I'tikaaf’s rulings
The Arabic word 'I'tikaaf' conveys the meaning of 'staying'. In Islamic perspective it is used to refer staying in masjid in expectation of seeking rewards (the good for the hereafter).The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was in i'tikaaf for the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan. So were the companions of the Prophet.
Why i'tikaaf during Ramadan?
Attaining and seeking as many benefits as possible from the Lailatul Qadr, the night which is better than a thousand months. To not allow oneself to be occupied by any other thoughts resulting in decrease of worship during the last ten days of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad (saws) and companions of the Prophet had performed i'tikaaf. The following hadiths have become the proof for the same.حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ انْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ تَخْرُجُ بِنَا إِلَى النَّخْلِ نَتَحَدَّثْ فَخَرَجَ. فَقَالَ قُلْتُ حَدِّثْنِي مَا، سَمِعْتَ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ، صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ. قَالَ اعْتَكَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَشْرَ الأُوَلِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَاعْتَكَفْنَا مَعَهُ، فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي تَطْلُبُ أَمَامَكَ. فَاعْتَكَفَ الْعَشْرَ الأَوْسَطَ، فَاعْتَكَفْنَا مَعَهُ، فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي تَطْلُبُ أَمَامَكَ. فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَطِيبًا صَبِيحَةَ عِشْرِينَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ " مَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلْيَرْجِعْ، فَإِنِّي أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ، وَإِنِّي نُسِّيتُهَا، وَإِنَّهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فِي وِتْرٍ، وَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ كَأَنِّي أَسْجُدُ فِي طِينٍ وَمَاءٍ ". وَكَانَ سَقْفُ الْمَسْجِدِ جَرِيدَ النَّخْلِ وَمَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ شَيْئًا، فَجَاءَتْ قَزْعَةٌ فَأُمْطِرْنَا، فَصَلَّى بِنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ أَثَرَ الطِّينِ وَالْمَاءِ عَلَى جَبْهَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَرْنَبَتِهِ تَصْدِيقَ رُؤْيَاهُ.
Narrated Abu Salama:
Once I went to Abu- Sa`id Al-Khudri and asked him, "Won't you come with us to the date-palm trees to have a talk?" So Abu Sa`id went out and I asked him, "Tell me what you heard from the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Night of Qadr." Abu Sa`id replied, "Once Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) performed I`tikaf (seclusion) on the first ten days of the month of Ramadan and we did the same with him. Gabriel came to him and said, 'The night you are looking for is ahead of you.' So the Prophet (ﷺ) performed the I`tikaf in the middle (second) ten days of the month of Ramadan and we too performed I`tikaf with him. Gabriel came to him and said, 'The night which you are looking for is ahead of you.' In the morning of the 20th of Ramadan the Prophet (ﷺ) delivered a sermon saying, 'Whoever has performed I`tikaf with me should continue it. I have been shown the Night of "Qadr", but have forgotten its date, but it is in the odd nights of the last ten nights. I saw in my dream that I was prostrating in mud and water.' In those days the roof of the mosque was made of branches of date-palm trees. At that time the sky was clear and no cloud was visible, but suddenly a cloud came and it rained. The Prophet (ﷺ) led us in the prayer and I saw the traces of mud on the forehead and on the nose of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). So it was the confirmation of that dream."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 813
In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 208
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 777
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/10/208
