Do you have questions about Itikaaf? Sumaira Dada finds the answers.

Ramadan for most people is a festive time. I remember when my brother used to plead with my parents to spend the night at the local mosque, where his friends were observing Itikaaf. Together they had plans to enjoy themselves - away from the watchful eye of their parents. Being children, they can be forgiven for taking Itikaaf as a time to have fun. However, it is distressing to find adults observing Itikaaf and yet not realizing the seriousness of the Ibadah. Moreover, many people have simply given up this Sunnah. Through this article, we hope to encourage Muslims to observe Itikaaf and to clarify some of the misconceptions, which might be preventing them from observing this Sunnah.

Itikaaf in the Quran and Ahadeeth

Itikaaf means staying in the mosque to worship Allah (swt). It has been prescribed by Allah (swt) in the Quran and is a Sunnah of the Prophet (saw). In the Quran, Allah (swt) says: “…and We commanded Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ismail (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Kabah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (Itikaaf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer).” (Al-Baqarah, 2:125)

There are many Ahadeeth, which tell us that the Prophet (saw) observed Itikaaf. According to a Hadeeth of Aisha (rtaf), the Prophet (saw) used to observe Itikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadan, until Allah (swt) took his soul. His wives observed Itikaaf after he was gone. (Bukhari and Muslim)

What is the purpose of Itikaaf?

One of the greatest aims of this form of worship is to seek the Night of Power (Laylat ul-Qadr), which is one of the odd-numbered nights in the last ten nights of Ramadan. It is also a time for conversing with Allah (swt) by offering Salah, reading the Quran and engaging in Dhikr.

When can we observe Itikaaf?

The best time to observe it is during the last ten days of Ramadan. We know from the Hadeeth of Abu Hurairah (rtam) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) used to observe Itikaaf for the last ten days every Ramadan, and in the year, in which he passed away, he observed Itikaaf for twenty days. (Bukhari) However, it is also proven that the Prophet (saw) observed it during ten days of Shawwal (Bukhari). Therefore, one can observe it at any time of the year. Being in a state of fast is also not a condition for observing Itikaaf.