itikaf the spiritual retreat saleem bhimji

11
I’tikaf, The Spiritual Retreat Written by Saleem Bhimji for Al-Fath Al-Mubin Publications and the Islam ic Publishing House [!al-mubin!org " !i#h!ca$ With information e%tracted from htt#&''!ha(ah!net'Per')'*te+af'  " htt#&''!ete+af!org'html'adab!htm ,,,,, The beautiful images in this article have been taken from www. rahpouyan.com  it should be noted that these photos are from Iran, a country of over 60,000,000 followers of the Ahlul ait !prayers be upon all of them". Thus, the large number of youth and others participating in this great event, something which has only taken form in the last twenty years since the victory of the Islamic revolution, may not be something as seen in other communities around the world – particularly the # $ est%.  Insha&Allah, may Allah !'lory and 'reatness be to (im" make our communities as large and  prosper ous as these and may our youth make ma)imum benefit from this very powerful spiritual retreat. **************  ن ذ  م دق ت ا م  ل !" # ا$ %  ا&'()* ا$ ن ا+) -.'/0 م 1   ل2* 34/ 50 647 50 89:; 8  ا< The +essenger of Allah !blessings of Allah be upon him and his family" has said #The persons who secludes himself !in the +as-id in I&t ikaf" in true faith and hope !for the reward of Allah", all of his previous sins shall be forgiven.% !an/ul mmal, (adith 12003" ne of the greatest traditions of Islam. the s#ar+ of hich has recently been reignited in the hearts of the youth. is that of I/ti+af! 0his is a tradition hich has been in Islam from the first days of the re1elation and is also something +non and recogni(ed in other 2i1ine religions sent

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8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 111

Irsquotikaf The Spiritual Retreat

Written by Saleem Bhimji for Al-Fath Al-Mubin Publications and the Islam ic Publishing House[al-mubinorg ihca$

With information etracted from httampha(ahnetPer)te+af httampete+aforghtmladabhtm

The beautiful images in this article have been taken from wwwrahpouyancom ndash it should be

noted that these photos are from Iran a country of over 60000000 followers of the Ahlul ait

prayers be upon all of them

Thus the large number of youth and others participating in this great event something which

has only taken form in the last twenty years since the victory of the Islamic revolution may not

be something as seen in other communities around the world ndash particularly the $est

InshaampAllah may Allah lory and reatness be to (im make our communities as large and prosperous as these and may our youth make ma)imum benefit from this very powerful spiritual

retreat

ذن م دقت ام ل ()ampا $ا ا

$+) -0ان م 1 ل gtا 8 89 50 647 50 34 2

The +essenger of Allah blessings of Allah be upon him and his family has said The persons

who secludes himself in the +as-id in Iamptikaf in true faith and hope for the reward of Allah all

of his previous sins shall be forgiven anul mmal (adith 12003

ne of the greatest traditions of Islam the sar+ of hich has recently been reignited in the

hearts of the youth is that of Iti+af 0his is a tradition hich has been in Islam from the firstdays of the re1elation and is also something +non and recogni(ed in other 2i1ine religions sent

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 and racticed by them 6 more or lessamp

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gt) نا

gtltد gt 64 GH gt م$ E gt3F0 gt )

قا

gtltم lt K0ت 0 $Jم مL Mا 2gt gt N اL K4 ل O M ltمlt Pاlt Q gt 0لlt 3 lt L gt4 gtا ) gt984649ذ 983072

9U $ amp V ل 0 WX K V lt 0ل gt3X ا gt lt 0ل gt3Y اZ K ل 4

ldquoAnd when We made the House a pilgrimage for mankind and a (place of) security and saidlsquoAppoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of rahim a$am-e-

rahimamp And We enoined rahim and smail saying lsquourify y House for those who visit

(it) and those who aide (in it) for devotion those who ow down (and) those who prostrate

themselvesamp+ (uratul a$arah () erse 01)

0he great Masajid of Islam located in cities such as Ma++ah Madinah )erbala 7ajaf

