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The meaning of 'I'tikaaf' is to seclude oneself in the Mosque, with
the express intention (Niyyat)of 'I'tikaaf'. According to the Hanafi
school of thought, this may be of three different types:
a) Waajib I'tikaaf (Obligatory I'tikaaf)
I'tikaaf becomes compulsory when a person makes it obligatory upon
himself. For example, when a person makes a vow to Allah Azza wa Jal
that if Allah Azza wa Jal fulfils a certain wish of his, he shall
perform so many days 'I'tikaaf', in this case, the moment his wish
is fulfilled, the I'tikaaf becomes compulsory. Or a person may just
make an unconditional vow, whereby he makes I'tikaaf Waajib upon
himself for a certain number of days; this becomes obligatory for
him from that moment onwards.
b) Sunnat I'tikaaf
This was the general practice of the Holy Prophet sallalahu alayhi
wasallam. It means to seclude oneself in the Masjid for the last ten
days of Ramadhaan.
c) Nafl I'tikaaf
For the third category i.e. Nafl I'tikaaf, no special time and no
specific number of days are fixed. A person may make a Niyyah
(intention) for any number of days at any time, even for his whole
life.
While Imaam Abu Hanifa states that I'tikaaf must be for not less
than a full day, Imaam Muhammad RadiAllahu Unhu states that there is
no limit as to the minimum period of time. The 'Fatwa'confirms this
latter view. Therefore, it is desirable for anyone entering a Masjid
to make the 'Niyyah' (intention) of I'tikaaf for the period that he
will remain in the Masjid; so that, while he is in Ibaadah, he also
earns the reward of I'tikaaf.
OBJECTS OF I'TIKAAF AND ITS ADVANTAGES
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In view of the above, it is advisable that everyone entering the
Masjid to join the congregational prayer should, on entering the
Masjid, make the Niyyat for 'I'tikaaf', in thatcase it means that
aslong as he remain busy with Salaat, Zikr, listening to lectures or
sermons he also receive reward for the I'tikaaf. I always observed
that my late father used to make 'Niyyat' for I'tikaaf whenever he
entered the Masjid. Occasionally, by way of teaching and reminding
his followers, he would raise his voice when reciting the words for
'Niyyah'. The reward for I'tikaaf is great as indicated by the fact
that the Holy Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam always used to
perform I'tikaaf. The example of him who resides in the Masjid in
I'tikaaf is that of a person who, having gone to a certain place to
appeal for something, remains there until it is granted. When
someone comes begging at our door and then refuses to leave until he
has be! en granted his request. I am sure that even the person with
the hardest heart amongst us will eventually give in to his request.
How much more Merciful is Allah Azza wa Jal, and when someone
persistently sits at His door, what doubt can there be in the
fulfilment of his wishes. Allama ibn Qayyim, in explaining the
significance of I'tikaaf writes that the actual aim is to divert the
heart away from everything except Allah Azza wa Jal, and to make one
come closer to Allah Azza wa Jal, thereby forming a complete
spiritual connection with the Creator. All wordly connections are
thus cut off, for the sake of gaining Allah Azza wa Jal 's attention
and all thoughts, desires, love and devotion become centred around
Him. As a result, an attachment with Allah Azza wa Jal is attained -
a love and friendship that will be the only support in loneliness of
the grave. One can possibly imagine the great ecstacy with which
that time in the grave will be spent.
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In Maraaiqul Falaah, the author writes that I'tikaaf, when properly
and sincerely performed, is among the most virtuous deeds. One
cannot possibly enumerate all the great advantages and benefits in
it. In actual fact, what takes place in I'tikaaf is that the heart
is drawn away from everything else except the Creator, while the
soul is actually laidat His door-step. All the time, one remains in
a state of 'Ibaadah', even when one is asleep, one is still in His
worship striving for nearness to Him. And Allah Azza wa Jal says
(according to a Hadith): "Whoever draws near to Me (the length of)
one hand, then I draw nearer to him (the length of) two hands, and
whoever draws near to Me by walking, I draw nearer to him by
running." Moreover, in I'tikaaf one seeks refuge in the house of
Allah Azza wa Jal, and is safe therein from all enemies.
