A comprehensive guide to the procedures for performing i’tikaf in the mosque according to the Sunnah, especially during the last 10 nights of Ramadan. It thoroughly explains the recitation of the intention for i’tikaf, the conditions for validly staying in the mosque, the things that invalidate i’tikaf, and the primary acts of worship to attain the nobility of Laylat al-Qadr according to the Shafi’i school of Islamic jurisprudence.
The worship of i’tikaf is originally established as a highly recommended sunnah (sunnah muakkadah). However, a servant of Allah may oblige this act upon themselves through a verbal commitment, known in Islamic jurisprudence as nadhr (a vow). Once an individual makes a vow to perform i’tikaf, its legal status shifts from sunnah to obligatory (wajib). … Read more
The worship of I’tikaf is a magnificent spiritual practice for drawing closer to Allah the Exalted. The opportunity to attain its immense virtues is not limited to men; it is also widely open to Muslim women. Nevertheless, the Islamic Shari’ah establishes specific guidelines (dhawabith) and rules for women to preserve their honor and ensure the … Read more
Performing the worship of I’tikaf demands purity of intention and physical discipline. A person who has anchored their heart to stay in the mosque must recognize the boundaries of the Sharia so that their worship is not ruined halfway through. In the literature of Shafi’i Fiqh, scholars have formulated strict guidelines regarding the invalidators of … Read more
The presence of a servant inside the mosque with the intention of drawing closer to Allah the Exalted demands the observance of a noble etiquette of I’tikaf (adab). Nevertheless, the pure (hanif) Islamic Shari’ah does not strip humans of their natural disposition. There are various permissible (mubah) activities allowed by the jurists (fuqaha), as well … Read more
The worship of I’tikaf (spiritual retreat) is a noble practice that brings a servant closer to their Creator. For a Muslim seeking to attain the virtues of performing I’tikaf, understanding its precise rules is an absolute necessity. The validity of this worship relies heavily on fulfilling the valid conditions of I’tikaf and its pillars as … Read more
The worship of I’tikaf is one of the great symbols of Islam; it is a profound manifestation of a servant isolating themselves to draw closer to Allah ﷻ. Within the Islamic scholarly tradition, specifically the rules and procedures of I’tikaf according to the Shafi’i school of thought, this act of worship possesses highly precise pillars … Read more