Samarrah )adhamain 8um Isfahan Mashad and other major Muslim cities ha1e hosted thissiritual retreat for o1er 9 years rimarily in the ltWhite 7ights= of gtajab 6 the 9th 9th

and 9th and more secifically in the month of gtamadhan 6 that too rimarily in the last 9

nights of the blessed month

Since the life of the transient orld +ees us busy for the hole year in studies or+ business

tra1eling and other such things and causes us to be negligent of the net life e may sometimes

thin+ that these thing are the sole urose in life and thus e end u forgetting our true goal 6 Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 0hus it is for this reason that Iti+af is referred to as

lt0he sring of life in a orld struc+ ith the drought of negligence of Allah 34lory and

4reatness be to Him5=

It is the negligence of oursel1es and our reator hich is gi1en a fresh breath of life in this shortthree day eriod of Iti+af In addition e can once again find oursel1es and our ord and return bac+ to Him no 3siritually return bac+ to Him5 before e are forced to return bac+ to him by

the searation of the soul from the body in a state of comlete negligence of Him

0he eriod of Iti+af is the best time to force ones self to sit and thin+ and reflect on the self and

the orld aroundC the eriod of the Iti+af is the best time to forget the orries of the transient

orld and to return to the soul and the reator of the soulC the eriod of the Iti+af is the best

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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time to return bac+ to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 in true reentance for our sins

committed through the year and to concentrate on the Words of Allah in the 8uran the rayers

and sulications used to call uon Him and all of those things hich are related to Him and HisSacred ssence

Iti+af is not a three day holiday from or+ or schoolC it is not a time to sit in the Masjid incomlete ignorance of ones self and his siritual surroundingsC it is not the 1enue to ass ones

time in idleness Iti+af is not the act of sleeing and snoring in the Masjid and +illing timeD

0ruly Iti+af is a three day siritual retreat to build the selfC it is the act of lea1ing ones ersonal

house to be in the ser1ice of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 and to recogni(e ones self in

Allah s house 3the Masjid5 hile at the same time being a guest in the House of Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 6 eating His food hich He has sent and being around His ser1antshich He has guided

[efiiti] ]f Irsquotikaf

0he literal definition of the ord Iti+af is to stay in a articular lace hoe1er in the definition

of the faith of Islam this ord means to stay in the Masjid for a articular time eriod in theorshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 hile maintaining certain conditions hich

shall be co1ered later on in this article

In the state of Iti+af a erson can stand sit slee etcD and there is not one articular Eform

that this retreat must be carried out in 3unli+e the Salat hich has a secific form to it5 What is

imortant in this eriod is to obey the commandments of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5

to refrain from the things hich He has rohibited 3both in life in general and in this three daysojourn5 and to be in the ser1ice of Him

^]_iti]` ]f Irsquotikaf

0here are a fe conditions for the erson ho ishes to arta+e in the 2i1ine blessing of Iti+afamp

Itelliebe cdlg

0hus the erson must not be mentally unstableC

True aith cIag

0hus although a 7on-Muslim can erform the Iti+af and it may be correct from the oint of 1ie of the outer actions hoe1er to earn the 2i1ine gteard he or she must be a true belie1erC

Iteti] cjiatg

Iti+af must be erformed for the urose of see+ing closeness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness beto Him5 and not to sho off or due to societal or family or eer ressureC

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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a`ti cSag [uri Irsquotikaf

0he erson ho is not able to fast for hate1er reason is deri1ed from the 2i1ine grace of

being able to erform Iti+af He or she may still gain a reard from Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 for ha1ing the intention to erform this act of orshi hoe1er cannot directly

articiate in this act as ill be mentioned

0herefore if a erson is a tra1eler or one ho is not able to fast due to some danger to his life he

cannot arta+e in Iti+af Hoe1er if the tra1eler ho ants to erform the Iti+af ma+es an oaththat he ill fast for three days on a tri then he can erform the Iti+af e1en though his Salat

may be rayed as that of a tra1eler In addition if one needs to erform any sort of fasting

hether it be obligatory recommended a enitence for a missed fast on behalf of someone elseetcD then ones Iti+af ill be correct ith the erformance of this tye of fast

meri``i]

ne must ha1e the ermission of the erson hom he needs to gain ermission from to carry outthis act 3guardian husband etcD5 to ensure the correctness of the Iti+af

