What is I'tikāf? Why Is It Done?

What is I’tikāf? Why Is It Done?

by
Shaykh al-Hadith Hadhrat Maulana Abdul Raheem Hafizahullah

I’tikāf means seclusion. There are countless benefits to seclusion, which is why even the prophets would abandon all worldly affairs to sit alone contemplating upon the favours of Allāh, remembering Allāh the Exalted, glorifying Him, and praising Him.

Musa (alayhi-salām) went to Mount Tūr and spent 40 days in worship before being gifted with the Holy Torah.

Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ would spend much time meditating and worshipping in the cave of Hira, before Jibrīl (alayhi-salām) came with the opening verses of Surah Iqra’. He did not stop going there, rather he continued to spend time there even after receiving Prophethood.

Benefits of I’tikāf

Ibn Qudāmah writes in Mukhtaṣar Minhāj al-Qāṣidīn that there are 6 benefits in spending time in solitude:

1. Freedom of worship, and close proximity to Allāh the Exalted –

Once a wise man was asked, “What benefit is there for people in asceticism and staying alone?”

He replied, “Proximity to Allāh the Exalted.”

Uways al-Qaranī (RA) states, “I could never perceive that a person would recognise his Lord, and then feel closeness with anything else.”

The aim of staying in seclusion is Dhikr & Fikr. This is why seclusion is more virtuous than mixing with people, as mixing causes distraction from Dhikr & Fikr.

2. Protecting oneself from sins which could be committed within mix gatherings –

These sins are of 4 types:

A) Backbiting: When mixing with people, it is bound to happen. Listening to backbite is also a sin. Sometimes it leads to swearing and abuse as well. By seclusion one can train oneself and cure oneself from this evil habit.

B) Riyā: Showing off. When mixing, we tend to do some actions to show people. During seclusion, we get the chance to keep ourselves to ourselves, and learn to hide our good deeds from others. Riyā is a huge sickness and very hard to cure.

C) When mixing, we are required to enjoin good and forbid evil. Yet many times we see wrongs committed, but shy away from saying anything, which is a form of disobedience in itself. By staying in seclusion, one can protect himself from this sin.

D) In free mixing we tend to pick up bad habits from people. The environment is pretty much out of control. Sin is not only made easy, it’s made to look good and people are encouraged to sin as much as possible. This is demonic influence. To get away from Shayṭān, we need to sit alone and contemplate over the purpose of life and learn how to behave properly.

3. The third benefit of seclusion is in saving oneself from fitnah, fights, quarrels, and arguments. During times of fitnah, we are told to control our tongues, stay in our homes, and cry over our sins. This is what will purify our hearts and keep us safe.

4. The fourth benefit is in saving oneself from the evils of the community. People are very cunning. They trick you, accuse you, slander you, and backbite you. They make fun of you behind your back.

Staying away from people protects one from these evils.

Sayyidunā ‘Umar (RA) states:

الْعُزْلَةُ رَاحَةٌ مِنْ أَخْلاطِ السُّوءِ
“In seclusion there is safety from evil company.”

5. The fifth benefit is that when one stays away from people, they lose hope of gain from him and he loses hope of gain from them. People don’t pay much attention to those who keep themselves to themselves. They don’t invite such people to WalĪma, da’wats, functions, etc.

When one keeps mixing with people, he develops a love for the material world and is filled with greed for luxuries and wealth.

By sitting in seclusion, one can lose all these vain hopes and gain some contentment of the heart.

One Ḥadīth states: “Look at those who are below you, not at those who are above you. This will teach you not to belittle Allāh’s favour upon you.”

6. The sixth benefit is saving oneself from socialising with the foolish people within society. There are plenty of them out there. Many are lazy, couch potatoes. They don’t do anything good and don’t let anyone else do it.

When one is tested by such people, he will definitely get angry at some stage and speak ill of them and insult them in front of others. This leads to deficiency in religion (dīnī nuqṣān). In seclusion there is safety from this.
(Mukhtaṣar Minhāj al-Qāṣidīn, pp. 89-90)

Imām al-Bukhārī (RA) states:

لِقَاءُ النَّاسِ لَيْسَ يُفِيدُ شَيْئًا
سِوَى الْهَذَيَانِ مِنْ قِيلٍ وَقَالِ
فَأَقْلِلْ مِنْ لِقَاءِ النَّاسِ إِلَّا
لِأَخْذِ الْعِلْمِ أَوْ إِصْلَاحِ حَالِ

To meet and greet with people bears
No fruit except for raving gossip.
Lessen your share of men’s affairs
Beyond repairing state or learning.

جی ڈھونڈتا ہے پھر وہی فرصت کے رات دن
بیٹھا رہوں تصورِ جاناں کئے ہوئے

May Allāh give us the Tawfīq to detach ourselves from this dunyā and attach ourselves with Allāh most high. Āmīn.

Note: Sunnah I’tikāf of ten days for gents is only in Masājid or where five time’s daily ṣalāh is performed. Ladies can perform it at home: Fix one room for ‘ịbādāt. Eat there, sleep there, and do all ‘ịbādāt there.

One of the reasons for I’tikāf in the last ten days is to search for Laylah al-Qadr. So even if you’re sleeping in I’tikāf, you will get Laylah al-Qadr, In shā Allāh.

Please also note that sexual intercourse breaks I’tikāf, and so does hugging and kissing.

Keep us in your duās.

This year I’tikāf starts from Thursday evening 21st April. Get to the masjid before Maghrib ṣalāh, make intention of i’tikāf, and remain there until the moon of Eid is sighted.

May Allah give us Tawfīq and accept. Āmīn.