The rules of I’tikaf

By Shaykh Mufti Muhammad Shafi‘
Translated by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Haroon Abasoomar

1. I’tikaf means: to remain in the masjid with the intention of i’tikaf. One may only leave the masjid to fulfil those needs that cannot be fulfilled inside the masjid, e.g. to go to the toilet, to make wudhu, to take a wâjib ghusl (obligatory bath) etc.
2. It is sunnah mu’akkadah ‘alal kifayah to observe i’tikaf during the last 10 nights of Ramadan. i.e. if in a town or village no one observes i’tikaf, the sin of abandoning this sunnah will be upon the entire community. And if one person observes i’tikaf, the rest of the community will be absolved.
3. It is not necessary for one to remain quiet throughout the period of i’tikaf. Rather it is makruh (disliked) to do so. One should speak of good things and abstain from arguments and futile talks.
4. There is no specific form of ‘ibâdah (worship) to be observed during i’tikaf. One could occupy oneself with salah, dhikr (remembrance) of Allâh, reciting the Qur’an, studying or teaching the knowledge of deen or any other form of ‘ibâdah (worship).
5. If Jumu’ah salâh does not take place at that masjid wherein one is observing i’tikaf, then one may leave that masjid to attend the Jumu’ah salâh at another masjid. One should calculate the amount of time in which one could reach that masjid, perform the sunnah and listen to the khutbah. If one delays a while in that masjid, no harm will be caused to the i’tikaf.
6. If for no valid reason one leaves the masjid even for a little while, intentionally or unintentionally, the i’tikaf will be broken and he will have to make qadâ.
7. If one intends to observe i’tikaf during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, he should be in the musjid from before sunset on the 20th of Ramadan up to the sighting of the moon of ‘Id. Thereafter the i’tikaf ends.
8. It is not permissible for one to leave the masjid 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.

(Rad al-Muhtar, 2:441; Hashiya Tahtawi, p.382)