Placeamp ne must stay inside the Masjid for the entire eriod for his Iti+af to be correct 3the rules

of this ill be elained in more detail laterD5

Tie meri]_ cnethg ]f the Irsquotikaf

0he erson erforming Iti+af must stay in this state for a minimum of three comlete days from

sunrise of the first day until the sunset of the third day 3for eamle if he starts Iti+af on Monday

at Fajr time he must comlete it until 0hursday at Maghrib time5 0he first to days of Iti+af

are recommended and if a erson ishes he may lea1e after this eriod and end his Iti+afhoe1er if he comletes to full days of Iti+af in the Masjid 3until the Maghrib of the second

day5 then it becomes obligatory uon him to continue his fast on the third day and to stay in the

Masjid for the remaining eriod of his Iti+af 6 meaning till the time of Maghrib of the third day

Similarly if a erson goes into Iti+af for days the th day becomes obligatoryC and if he goes

into Iti+af for G days then the th day becomes obligatory and so onD

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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0hus Iti+af is for full days and nights hich are in beteen these days and this eriod must

be maintained In this ruling just as that of the daily Salat the meaning of three comlete days

means three eriods of Fajr to Maghrib

Tie ]f Irsquotikaf

Anytime in hich fasting is ermissible is an oortune time for Iti+af and the state of Iti+af

does not ha1e a secific time related to it f course the ltWhite 2ays= hich are the 9th 9th

and 9th of the lunar month and the last ten days of the Month of gtamadhan are the best timesfor this siritual eercise 0herefore one cannot ma+e Iti+af on the day of Eid since it is

forbidden to fast on that day and similarly he cannot start Iti+af to days before Eid

It has been mentioned that the Prohet of Islam 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5

used to erform Iti+af in the Month of gtamadhan in the first 9 days 3three days5 the second 9

days 3three days5 and then in the last ten days 3three days5 as ell

meri``i] ]f the ouar_iaAs mentioned re1iously in assing Iti+af erformed ithout the ermission of his guardian or any erson hose rights ould be ta+en aay if the erson as to go in a state of Iti+af is not

correct 0hus it is for this reason that the ife must also ta+e her husbands ermission if her

Iti+af ould infringe on martial rights ith his ife Similarly if ones arents are not hay or are concerned for their son or daughter and do not ermit him to ma+e Iti+af then the child is

not ermitted to go forth for this 3recommended5 act of orshi

The Iteti] cjiahg f]r Irsquotikaf

0he intention for Iti+af is of three main tyes 0he most common form is the recommendedIti+af hoe1er it can also become obligatory 3ajib5 if a erson ma+es an oath or romise toAllah is for the fulfillment of something 3and in that oath he had romised Allah is that he ould

erform Iti+af if his rayer is fulfilled5 0he third intention hich can be made for Iti+af is that

it is being done on behalf of someone else 6 similar to ho eole erform Hajj for their deceased relati1es or ma+e u missed rayers of arents ho ha1e assed aay or others

0herefore it is necessary for the correctness of Iti+af to secify the intention and the tye that

one ants to erform

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Tie a_ mlabe ]f the Iteti] ]f the Irsquotikaf a_ the mlabe ]f Irsquotikaf

0he intention must be made from the beginning of the time of Fajr on the first day and it is not

ermissible to delay it until the end of the time of Fajr 3just before sunrise5 hoe1er if just

before the rising of the sun of Fajr one ma+es his intention this ill still be sufficient At thetime of ma+ing intention for Iti+af the erson must be inside the Masjid in hich heshe ishes

to erform Iti+af hoe1er if at the beginning time of Fajr he lea1es to redo his Wudhu or for

another imortant tas+ then he is still able to do his intention 3uon returning5

0he lace of Iti+af must be the Masjid and therefore erforming Iti+af in any lace other than aMasjid such as a room or hall used for Salat a Musalla 3secific building hich is made only for

Jamat Salat and other laces li+e this 3hich are not roer Masajid5 is not correct

0he referential order of here Iti+af should be erformed isamp Masjidul Haram Masjid an-7abi

3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 Masjid )ufa and then the Masjid of Basrah 6 after these then any other ltentral= and ltongregational= Masjid is ermissible to erform the

Iti+af in

By stating this it clearly means that in laces li+e the traditonal Hussainiyah or Imambargah and

other laces such as this it is not correct to erform the Iti+af6 this act is limited to the four mentioned Masajid and then the entral Masjid of a city