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ مُضَرَ - عَنِ ابْنِ الْهَادِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ، بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُجَاوِرُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الَّتِي فِي وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ فَإِذَا كَانَ مِنْ حِينِ تَمْضِي عِشْرُونَ لَيْلَةً وَيَسْتَقْبِلُ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَسْكَنِهِ وَرَجَعَ مَنْ كَانَ يُجَاوِرُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَقَامَ فِي شَهْرٍ جَاوَرَ فِيهِ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَرْجِعُ فِيهَا فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنِّي كُنْتُ أُجَاوِرُ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ ثُمَّ بَدَا لِي أَنْ أُجَاوِرَ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ فَمَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعِي فَلْيَبِتْ فِي مُعْتَكَفِهِ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ فَأُنْسِيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فِي كُلِّ وِتْرٍ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ مُطِرْنَا لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ فِي مُصَلَّى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَقَدِ انْصَرَفَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ وَوَجْهُهُ مُبْتَلٌّ طِينًا وَمَاءً .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) spent in devotion (in i'tikaf) the middle ten nights of the month of Ramadan, and when twenty nights were over and it was the twenty-first night, he went back to his residence and those who were along with him also returned (to their respective residences). He spent one month in devotion. Then he addressed the people on the night he came back (to his residence) and commanded them as Allah desired (him to command) and then said:
I used to devote myself (observe i'tikaf) during these ten (nights). Then I started devoting myself in the last ten (nights). And he who desires to observe i'tikaf along with me should spend the night) at his place of i'tikaf. And I saw this night (Lailat-ul-Qadr) but I forgot it (the exact night) ; so seek it;In the last ten nights on odd numbers. I saw (the glimpses of that dream) that I was prostrating in water and mud. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: It rained on the twenty-first night and the water dripped (from the roof) of the mosque at the place where the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed prayer. I looked at him and as he completed the dawn prayer, (I found) his face was wet with mud and water.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1167 a
In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 275
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2625
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/muslim/13/275
The start for i'tikaaf
One who intends to observe i'tikaaf, should pray subuh on the 20th morning and then go to the place of i'tikaaf.حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ صَلَّى الْفَجْرَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ مُعْتَكَفَهُ وَإِنَّهُ أَمَرَ بِخِبَائِهِ فَضُرِبَ أَرَادَ الاِعْتِكَافَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَأَمَرَتْ زَيْنَبُ بِخِبَائِهَا فَضُرِبَ وَأَمَرَ غَيْرُهَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِخِبَائِهِ فَضُرِبَ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْفَجْرَ نَظَرَ فَإِذَا الأَخْبِيَةُ فَقَالَ " آلْبِرَّ تُرِدْنَ " . فَأَمَرَ بِخِبَائِهِ فَقُوِّضَ وَتَرَكَ الاِعْتِكَافَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى اعْتَكَفَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَّلِ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ .
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) decided to observe i'tikaf, he prayed in the morning and then went to the place of his i'tikaf, and he commanded that a tent should be pitched for him, and it was pitched. He (once) decided to observe i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. Zainab (the wife of the Holy Prophet) commanded that a tent should be pitched for her. It was pitched accordingly. And some other wives of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) commanded that tents should be pitched for them too. And they were pitched. When the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) offered the morning prayer, he looked and found (so many) tents. Thereupon he said:
What is this virtue that these (ladies) have decided to acquire? He commanded his tent to be struck and abandoned i'tikaf in the month of Ramadan and postponed it to the first ten days of Shawwal.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1173 a
In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 6
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2641
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/muslim/14/6
We probably would have already known that Prophet Muhammad (saws) had told to search for the Lailat-ul-Qadr in odd numbered nights (in the last ten days in the month of Ramadan). Therefore, the i'tikaaf start after completing the fajr prayer would not be possible to be on the 21st day’s fajr.
If it had been so, that night would have been missed by him. It is appropriate here to understand from this that, he began i'tikaaf after finishing the prayer on the 20th day.
