بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Spiritual Retreat (I'tikaf)
It is sunnah at any time, to make spiritual retreat
(I'tikaf) in the mosque.
Laylat Al- Qadr
I'tikaf is especially recommended in Ramadhan,
particularly in the last ten days of it, seeking
Laylat al-Qadr (''the Night of the Divine Decree'')
( which is as Allah Most High says,
meaning that spiritual works therein are better
than works of a thousand months lacking Laylat
al-Qadr. Indicating its excellence, Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم
Laylat al-Qadr could be on any night of Ramadhan
( or any other month of the year, according to some).
It probably occurs within the last ten nights, more
likely on the odd numbered ones ( remembering that
the night of an Islamic date comes before the day of
that date ), the twenty-first and twenty-third of which
are the likeliest ( though most scholars hold it to be the
twenty-seventh. On Laylat al-Qadr it is recommended
to frequently repeat, ''O Allah, You are oft-relenting
and love to forgive, so forgive me.''
How to preform Spiritual Retreat
At minimum, spiritual retreat (i'tikaf ) consists of :
(a) staying, with the intention of i'tkaf , for more than
the least amount of time that can be considered repose
( i.e. a moment ) ;
(b) while being Muslim, sane, conscious, and free of
major ritual impurity ( i.e. of menstruation, postnatal
bleeding, and major impurity (janaba));
(c) in a masjid, even when this stay is no more than
entering the periphery and then leaving by the same
entering (taraddud), though to merely pass through is
insufficient.
Optimally, the i'tikaf should be accompanied by fasting,
take place in the Friday congregational Masjid (because
of the size of the group prayer therein, and so as not to
have to leave to attend the Friday prayer), and be no less
than a day.
* A person should only speak good, read the Qur'an and
Zikr and learn Islamic knowledge and keep fast.
* It is Makrooh to cupblood - but if Masjid will become
dirty it will be haraam.
* It is Makrooh to buy and sell abundantly, stitching or
other things.
* It is not permissible for a woman to keep i'tikaf without
her husband's permission.
* A Mu'thakif ( the one who is making i'tikaf ) can renew
his intention again after he breaks it.
* Kissing and touching will not invalidate the i'tikaf.
Things that which break the i'tikaf
1) intercourse ;
2) coming out of the Masjid intentionally ;
note : if a person goes out of the Masjid with an excuse
and returns back, his i'tikaf is still valid, but if he come
out without an excuse it is invalid, but he can renew the
intention and keep the i'tikaf again.
3) intoxication ;
4) need for ghusal ( to have a fardh bath ).
Extracts from
Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri's
Reliance of the Traveller
Tran.. by Nuh Ha Mim Keller
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Spiritual Retreat (I'tikaf)
It is sunnah at any time, to make spiritual retreat
(I'tikaf) in the mosque.
Laylat Al- Qadr
I'tikaf is especially recommended in Ramadhan,
particularly in the last ten days of it, seeking
Laylat al-Qadr (''the Night of the Divine Decree'')
( which is as Allah Most High says,
لَيْلَةُ القَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
''better than a thousand months''
(97:3)meaning that spiritual works therein are better
than works of a thousand months lacking Laylat
al-Qadr. Indicating its excellence, Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم
said,
''He who prays on Laylat al-Qadr in faith and expect-
ation of its reward will be forgiven his previous sins''
Laylat al-Qadr could be on any night of Ramadhan
( or any other month of the year, according to some).
It probably occurs within the last ten nights, more
likely on the odd numbered ones ( remembering that
the night of an Islamic date comes before the day of
that date ), the twenty-first and twenty-third of which
are the likeliest ( though most scholars hold it to be the
twenty-seventh. On Laylat al-Qadr it is recommended
to frequently repeat, ''O Allah, You are oft-relenting
and love to forgive, so forgive me.''
How to preform Spiritual Retreat
At minimum, spiritual retreat (i'tikaf ) consists of :
(a) staying, with the intention of i'tkaf , for more than
the least amount of time that can be considered repose
( i.e. a moment ) ;
(b) while being Muslim, sane, conscious, and free of
major ritual impurity ( i.e. of menstruation, postnatal
bleeding, and major impurity (janaba));
(c) in a masjid, even when this stay is no more than
entering the periphery and then leaving by the same
entering (taraddud), though to merely pass through is
insufficient.
Optimally, the i'tikaf should be accompanied by fasting,
take place in the Friday congregational Masjid (because
of the size of the group prayer therein, and so as not to
have to leave to attend the Friday prayer), and be no less
than a day.
* A person should only speak good, read the Qur'an and
Zikr and learn Islamic knowledge and keep fast.
* It is Makrooh to cupblood - but if Masjid will become
dirty it will be haraam.
* It is Makrooh to buy and sell abundantly, stitching or
other things.
* It is not permissible for a woman to keep i'tikaf without
her husband's permission.
* A Mu'thakif ( the one who is making i'tikaf ) can renew
his intention again after he breaks it.
* Kissing and touching will not invalidate the i'tikaf.
Things that which break the i'tikaf
1) intercourse ;
2) coming out of the Masjid intentionally ;
note : if a person goes out of the Masjid with an excuse
and returns back, his i'tikaf is still valid, but if he come
out without an excuse it is invalid, but he can renew the
intention and keep the i'tikaf again.
3) intoxication ;
4) need for ghusal ( to have a fardh bath ).
Extracts from
Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri's
Reliance of the Traveller
Tran.. by Nuh Ha Mim Keller
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