Based on this ruling although the scholars ermit Iti+afin these other buildings 3hich are not

roer Masjid5 hoe1er the secific rulings of Iti+af ould not hold in other such 1enues If one as to erform Iti+af in any lace other than the ltentral Masjid= then he ould need to do

so ith the intention that this act ould bring him closer to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be toHim5 and that he is hoing for a reard in this act 3of being done outside of a roer Masjid as er the Islamic legislations5

0herefore if there are three or four Masjid in one city since they are not of the four Masjidhich Iti+af can be erformed in 3ith that secial intention5 the eole may use all of them for

the rogram of Iti+af

0he meaning of the entral or ongregational Masjid is that hich a majority of the eole

freKuent 3other than this Masjid ould be those referred to ith names such as the Masjid of the

Ba(ar the Masjid of a School the Masjid inside a factory etcD5 and it is not ermissible to

erform the Iti+af in these laces

0he courtyards and entrances of the Masjid are not considered as a art of the Masjid ecet in

the case that they are recogni(ed and +non 3by others5 to be an actual art of the Masjid If a erson doubts if the lace in hich he is is actually a Masjid or not then according to the rules

he is not ermitted to erform Iti+af there until he ascertains and has certainty that the lace

here he is truly is a art of the Masjid

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mr]hiite_ bt` [uri Irsquotikaf

0he rohibited accts during the state of Iti+af includeamp

Alying erfume and smelling erfume ith the intention of deri1ing leasure 0his act ma+es

Iti+af null and 1oid and is also a sin

2iscussions and arguments both in relation to the orld and the faith 0his means that a erson

argues ith another to ro1e that he is better or smarter or that he +nos more etcD Hoe1er if a erson must argue or debate to uhold the truth and destroy falsehood it is ermissible - rather

this is the best form of orshi and ser1itude to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 during

this noble state

Buying and selling anything

2eri1ing leasure from the oosite se in any ay 6 holding hands hugging +issing etcD is

comletely forbidden in the state of Iti+af

If any of these things are erformed ones Iti+af becomes 1oid and in certain cases a )affarahor enitence must be aid out 3hich ill be discussed belo5

j]te

Seeing as ho the erson in Iti+af is also in a state of fasting all of those things hich ma+e the

fast 1oid must not be erformed hich includeamp eating drin+ing seual intercoursemasturbation 3hich is a sin at all times5 ascribing lies to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 the 7oble Prohet 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 or the Aimmah

3rayers be uon all of them5 salloing thic+ dust 3and smo+ing as an etension5 immersingones head in ater 3such as in a simming ool5 remaining in a state of ritual imurity until thetime of Fajr and 1omiting If any of these are done then one must ma+e u the fast in those

ays mentioned in the boo+s of egal gtulings

In addition the rights of others ho are in the Masajid must also be obser1ed 0he resect and

honor of the Masjid must be obser1ed and one should try to stay in a state of Wudhu the entire

eriod

Also the cleanliness of the Masjid must also be maintained

0hose in this state should also try and +ee aay from tal+ing about issues of the transient orld3tal+ing about anything other than Allah5 are some of the things hich ha1e been mentioned in

the boo+s hich highlight the siritual traits of this state

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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neaqi the a`si_ [uri the meri]_ ]f Irsquotikaf

It is not ermissible to lea1e the Masjid during the state of Iti+af ecet for a reason andnecessity hich ould 3a5 be a logical and reasonable ecuseC 3b5 be deemed so according to the

general oulation and 3c5 the religious rules of Islam dictate

0hus in the folloing eamles it ould be ermitted to lea1e the Masjid hile in the state of

Iti+afamp going to a doctor in cases of emergency going to the bathroom 3as these are logicalreasons5 1isiting someone ho is 1ery sic+ and ta+ing art in the burial rites of a erson IF the

erson ho has assed aay as a close relation to the erson erforming Iti+af 3hich ould be a necessity deemed so by the general consensus and oulation5 or to erform a 4husl3if

needed5 or to do Wudhu 3hich are necessities hich the religion dictates5

ea1ing the Masjid for classes 3school5 or for study sessions ith a study artner or for 0abligh

and roagation of the faith and other things such as this is not ermissible as they do not fall

into any of the three categories mentioned abo1e 3since hen a erson ma+es the intention to

erform Iti+af he has also ta+en into consideration that he ill not be attending school and hasmade the necessary arrangements beforehand Similarly the one engaged in Iti+af +nos from

beforehand that if his Efield of or+ is 0abligh that he ould be disconnecting himself from thatEjob for this eriod5