The end time of i'tikaaf
If the month of Ramadhan ends on 29th day, then one who is observing i'tikaaf can return back to his house during the maghrib of the 29th day of Ramadhan (that is, at the night when the shawwal crescent is sighted) . If Ramadhan completes by 30th day, then one may return home after the mahrib prayer on the 30th day of Ramadhan.حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، وَالدَّرَاوَرْدِيُّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ. كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُجَاوِرُ فِي رَمَضَانَ الْعَشْرَ الَّتِي فِي وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ، فَإِذَا كَانَ حِينَ يُمْسِي مِنْ عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً تَمْضِي، وَيَسْتَقْبِلُ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ، رَجَعَ إِلَى مَسْكَنِهِ وَرَجَعَ مَنْ كَانَ يُجَاوِرُ مَعَهُ. وَأَنَّهُ أَقَامَ فِي شَهْرٍ جَاوَرَ فِيهِ اللَّيْلَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَرْجِعُ فِيهَا، فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ، فَأَمَرَهُمْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ " كُنْتُ أُجَاوِرُ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ، ثُمَّ قَدْ بَدَا لِي أَنْ أُجَاوِرَ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ، فَمَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعِي فَلْيَثْبُتْ فِي مُعْتَكَفِهِ، وَقَدْ أُرِيتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ ثُمَّ أُنْسِيتُهَا فَابْتَغُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ وَابْتَغُوهَا فِي كُلِّ وِتْرٍ، وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ ". فَاسْتَهَلَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ، فَأَمْطَرَتْ، فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ فِي مُصَلَّى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ، فَبَصُرَتْ عَيْنِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ انْصَرَفَ مِنَ الصُّبْحِ، وَوَجْهُهُ مُمْتَلِئٌ طِينًا وَمَاءً.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf (in the mosque) in the middle third of Ramadan and after passing the twenty nights he used to go back to his house on the 21st, and the people who were in I`tikaf with him also used to go back to their houses. Once in Ramadan, in which he practiced I`tikaf, he established the night prayers at the night in which he used to return home, and then he addressed the people and ordered them whatever Allah wished him to order and said, "I used to practice I`tikaf for these ten days (i.e. the middle third but now I intend to stay in I`tikaf for the last ten days (of the month); so whoever was in I`tikaf with me should stay at his place of seclusion. I have verily been shown (the date of) this Night (of Qadr) but I have forgotten it. So search for it in the odd nights of the last ten days (of this month). I also saw myself (in the dream) prostrating in mud and water." On the night of the 21st, the sky was covered with clouds and it rained, and the rainwater started leaking through the roof of the mosque at the praying place of the Prophet (ﷺ) . I saw with my own eyes the Prophet at the completion of the morning prayer leaving with his face covered with mud and water.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2018
In-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 5
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 32, Hadith 235
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/32/5
The Prophet (pbuh) while performing I'tikaaf (in the mosque) in the mid-ten days of Ramadan, after completing the twenty nights he used to go back to his house on the 21st night. From this news we know that, those who observe itikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, after completing 29th night or 30th night one may go back to home at the start of the shawwal month in the night.
Some people claim that they should return home only after finishing the Eid prayer, but there is no evidence for this in the words of Prophet (hadith).
Can one set up a tent in Masjid?
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، فَكُنْتُ أَضْرِبُ لَهُ خِبَاءً فَيُصَلِّي الصُّبْحَ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُهُ، فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ حَفْصَةُ عَائِشَةَ أَنْ تَضْرِبَ خِبَاءً فَأَذِنَتْ لَهَا، فَضَرَبَتْ خِبَاءً، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ زَيْنَبُ ابْنَةُ جَحْشٍ ضَرَبَتْ خِبَاءً آخَرَ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى الأَخْبِيَةَ فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا ". فَأُخْبِرَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " آلْبِرُّ تُرَوْنَ بِهِنَّ ". فَتَرَكَ الاِعْتِكَافَ ذَلِكَ الشَّهْرَ، ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ عَشْرًا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ.Narrated `Amra:
Aisha said, "the Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan and I used to pitch a tent for him, and after offering the morning prayer, he used to enter the tent." Hafsa asked the permission of `Aisha to pitch a tent for her and she allowed her and she pitched her tent. When Zainab bint Jahsh saw it, she pitched another tent. In the morning the Prophet (ﷺ) noticed the tents. He said, 'What is this?" He was told of the whole situation. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do you think that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?" He therefore abandoned the I`tikaf in that month and practiced I`tikaf for ten days in the month of Shawwal."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2033
In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 8
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 249
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/33/8
Some people claim that the tent can be set up based on this hadith. But, when we observe at some of the hadiths, we can understand that it is only for the Prophet (pbuh).