WHERE TO PERFORM I'TIKAAF
The best of places for I'tikaaf is the Masjidul Haram in Makkah.
The next besi is the Masjidun-Nabawiy in Madinah, and the next best
is Baytul Muqaddas. Thereafter, comes the Jaama Masjid in one's own
town, and last but not least, the Masjid nearest to one's home.
Imaam Abu Hanifa stipulates that the Masjid should be one wherein
the five daily Salaatare regularly performed, while Imaam Abu Yusuf
and Imaam Muhammad agree that any Masjid acceptable to the Shari'ah
can be entered for I'tikaaf.
The above applies to the males. As for the females, they should
perform It'ikaaf in the prayer room (Masjid set aside in their
homes). Where, however, no such demarcated place exists, any one
room or part of the house should be set aside for this purpose.
I'tikaaf is thus in fact an easier task for women. The domestic
duties can be performed by daughters or servants under her
supervision and the woman in I'tikaaf, while remaining in a section
of her own house, is spiritually rewarded for it. It is so very
unfortunate that, in spite of this relative ease, our womenfolk
still remain deprived of the blessings of I'tikaaf.
Lailatul Qadr : The Night of Power
Qadr means honour and dignity. Lailatul Qadr means the night of
honour and dignity. Thus this night has been named Lailatul Qadr.
This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely
to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadaan
and most likely to be the 27th. The reward of worship on this night
is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship,
equivalent to a person's lifetime. So, on this night one should pray
nafil namaz, recite the Quran, recite Darood , Tasbih, Zikr, Duas,
etc as much as possible.
Every year in the month of Ramadaan, this night is given to the
Ummah. Muslims engage in prayers, recitation of Quran and praying to
Allah, as the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said: "The person
who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and
with hope of reward from Allah , all his past sins have been
forgiven." (Bukhaari)
As the rainy season is suitable for farming, similarly for the
attainment of nearness to Allah Azza wa Jal, specific times ,
specific days and specific nights are most suitable, e.g. the time
of Tahajjud prayers, Friday prayers, month of Ramadaan, the Day of
Arafah, etc. So also the Night of Power is the most suitable night
for attaining nearness to Allah Azza wa Jal.
In the Hadeeth, we have been asked to seek it in the last ten nights
of the month of Ramadaan. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa
narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wasallam has
said, 'Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten
days of Ramadaan'.(Bukhaari).
By odd nights, the reference is made to the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th,
29th night of the month of Ramadaan. No one night has been fixed so
that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more
nights in worshipping Allah. From this aspect, the importance of `Itikaaf
(seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadaan is clear.
Lailatul Qadr : The Night of Power
Qadr means honour and dignity. Lailatul Qadr means the night of
honour and dignity. Thus this night has been named Lailatul Qadr.
This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely
to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadaan
and most likely to be the 27th. The reward of worship on this night
is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship,
equivalent to a person's lifetime. So, on this night one should pray
nafil namaz, recite the Quran, recite Darood , Tasbih, Zikr, Duas,
etc as much as possible.
Every year in the month of Ramadaan, this night is given to the
Ummah. Muslims engage in prayers, recitation of Quran and praying to
Allah, as the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said: "The person
who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and
with hope of reward from Allah , all his past sins have been
forgiven." (Bukhaari)
As the rainy season is suitable for farming, similarly for the
attainment of nearness to Allah Azza wa Jal, specific times ,
specific days and specific nights are most suitable, e.g. the time
of Tahajjud prayers, Friday prayers, month of Ramadaan, the Day of
Arafah, etc. So also the Night of Power is the most suitable night
for attaining nearness to Allah Azza wa Jal.
In the Hadeeth, we have been asked to seek it in the last ten nights
of the month of Ramadaan. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa
narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wasallam has
said, 'Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten
days of Ramadaan'.(Bukhaari).
By odd nights, the reference is made to the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th,
29th night of the month of Ramadaan. No one night has been fixed so
that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more
nights in worshipping Allah. From this aspect, the importance of `Itikaaf
(seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadaan is clear.
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