If a erson erforms his Iti+af in a lace in hich another erson as already in Iti+af 3but had

left for a brief moment5 hoe1er he has left his rayer mat or other signs that he as coming bac+ to that sot then the second erson must lea1e that area otherise he ould be considered

as a usurer of that iece of land here he is erforming his Iti+af His Iti+afould be correct if

he continues to stay there hoe1er he ould ha1e committed a sin

If a erson in Iti+af has a et dream and needs to erform a 4husl hoe1er it is not ossible to

do this in the Masjid 3or its comound5 it is ob1iously obligatory uon him to lea1e the Masjid

and his Iti+af ill be considered null and 1oid 0he same rule alies to sisters ho are not ableto stay inside the Masjid due to their monthly cycle since they are not ermitted to stay inside a

Masjid they too must immediately lea1e the Masjid and for them too their Iti+af is null and

1oid

According to obligatory recaution if a erson lea1es the Masjid for a necessity he must choose

the shortest and closest route to lea1e and return by and it is obligatory that he does not +eehimself out of the Masjid for more than the needed time eriod It is also obligatory that he does

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 and racticed by them 6 more or lessamp

= gt 3 gt 0 gt A B gt C 2gt D gt lt +ا3 ) gt E gt3F0 gt ) ل

gt) نا

gtltد gt 64 GH gt م$ E gt3F0 gt )

قا

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ldquoAnd when We made the House a pilgrimage for mankind and a (place of) security and saidlsquoAppoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of rahim a$am-e-

rahimamp And We enoined rahim and smail saying lsquourify y House for those who visit

(it) and those who aide (in it) for devotion those who ow down (and) those who prostrate

themselvesamp+ (uratul a$arah () erse 01)

0he great Masajid of Islam located in cities such as Ma++ah Madinah )erbala 7ajaf

Samarrah )adhamain 8um Isfahan Mashad and other major Muslim cities ha1e hosted thissiritual retreat for o1er 9 years rimarily in the ltWhite 7ights= of gtajab 6 the 9th 9th

and 9th and more secifically in the month of gtamadhan 6 that too rimarily in the last 9

nights of the blessed month

Since the life of the transient orld +ees us busy for the hole year in studies or+ business

tra1eling and other such things and causes us to be negligent of the net life e may sometimes

thin+ that these thing are the sole urose in life and thus e end u forgetting our true goal 6 Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 0hus it is for this reason that Iti+af is referred to as

lt0he sring of life in a orld struc+ ith the drought of negligence of Allah 34lory and

4reatness be to Him5=

It is the negligence of oursel1es and our reator hich is gi1en a fresh breath of life in this shortthree day eriod of Iti+af In addition e can once again find oursel1es and our ord and return bac+ to Him no 3siritually return bac+ to Him5 before e are forced to return bac+ to him by

the searation of the soul from the body in a state of comlete negligence of Him

0he eriod of Iti+af is the best time to force ones self to sit and thin+ and reflect on the self and

the orld aroundC the eriod of the Iti+af is the best time to forget the orries of the transient

orld and to return to the soul and the reator of the soulC the eriod of the Iti+af is the best

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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time to return bac+ to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 in true reentance for our sins

committed through the year and to concentrate on the Words of Allah in the 8uran the rayers

and sulications used to call uon Him and all of those things hich are related to Him and HisSacred ssence

Iti+af is not a three day holiday from or+ or schoolC it is not a time to sit in the Masjid incomlete ignorance of ones self and his siritual surroundingsC it is not the 1enue to ass ones

time in idleness Iti+af is not the act of sleeing and snoring in the Masjid and +illing timeD

0ruly Iti+af is a three day siritual retreat to build the selfC it is the act of lea1ing ones ersonal

house to be in the ser1ice of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 and to recogni(e ones self in