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ، فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ إِذَا أَخْبِيَةٌ خِبَاءُ عَائِشَةَ، وَخِبَاءُ حَفْصَةَ، وَخِبَاءُ زَيْنَبَ، فَقَالَ " آلْبِرَّ تَقُولُونَ بِهِنَّ ". ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ، فَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ، حَتَّى اعْتَكَفَ عَشْرًا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ.
Narrated `Aisha:
The Prophet (ﷺ) intended to practice I`tikaf and when he reached the place where he intended to perform I`tikaf, he saw some tents, the tents of `Aisha, Hafsa and Zainab. So, he said, "Do you consider that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?" And then he went away and did not perform I`tikaf (in Ramadan) but performed it in the month of Shawwal for ten days.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2034
In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 9
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 250
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/33/9
By asking the question if indeed it is righteousness is what you are seek? And then the Prophet (pbuh) separating himself from that place leaving the state of I'tikaaf, shows his discontent over setting up tents like this.
Furthermore, looking at the following hadith it can be understood that others should not set up a tent.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ غَزْوَانَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ فِي كُلِّ رَمَضَانَ، وَإِذَا صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ دَخَلَ مَكَانَهُ الَّذِي اعْتَكَفَ فِيهِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ أَنْ تَعْتَكِفَ فَأَذِنَ لَهَا فَضَرَبَتْ فِيهِ قُبَّةً، فَسَمِعَتْ بِهَا حَفْصَةُ، فَضَرَبَتْ قُبَّةً، وَسَمِعَتْ زَيْنَبُ بِهَا، فَضَرَبَتْ قُبَّةً أُخْرَى، فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْغَدِ أَبْصَرَ أَرْبَعَ قِبَابٍ، فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا ". فَأُخْبِرَ خَبَرَهُنَّ، فَقَالَ " مَا حَمَلَهُنَّ عَلَى هَذَا آلْبِرُّ انْزِعُوهَا فَلاَ أَرَاهَا ". فَنُزِعَتْ، فَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ فِي رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى اعْتَكَفَ فِي آخِرِ الْعَشْرِ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ.
Narrated `Amra bint `Abdur-Rahman from `Aisha:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf every year in the month of Ramadan. And after offering the morning prayer, he used to enter the place of his I`tikaf. `Aisha asked his permission to let her practice I`tikaf and he allowed her, and so she pitched a tent in the mosque. When Hafsa heard of that, she also pitched a tent (for herself), and when Zainab heard of that, she too pitched another tent. When, in the morning, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had finished the morning prayer, he saw four tents and asked, "What is this?" He was informed about it. He then said, "What made them do this? Is it righteousness? Remove the tents, for I do not want to see them." So, the tents were removed. The Prophet (ﷺ) did not perform I`tikaf that year in the month of Ramadan, but did it in the last ten days of Shawwal.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2041
In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 16
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 257
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/33/16
The companions of the Prophet also have been in the i'tikaaf along with the Prophet (pbuh). Consider this in mind while observing at the hadith mentioned above. After having prayed the morning prayer the number of the tents that were seen by Prophet (pbuh) in the masjid was four. One for the Prophet (pbuh), the second for Mother Ayesha (raa), the third for Mother Hafsa (raa) and the fourth for Mother Zainab (raa).
The Prophet's companions should have set up the tents for themselves, if the tents were necessary for i'tikaaf. If it were set up, there should have been more than four tents. But there were only four tents! So we know that the Prophet's companions did not set up tents and that the Prophet (pbuh) did not command the Prophet’s companions. Therefore, the tents are not needed for i'tikaaf.
Disciplines to be followed in i'tikaaf
During the stay in mosque, one should not have sexual relations with wife back at home.أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَائِكُمْ ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ ۗ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ ۖ فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ - 2:187
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.
