Some Common Question About Itikaaf
Where And When Can Itikaaf Be Performed?
Can Itikaaf only be done during the last ten days of Ramadan, or can it also be done during the first and middle ten days of Ramadan?
The observance of Itikaaf is not restricted to the last ten days of Ramadan. A person wishing to perform Itikaaf during the entire month of Ramadan is at liberty to do so, as this is also a Sunnah. To clarify this matter, Imam Bukhari entitled a chapter in his celebrated book, Bukhari.
The chapter on performing Itikaaf during the middle ten days of Ramadan. Under this chapter, he has narrated a hadith from Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet, Peace and blessings be upon him, did Itikaaf for twenty days, in the year of his demise. (Bukhari, Fathul Baari, Umdatul Qari).
Shaykhul Islam Hafiz ibn Hajar and Allama Badrud-din-Ayni (commentators of Bukhari) have remarked that Imam Bukhari wants to point out that although observance of Itikaaf is much more preferable during the last ten days of Ramadan, it is not restricted to that period. It can also be done during the middle ten days of Ramadan, as this has been established from the Prophet, Peace and blessings be upon him.
A hadith recorded by Bukhari and Muslim mentions that the Prophet did Itikaaf during the entire month of Ramadan.
The hadith is as follows:
Abu Saeed Khudri narrates that the Prophet, Peace and blessings be upon him, once did Itikaaf during the first ten days of Ramadan, continuing it in the Turkish tent during the middle ten days. (One day) He stuck his head out (of the tent) and said, “I did Itikaaf during the first ten days, searching for this night (laylatul-qadr). I continued it (the Itikaaf) into the middle ten days (for the same purpose). I was then approached (by an angel) and informed that this night occurs in the last ten days. So those who have done Itikaaf with me should continue it into the last ten days because I was shown this night and then made to forget it (but as an indication) the morning after this night, I saw myself prostrating on mud. This being the case, search for this night during the odd nights of these last ten days.”
The narrator continues that it rained that night, and the water leaked through the mosque as it was made out of twigs. On the morning of the 21st, I saw with my own eyes that there were traces of mud on the Prophet’s Peace and blessings be upon him forehead. (Mishkaat on the authority of Bukhari and Muslim)
It is because of this tradition that the fuqahaa (Islamic jurist) have said that this is the Sunnah. This is precisely why many of the scholars and saints have made it a habit to perform Itikaaf during the entire month of Ramadan. However, it must be pointed out that the observance of Itikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadan is an emphasized Sunnah (a Sunnah which must be observed by at least one member of the locality or else the entire locality will be sinful). This is why special importance is attached to its observance during the last ten days.
Itikaaf is not only restricted to Ramadan, but can, in fact, be performed during the entire year. Imam Bukhari too has indicated towards this permissibility, by entitling a chapter, The chapter on performing Itikaaf during Shawwaal. (Fathul-Baari, p.284 vol. 5. Umdatul-Qari, p.156 vol 11). We also learn from a tradition appearing in the Sihah Sittahthat the Prophet, Peace and blessings be upon him, performed Itikaaf for ten days in the month of Shawwaal.
It is clear from this that Itikaaf is not fixed with any particular period of the year.
Is Itikaaf correct in the mosques of Britain (places of worship, where the five times daily prayers are held)?
Before answering this question, it would be of great benefit if we had insight into some basic issues.
If a locality does not have a purpose-built mosque, but the residents of that locality rent a place to perform prayers in congregation, it will be correct for a person to observe Itikaaf in this particular place. All the rules and conditions of a mosque will also apply to him. This issue has been clarified further by the following query, which appears in Fataawa Alamghiri.
A woman can designate a spot in her house for doing Itikaaf instead of going to the mosque. This particular place will be a substitute for the mosque, and in this spot she will be subject to all the rules and conditions which would normally apply to her in the mosque. For example, the woman cannot leave this spot without a genuine cause, e.g. to relieve herself.
In short, in this country, it is correct to perform Itikaaf in a place which is treated like a mosque and where the five daily prayers are regularly held. The practice of our elders and scholars bears testimony to this. In fact, if a person performs Itikaaf in such a place during the last ten days of Ramadan, this will suffice the people of that locality from the Itikaaf which is sunnah muakkadah. On the other hand, if no one performs Itikaaf then the entire locality will be sinful. This is also the view of the Grand Mufti of Gujrat. (Fataawa Rahimiyyah, p.209, vol,5)