Allah s house 3the Masjid5 hile at the same time being a guest in the House of Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 6 eating His food hich He has sent and being around His ser1antshich He has guided

[efiiti] ]f Irsquotikaf

0he literal definition of the ord Iti+af is to stay in a articular lace hoe1er in the definition

of the faith of Islam this ord means to stay in the Masjid for a articular time eriod in theorshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 hile maintaining certain conditions hich

shall be co1ered later on in this article

In the state of Iti+af a erson can stand sit slee etcD and there is not one articular Eform

that this retreat must be carried out in 3unli+e the Salat hich has a secific form to it5 What is

imortant in this eriod is to obey the commandments of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5

to refrain from the things hich He has rohibited 3both in life in general and in this three daysojourn5 and to be in the ser1ice of Him

^]_iti]` ]f Irsquotikaf

0here are a fe conditions for the erson ho ishes to arta+e in the 2i1ine blessing of Iti+afamp

Itelliebe cdlg

0hus the erson must not be mentally unstableC

True aith cIag

0hus although a 7on-Muslim can erform the Iti+af and it may be correct from the oint of 1ie of the outer actions hoe1er to earn the 2i1ine gteard he or she must be a true belie1erC

Iteti] cjiatg

Iti+af must be erformed for the urose of see+ing closeness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness beto Him5 and not to sho off or due to societal or family or eer ressureC

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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a`ti cSag [uri Irsquotikaf

0he erson ho is not able to fast for hate1er reason is deri1ed from the 2i1ine grace of

being able to erform Iti+af He or she may still gain a reard from Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 for ha1ing the intention to erform this act of orshi hoe1er cannot directly

articiate in this act as ill be mentioned

0herefore if a erson is a tra1eler or one ho is not able to fast due to some danger to his life he

cannot arta+e in Iti+af Hoe1er if the tra1eler ho ants to erform the Iti+af ma+es an oaththat he ill fast for three days on a tri then he can erform the Iti+af e1en though his Salat

may be rayed as that of a tra1eler In addition if one needs to erform any sort of fasting

hether it be obligatory recommended a enitence for a missed fast on behalf of someone elseetcD then ones Iti+af ill be correct ith the erformance of this tye of fast

meri``i]

ne must ha1e the ermission of the erson hom he needs to gain ermission from to carry outthis act 3guardian husband etcD5 to ensure the correctness of the Iti+af

Placeamp ne must stay inside the Masjid for the entire eriod for his Iti+af to be correct 3the rules

of this ill be elained in more detail laterD5

Tie meri]_ cnethg ]f the Irsquotikaf

0he erson erforming Iti+af must stay in this state for a minimum of three comlete days from

sunrise of the first day until the sunset of the third day 3for eamle if he starts Iti+af on Monday

at Fajr time he must comlete it until 0hursday at Maghrib time5 0he first to days of Iti+af

are recommended and if a erson ishes he may lea1e after this eriod and end his Iti+afhoe1er if he comletes to full days of Iti+af in the Masjid 3until the Maghrib of the second

day5 then it becomes obligatory uon him to continue his fast on the third day and to stay in the

Masjid for the remaining eriod of his Iti+af 6 meaning till the time of Maghrib of the third day

Similarly if a erson goes into Iti+af for days the th day becomes obligatoryC and if he goes

into Iti+af for G days then the th day becomes obligatory and so onD

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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0hus Iti+af is for full days and nights hich are in beteen these days and this eriod must

be maintained In this ruling just as that of the daily Salat the meaning of three comlete days

means three eriods of Fajr to Maghrib

Tie ]f Irsquotikaf

Anytime in hich fasting is ermissible is an oortune time for Iti+af and the state of Iti+af

does not ha1e a secific time related to it f course the ltWhite 2ays= hich are the 9th 9th

and 9th of the lunar month and the last ten days of the Month of gtamadhan are the best timesfor this siritual eercise 0herefore one cannot ma+e Iti+af on the day of Eid since it is

forbidden to fast on that day and similarly he cannot start Iti+af to days before Eid