[ Al Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 187]
Do not go out of masjid without a need
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، وَعَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيُدْخِلُ عَلَىَّ رَأْسَهُ وَهْوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَأُرَجِّلُهُ، وَكَانَ لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْبَيْتَ إِلاَّ لِحَاجَةٍ، إِذَا كَانَ مُعْتَكِفًاNarrated `Aisha:
(the wife of the Prophet) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to let his head in (the house) while he was in the mosque and I would comb and oil his hair. When in I`tikaf he used not to enter the house except for a need.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2029
In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 5
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 246
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/33/5
From this, we know about this should not go out unnecessary and can also know that one can go out when necessary. While the need arises in masjid to talk, one can have the necessary talk.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ صَفِيَّةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهَا جَاءَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَزُورُهُ فِي اعْتِكَافِهِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، فَتَحَدَّثَتْ عِنْدَهُ سَاعَةً، ثُمَّ قَامَتْ تَنْقَلِبُ، فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَهَا يَقْلِبُهَا، حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتْ باب الْمَسْجِدِ عِنْدَ باب أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ مَرَّ رَجُلاَنِ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ، فَسَلَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لَهُمَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " عَلَى رِسْلِكُمَا إِنَّمَا هِيَ صَفِيَّةُ بِنْتُ حُيَىٍّ ". فَقَالاَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. وَكَبُرَ عَلَيْهِمَا. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَبْلُغُ مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ مَبْلَغَ الدَّمِ، وَإِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَقْذِفَ فِي قُلُوبِكُمَا شَيْئًا ".
Narrated `Ali bin Al-Husain:
Safiya, the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) told me that she went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to visit him in the mosque while he was in I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. She had a talk with him for a while, then she got up in order to return home. The Prophet (ﷺ) accompanied her. When they reached the gate of the mosque, opposite the door of Um-Salama, two Ansari men were passing by and they greeted Allah's Apostle . He told them: Do not run away! And said, "She is (my wife) Safiya bint Huyai." Both of them said, "Subhan Allah, (How dare we think of any evil) O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!" And they felt it. The Prophet said (to them), "Satan reaches everywhere in the human body as blood reaches in it, (everywhere in one's body). I was afraid lest Satan might insert an evil thought in your minds."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2035
In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 10
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 251
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/33/10
حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ إِسْحَاقَ - عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتِ السُّنَّةُ عَلَى الْمُعْتَكِفِ أَنْ لاَ يَعُودَ مَرِيضًا وَلاَ يَشْهَدَ جَنَازَةً وَلاَ يَمَسَّ امْرَأَةً وَلاَ يُبَاشِرَهَا وَلاَ يَخْرُجَ لِحَاجَةٍ إِلاَّ لِمَا لاَ بُدَّ مِنْهُ وَلاَ اعْتِكَافَ إِلاَّ بِصَوْمٍ وَلاَ اعْتِكَافَ إِلاَّ فِي مَسْجِدٍ جَامِعٍ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ غَيْرُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ لاَ يَقُولُ فِيهِ قَالَتِ السُّنَّةُ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ جَعَلَهُ قَوْلَ عَائِشَةَ .
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
The sunnah for one who is observing i'tikaf (in a mosque) is not to visit a patient, or to attend a funeral, or touch or embrace one's wife, or go out for anything but necessary purposes. There is no i'tikaf without fasting, and there is no i'tikaf except in a congregational mosque.
Grade : Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani)
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2473
In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 161
English translation : Book 13, Hadith 2467
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/161
For this hadith, there exists difference of opinion with regards to for whom is it sunnah and was this hadith indeed reported by Mother Ayesha (rah)?
One who is performing i'tikaaf it is sunnah to avoid visiting the sick, participating in janazah, touch his wife (sexual relations), going out except when there is a need. The statement “I'tikaaf cannot be done except in the masjid where Jummah is conducted” belongs to the reporter called Suhri. Imam Daraqutni mentions that this being reported as statement within hadith is due to the reporter’s own guess
(Book: Sunaan Daraqutni, Volume 2, Page 201).
Imam Baihaqi, who recorded the very same message above, mentioned the following below.
