Itikaf is a form of worship during Ramadan

Itikaf is a form of worship during Ramadan:

Itikaf is a form of

worship. It is formed

by staying in a

Mosque for a certain

time. It is Ehtiyat

that one should stay with the intention to

worship Allah by praying formal or informal

prayers although prayer is not a condition

therein.

The time for this form of worship could be

anytime when one is allowed to fast. The

best time is the month of Ramadan,

especially, the last ten days.

Conditions for I'tikaf during Ramadhan:

1. Intention as in the rest of the worship

acts. It is necessary that the intention be

made at the beginning of Itikaf so that the

rule, requiring the worship act to be

completed with intention, be followed

thoroughly from the beginning to the end.

The decision made at the beginning of the

night to start Itikaf from the beginning of

the following day will be open to

objection. However, if one decides to start

it from the beginning of the night it is not

an offense to do so.

One is not allowed to change one's mind

from one Itikaf to another of the same

qualities or different.

2. Belief in Islam.

3. Freedom from mental illness.

4. Fasting; thus the Itikaf of one who

cannot fast for some reason is not valid.

5. Duration; which is three continuous days

at least. It could be more but not less than

three days.

If it is started from the beginning of a day

the two nights in between will be part of

the duration. Less than three days is not

considered Itikaf.

That it must take place in one of these

Mosques: (a) The holy Mosque in Makkah,

(b) the holy Mosque of the Prophet in

Medina, (c) the holy Mosque of Kufa, (d) the

holy Mosque of Basrah, and (e) the Mosque

which is assigned for the Friday prayer in

any town or city. It is Ehtiyat, however, to

complete it in any of the first four Mosques.

The roof and basement of a Mosque is part

of the same and it is valid to complete

Etikaf in such places of a Mosque.

Permission of the people whose permission

are required such as the master for the

slave, husband and parents for the wifeand

children if this will be against the right of

the husband or causes trouble to the

parents.

6. Completing it in the Mosque where it

was started. Thus, going out of the Mosque

without an acceptable reason will

invalidate the Itikaf, regardless, one knows

the rule or is ignorant or has gone out

because of forgetfulness, except in the

case of an emergency or one being forced

or it is because of some need such as using

wash room or having Taharat.

One is allowed to come out of the Mosque

during Itikaf to take part in the burial of a

deceased or to visit an ailing one; Going

out of the Mosque for a time long enough

to cause the Itikaf to become as non-

existing will be considered as invalidating

the same, even if one has not done it out of

one's own choice.

If one needs to have Ghusl/bath during the

Itikaf and it is possible for him to have it

inside the Mosque, and is not allowed to go

out unless the reason for Ghusl requires

him not to stay inside the Mosque.

Etikaf is originally an optional worship act

but it may become obligatory becauseof a

vow etc.

Things to avoid during Itikaf:

1. Having sex and also according to Ehtiyat

kissing or playing with one's wife;

2. According to a necessary Ehtiyat causing

a semen discharge,

3. And smelling perfumes for enjoyment; it

is not an offense if one cannot enjoy the

perfume because of some defect in his

smelling ability.

4. Selling or buying in the form of a

business deal, according to a necessary

Ehtiyat; there is no offense to be occupied

with allowable activities as sewing or

writing etc., although it is a Mustahab

Ehtiyat to avoid them too.

If one needs to buy something for food and

there is no one to do the buying for him, it

is not an offence for him to do it.

5. Expressing bitterness in talking about

worldly or religious matters in order to

prove one's ability, not the truth which is

one of the best worships.

The contracts of buying or selling during

Itikaf invalidate Itikaf, but such contracts

will be valid.

If Itikaf is invalidated because of having sex

even, during the night, expiation will be

due; if it is invalidated by other things,

there will be no expiation, although it is a

Mustahab Ehtiyat in this case too.

The expiation for invalidating an Itikaf is to

set free a slave or if this is not possible, fast

for two consecutive months or if this also is

not possible, feed sixty poor people.