It has been mentioned that the Prohet of Islam 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5

used to erform Iti+af in the Month of gtamadhan in the first 9 days 3three days5 the second 9

days 3three days5 and then in the last ten days 3three days5 as ell

meri``i] ]f the ouar_iaAs mentioned re1iously in assing Iti+af erformed ithout the ermission of his guardian or any erson hose rights ould be ta+en aay if the erson as to go in a state of Iti+af is not

correct 0hus it is for this reason that the ife must also ta+e her husbands ermission if her

Iti+af ould infringe on martial rights ith his ife Similarly if ones arents are not hay or are concerned for their son or daughter and do not ermit him to ma+e Iti+af then the child is

not ermitted to go forth for this 3recommended5 act of orshi

The Iteti] cjiahg f]r Irsquotikaf

0he intention for Iti+af is of three main tyes 0he most common form is the recommendedIti+af hoe1er it can also become obligatory 3ajib5 if a erson ma+es an oath or romise toAllah is for the fulfillment of something 3and in that oath he had romised Allah is that he ould

erform Iti+af if his rayer is fulfilled5 0he third intention hich can be made for Iti+af is that

it is being done on behalf of someone else 6 similar to ho eole erform Hajj for their deceased relati1es or ma+e u missed rayers of arents ho ha1e assed aay or others

0herefore it is necessary for the correctness of Iti+af to secify the intention and the tye that

one ants to erform

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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Tie a_ mlabe ]f the Iteti] ]f the Irsquotikaf a_ the mlabe ]f Irsquotikaf

0he intention must be made from the beginning of the time of Fajr on the first day and it is not

ermissible to delay it until the end of the time of Fajr 3just before sunrise5 hoe1er if just

before the rising of the sun of Fajr one ma+es his intention this ill still be sufficient At thetime of ma+ing intention for Iti+af the erson must be inside the Masjid in hich heshe ishes

to erform Iti+af hoe1er if at the beginning time of Fajr he lea1es to redo his Wudhu or for

another imortant tas+ then he is still able to do his intention 3uon returning5

0he lace of Iti+af must be the Masjid and therefore erforming Iti+af in any lace other than aMasjid such as a room or hall used for Salat a Musalla 3secific building hich is made only for

Jamat Salat and other laces li+e this 3hich are not roer Masajid5 is not correct

0he referential order of here Iti+af should be erformed isamp Masjidul Haram Masjid an-7abi

3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 Masjid )ufa and then the Masjid of Basrah 6 after these then any other ltentral= and ltongregational= Masjid is ermissible to erform the

Iti+af in

By stating this it clearly means that in laces li+e the traditonal Hussainiyah or Imambargah and

other laces such as this it is not correct to erform the Iti+af6 this act is limited to the four mentioned Masajid and then the entral Masjid of a city

Based on this ruling although the scholars ermit Iti+afin these other buildings 3hich are not

roer Masjid5 hoe1er the secific rulings of Iti+af ould not hold in other such 1enues If one as to erform Iti+af in any lace other than the ltentral Masjid= then he ould need to do

so ith the intention that this act ould bring him closer to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be toHim5 and that he is hoing for a reard in this act 3of being done outside of a roer Masjid as er the Islamic legislations5

0herefore if there are three or four Masjid in one city since they are not of the four Masjidhich Iti+af can be erformed in 3ith that secial intention5 the eole may use all of them for

the rogram of Iti+af

0he meaning of the entral or ongregational Masjid is that hich a majority of the eole

freKuent 3other than this Masjid ould be those referred to ith names such as the Masjid of the

Ba(ar the Masjid of a School the Masjid inside a factory etcD5 and it is not ermissible to

erform the Iti+af in these laces

0he courtyards and entrances of the Masjid are not considered as a art of the Masjid ecet in

the case that they are recogni(ed and +non 3by others5 to be an actual art of the Masjid If a erson doubts if the lace in hich he is is actually a Masjid or not then according to the rules

he is not ermitted to erform Iti+af there until he ascertains and has certainty that the lace

here he is truly is a art of the Masjid

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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mr]hiite_ bt` [uri Irsquotikaf

0he rohibited accts during the state of Iti+af includeamp

Alying erfume and smelling erfume ith the intention of deri1ing leasure 0his act ma+es

