Virtues of Ramadhaan - I'tikaaf
I'TIKAAF - SECLUSION IN THE MASJID
The meaning of 'I'tikaaf' is to seclude oneself in the Mosque, with the express
intention (Niyyat)of 'I'tikaaf'. According to the Hanafi school of thought,
this may be of three different types:
a) Waajib I'tikaaf (Obligatory I'tikaaf)
I'tikaaf becomes compulsory when a person makes it obligatory upon himself. For
example, when a person makes a vow to Allah that if Allah fulfils a certain
wish of his, he shall perform so many days 'I'tikaaf', in this case, the moment
his wish is fulfilled, the I'tikaaf becomes compulsory. Or a person may just
make an unconditional vow, whereby he makes I'tikaaf Waajib upon himself for a
certain number of days; this becomes obligatory for him from that moment
onwards.
b) Sunnat I'tikaaf
This was the general practice of the Holy Prophet (SAW). It means to seclude
oneself in the Masjid for the last ten days of Ramadhaan.
c) Nafl I'tikaaf
For the third category i.e. Nafl I'tikaaf, no special time and no specific
number of days are fixed. A person may make a Niyyah (intention) for any number
of days at any time, even for his whole life.
While Imaam Abu Hanifa states that I'tikaaf must be for not less than a full
day, Imaam Muhammad states that there is no limit as to the minimum period of
time. The 'Fatwa'confirms this latter view. Therefore, it is desirable for
anyone entering a Masjid to make the 'Niyyah' (intention) of I'tikaaf for the
period that he will remain in the Masjid; so that, while he is in Ibaadah, he
also earns the reward of I'tikaaf.
OBJECTS OF I'TIKAAF AND ITS ADVANTAGES
In view of the above, it is advisable that everyone entering the Masjid to join
the congregational prayer should, on entering the Masjid, make the Niyyat for
'I'tikaaf', in thatcase it means that aslong as he remain busy with Salaat,
Zikr, listening to lectures or sermons he also receive reward for the I'tikaaf.
I always observed that my late father used to make 'Niyyat' for I'tikaaf
whenever he entered the Masjid. Occasionally, by way of teaching and reminding
his followers, he would raise his voice when reciting when reciting the words
for 'Niyyah'. The reward for I'tikaaf is great as indicated by the fact that
the Holy Prophet (SAW) always used to perform I'tikaaf. The example of him who
resides in the Masjid in I'tikaaf is that of a person who, having gone to a
certain place to appeal for something, remains there until it is granted. When
someone comes begging at our door and then refuses to leave until he has been
granted his request. I am sure that
even the person with the hardest heart amongst us will eventually give in to
his request. How much more Merciful is Allah, and when someone persistently
sits at His door, what doubt can there be in the fulfilment of his wishes.
Allama ibn Qayyim, in explaining the significance of I'tikaaf writes that the
actual aim is to divert the heart away from everything except Allah, and to
make it come near to Allah, thereby forming a complete spiritual connection
with the Creator. All wordly connections are thus cut off, for the sake of
gaining Allah's attention and all thoughts, desires, love and devotion become
centred around Him. As a result, an attachment with Allah is attained - a love
and friendship that will be the only support in loneliness of the grave. One
can possibly imagine the great ecstacy with which that time in the grave will
be spent.
In Maraaiqul Falaah, the author writes that I'tikaaf, when properly and
sincerely performed, is among the most virtuous deeds. One cannot possibly
enumerate all the great advantages and benefits in it. In actual fact, what
takes place in I'tikaaf is that the heart is drawn away from everything else
except the Creator, while the soul is actually laidat His door-step. All the
time, one remains in a state of 'Ibaadah', even when one is asleep, one is
still in His worship striving for nearness to Him. And Allah says (according to
a Hadith): "Whoever draws near to Me (the length of) one hand, then I draw
nearer to him (the length of) two hands, and whoever draws near to Me by
walking, I draw nearer to him by running." Moreover, in I'tikaaf one seeks
refuge in the house of Allah, and is safe therein from all enemies.
WHERE TO PERFORM I'TIKAAF
The best of places for I'tikaaf is the Masjidul Haram in Makkah.
The next besi is the Masjidun-Nabawiy in Madinah, and the next best is Baytul
Muqaddas. Thereafter, comes the Jaama Masjid in one's own time, and last but
not least, the Masjid nearest to one's home. Imaam Abu Hanifa stipulates that
the Masjid should be one wherein the five daily Salaatare regularly performed,
while Imaam Abu Yusuf and Imaam Muhammad agree that any Masjid acceptable to
the Shari'ah can be entered for I'tikaaf.
The above applies to the males. As for the females, they should perform
It'ikaaf in the prayer room (Masjid set aside in their homes). Where, however,
no such demarcated place exists, any one room or part of the house should be
set aside for this purpose. I'tikaaf is thus in fact an easier task for women.
The domestic duties can be performed by daughters or servants under her
supervision and the woman in I'tikaaf, while remaining in a section of her own
house, is spiritually rewarded for it. It is so very unfortunate that, in spite
of this relative ease, our womenfolk still remain deprived of the blessings of
I'tikaaf.