From most reliable scholars, this statement has been mentioned to be the word of the announcers themselves those who succeeded after Ayisha (raa) in the reporting chain. Those who have mentioned this as the statement within hadith itself are the ones who have said this with guesswork. Book: Baihaqi 8377
Imam Zuhri, when he reports a hadith, he had the habit of adding his opinion along with the hadith without making it explicit (i.e. this is my opinion). So, this hadith cannot be considered as a basis. (Allah knows best)
Similarly, there are hadiths found that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would visit the sick, attend funeral, while he is in I'tikaaf. Those as well are weak hadiths! and in some of the Hadiths, They are weak too! Based on the hadith in Bukhari (2029), one who is in the state of I'tikaaf it is recommended to avoid going out except when actually there is a need.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، وَعَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيُدْخِلُ عَلَىَّ رَأْسَهُ وَهْوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَأُرَجِّلُهُ، وَكَانَ لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْبَيْتَ إِلاَّ لِحَاجَةٍ، إِذَا كَانَ مُعْتَكِفًا
Narrated `Aisha:
(the wife of the Prophet) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to let his head in (the house) while he was in the mosque and I would comb and oil his hair. When in I`tikaf he used not to enter the house except for a need.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2029
In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 5
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 246
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/33/5
Can women perform I'tikaaf?
The following hadith is a proof that women can be in I'tikaaf in masjid.حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم اعْتَكَفَ مَعَهُ بَعْضُ نِسَائِهِ وَهْىَ مُسْتَحَاضَةٌ تَرَى الدَّمَ، فَرُبَّمَا وَضَعَتِ الطَّسْتَ تَحْتَهَا مِنَ الدَّمِ. وَزَعَمَ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ رَأَتْ مَاءَ الْعُصْفُرِ فَقَالَتْ كَأَنَّ هَذَا شَىْءٌ كَانَتْ فُلاَنَةُ تَجِدُهُ.
Narrated `Aisha:
Once one of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) did I`tikaf along with him and she was getting bleeding in between her periods. She used to see the blood (from her private parts) and she would perhaps put a dish under her for the blood. (The sub-narrator `Ikrima added, `Aisha once saw the liquid of safflower and said, "It looks like what so and so used to have.")
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 309
In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 14
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 306
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/6/14
During the time of Prophet (pbuh), based on the hadiths we have known so far, no other woman was in I'tikaaf state except for Prophet's wife.
Basing from the information that Prophet's wives were in I'tikaaf, we can take further rulings in the following.
If there are facilities to stay in the mosque, then women may be in the state of I'tikaaf along with their husband. Because, during the time of the Prophet (pbuh) the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) had performed I'tikaaf along with him .
Among the opinions of the scholars, it is the opinion mentioned above that befits for the hadith. Some state that women can stay in I'tikaaf at home. But, there is no evidence for that in the hadiths.
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ السُّدَيْرِيُّ، بِخُسْرَوْجِرْدَ أنبأ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْخُسْرَوَجُرْدِيُّ، ثنا دَاوُدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ، ثنا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زَنْجُوَيْهِ، ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ، ثنا شَرِيكٌ، عَنْ لَيْثٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ الْأَزْدِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: " إِنَّ أَبْغَضَ الْأُمُورِ إِلَى اللهِ الْبِدَعُ وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْبِدَعِ الِاعْتِكَافَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ الَّتِي فِي الدُّورِ "
Ibn Abbas (rah) as well has informed that women performing i'tikaaf at home is bidath (new practice of innovation).
Book: Baihaqi 8573
Also, among some scholars there is a misconception that I'tikaaf should be done only in the three masjids which is Mecca, Medina and Bayt al-Maqdis. Some hadiths are shown as proof for this, but all those hadiths are found to be weak.
Moreover the information from this hadith is contrary to the reports by other companions, Ali (ra), Mother Aisha (raa) and Ibn Abbas (ra) which further weakens this hadith.
Moreover, this hadith also goes against the Quran’s verses that you should not near your wife (have sexual relation) when you are in i'tikaaf in the mosques (Al-Quran 2:187).
Translated by: Abu Abdul Baari and Ummu Abdul Baari
The original source (Tamizh):
https://www.facebook.com/notes/thowheed-translations/tamizh-itikaafs-rulings/227259787785354/
