FIQH 3.147: I’TIKAF, ITS MEANING
I’tikaf means to stick to something, whether good or bad, and to block out everything else. Allah says in the Qur’an: “What then are images that you pay devotion [akifun] to them?” [al Anbia’ 52]–that is, what they devoted themselves to in worship. What is meant here is the seclusion and staying in the mosque with the intention of becoming closer to Allah.
Fiqh 3.147 a: I’tikaf, its legitimacy
All scholars agree on its legitimacy. The Prophet would perform i’tikaf for ten days every Ramadan. In the year that he died, he performed it for twenty days. This is related by al Bukhari, Abu Dawud, and ibn-Majah. The Prophet’s companions and wives performed i’tikaf with him and continued to do so after his death. Even though it is an act which is done to get closer to Allah, there is no sound hadith concerning its merits. Abu Dawud states: “I said to Ahmad, ‘Are you aware of anything concerning the virtues of i’tikaf?’ He answered: ‘No, except for some weak [reports].’ “
Fiqh 3.147 b: I’tikaf, the different types of i’tikaf
I’tikaf is of two types: sunnah and obligatory. The sunnah i’tikaf is that which the Muslim performs to get closer to Allah by following the actions of the Prophet, upon whom be peace, especially during the last ten days of Ramadan. The obligatory i’tikaf is that which the person makes obligatory upon himself. This may be done, for example, by an oath: “For Allah I must make i’tikaf,” or by a conditional oath: “If Allah cures me, I shall make i’tikaf …” In Sahih al-Bukhari it is reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: “Whoever makes an oath to obey Allah should be obedient to Him.” ‘Umar said: “O Messenger of Allah, I made an oath to perform i’tikaf one night in the mosque at Makkah.” The Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: “Fulfill your oath.”
Source: Fiqh us Sunnah
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