqarah:187]. It is better for him not to talk much with people, but rather to engage in worship and obedience. However, if some of his brothers visit him, or if some of her mahrams or some of her sisters in Allah visit the woman and she talks with them, there is nothing wrong with it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to be visited by his wives while he was in i'tikaf, and he would talk with them, and then they would leave; there is no blame in that.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So, i'tikaf is remaining in a mosque?
The Shaykh: Remaining in a mosque for the obedience of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), whether for a short time or a long time. It is not limited to one day or two days; it has no fixed limit, neither in the minimum nor the maximum, according to the correct opinion.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and it is prescribed as you have mentioned.
The Shaykh: It is a prescribed act of worship, except if he makes a vow to do it, in which case it becomes obligatory by the vow.
The presenter: And it is the same for the man and the woman.
The Shaykh: And for the woman as well, yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh: And it is not a condition that he fast with it, according to the correct opinion. If a man performs i'tikaf while not fasting, there is nothing wrong with it, yes, in other than Ramadan, I mean.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A message was received by the program from one of the female listeners, saying: Your sister, the one in need of Allah (S. A. A.), Umm Abdullah. Our sister Umm Abdullah has a number of questions. In her first question, she asks: What is i'tikaf?
And if a person wants to perform i'tikaf, what must he do and what must he refrain from? And is it permissible for a woman to perform i'tikaf in the Sacred Mosque, and how is that done?
Answer:
I'tikaf is an act of worship and a recommended practice, and it is best performed in Ramadan in any mosque where the congregation is held, 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 الْمَسَاجِدِHe is a person in i'tikaf, and it is obligatory for the one in i'tikaf to remain in the mosque, engaging in the remembrance of Allah and worship. He does not leave except for a human need, such as urination or defecation, or for the need of food if it is not easy for someone to bring him food, in which case he leaves for his need. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to leave for his need.
It is not permissible for a woman's husband to have intercourse with her while she is in i'tikaf, and likewise, the man in i'tikaf is not permitted to have intercourse with his wife while he is in i'tikaf; because Allah said:
And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques
وَلا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So, i'tikaf is remaining in a mosque?
The Shaykh: Remaining in a mosque for the obedience of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), whether for a short time or a long time. It is not limited to one day or two days; it has no fixed limit, neither in the minimum nor the maximum, according to the correct opinion.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and it is prescribed as you have mentioned.
The Shaykh: It is a prescribed act of worship, except if he makes a vow to do it, in which case it becomes obligatory by the vow.
The presenter: And it is the same for the man and the woman.
The Shaykh: And for the woman as well, yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh: And it is not a condition that he fast with it, according to the correct opinion. If a man performs i'tikaf while not fasting, there is nothing wrong with it, yes, in other than Ramadan, I mean.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.