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1)
I’tikāf
means: to remain in the Musjid with the intention of
I’tikāf. One may only leave the Musjid to fulfil those needs that
cannot be fulfilled inside the Musjid, e.g. to go to the toilet, to make
Wudū, to take a wājib
ghusl
(obligatory bath) etc.
2) It is “sunnah
muakkidah ‘alal kifāyah
to observe
I’tikāf
during the last 10 nights of Ramadān. i.e. if in a
town or village no one observes I’tikāf, the sin of abandoning this
sunnah will be upon the entire community. And if one person observes
I’tikāf, the rest of the community will be absolved.
3) It is not necessary for one to remain quiet throughout the
period of I’tikāf.
Rather it is
makrūh
to do so. One should speak of good things and abstain from
arguments and futile talks.
4) There is no specific form of
‘ibādah
(worship) to be observed during I’tikāf. One could
occupy oneself with salāh, dhikr (remembrance) of Allāh Ta’ala,
reciting the Holy Qurān, studying or teaching the knowledge of Deen or
any other form of ‘ibādah (worship).
5) If Jumu’ah
salāh
does not take place at that Musjid wherein one is
observing I’tikāf, then one may leave that Musjid to attend the
Jumu’ah salāh at another Musjid. One should calculate the
amount of time in which one could reach that Musjid, perform the
sunnah
and listen to the khutbah. If one delays a while in
that Musjid, no harm will be caused to the I’tikāf.
6) If for no valid reason one leaves the Musjid even
for a little while, intentionally
or unintentionally, the
I’tikāf
will be broken and he will have to make
qadā.
7) If one intends to observe
I’tikāf
during the last 10 nights of Ramadān, he should be in
the Musjid from before sunset on the 20th of Ramadān up to the
sighting of the moon of ‘Eid.
Thereafter the ‘I’tikāf ends.
8) It is not permissible for one to leave the Musjid
just to have a bath on a Friday or for the purpose of cooling oneself.
A woman may observe I'tikaf in that area of her
house which has been designated for salah. She cannot leave that
place without a valid excuse.
(Shami, vol.2 pg.441 ; Tahtawi, pg.382)
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