Iti+af null and 1oid and is also a sin

2iscussions and arguments both in relation to the orld and the faith 0his means that a erson

argues ith another to ro1e that he is better or smarter or that he +nos more etcD Hoe1er if a erson must argue or debate to uhold the truth and destroy falsehood it is ermissible - rather

this is the best form of orshi and ser1itude to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 during

this noble state

Buying and selling anything

2eri1ing leasure from the oosite se in any ay 6 holding hands hugging +issing etcD is

comletely forbidden in the state of Iti+af

If any of these things are erformed ones Iti+af becomes 1oid and in certain cases a )affarahor enitence must be aid out 3hich ill be discussed belo5

j]te

Seeing as ho the erson in Iti+af is also in a state of fasting all of those things hich ma+e the

fast 1oid must not be erformed hich includeamp eating drin+ing seual intercoursemasturbation 3hich is a sin at all times5 ascribing lies to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 the 7oble Prohet 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 or the Aimmah

3rayers be uon all of them5 salloing thic+ dust 3and smo+ing as an etension5 immersingones head in ater 3such as in a simming ool5 remaining in a state of ritual imurity until thetime of Fajr and 1omiting If any of these are done then one must ma+e u the fast in those

ays mentioned in the boo+s of egal gtulings

In addition the rights of others ho are in the Masajid must also be obser1ed 0he resect and

honor of the Masjid must be obser1ed and one should try to stay in a state of Wudhu the entire

eriod

Also the cleanliness of the Masjid must also be maintained

0hose in this state should also try and +ee aay from tal+ing about issues of the transient orld3tal+ing about anything other than Allah5 are some of the things hich ha1e been mentioned in

the boo+s hich highlight the siritual traits of this state

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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neaqi the a`si_ [uri the meri]_ ]f Irsquotikaf

It is not ermissible to lea1e the Masjid during the state of Iti+af ecet for a reason andnecessity hich ould 3a5 be a logical and reasonable ecuseC 3b5 be deemed so according to the

general oulation and 3c5 the religious rules of Islam dictate

0hus in the folloing eamles it ould be ermitted to lea1e the Masjid hile in the state of

Iti+afamp going to a doctor in cases of emergency going to the bathroom 3as these are logicalreasons5 1isiting someone ho is 1ery sic+ and ta+ing art in the burial rites of a erson IF the

erson ho has assed aay as a close relation to the erson erforming Iti+af 3hich ould be a necessity deemed so by the general consensus and oulation5 or to erform a 4husl3if

needed5 or to do Wudhu 3hich are necessities hich the religion dictates5

ea1ing the Masjid for classes 3school5 or for study sessions ith a study artner or for 0abligh

and roagation of the faith and other things such as this is not ermissible as they do not fall

into any of the three categories mentioned abo1e 3since hen a erson ma+es the intention to

erform Iti+af he has also ta+en into consideration that he ill not be attending school and hasmade the necessary arrangements beforehand Similarly the one engaged in Iti+af +nos from

beforehand that if his Efield of or+ is 0abligh that he ould be disconnecting himself from thatEjob for this eriod5

If a erson erforms his Iti+af in a lace in hich another erson as already in Iti+af 3but had

left for a brief moment5 hoe1er he has left his rayer mat or other signs that he as coming bac+ to that sot then the second erson must lea1e that area otherise he ould be considered

as a usurer of that iece of land here he is erforming his Iti+af His Iti+afould be correct if

he continues to stay there hoe1er he ould ha1e committed a sin

If a erson in Iti+af has a et dream and needs to erform a 4husl hoe1er it is not ossible to

do this in the Masjid 3or its comound5 it is ob1iously obligatory uon him to lea1e the Masjid

and his Iti+af ill be considered null and 1oid 0he same rule alies to sisters ho are not ableto stay inside the Masjid due to their monthly cycle since they are not ermitted to stay inside a

Masjid they too must immediately lea1e the Masjid and for them too their Iti+af is null and

1oid

According to obligatory recaution if a erson lea1es the Masjid for a necessity he must choose

the shortest and closest route to lea1e and return by and it is obligatory that he does not +eehimself out of the Masjid for more than the needed time eriod It is also obligatory that he does

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 311

time to return bac+ to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 in true reentance for our sins

committed through the year and to concentrate on the Words of Allah in the 8uran the rayers

and sulications used to call uon Him and all of those things hich are related to Him and HisSacred ssence

Iti+af is not a three day holiday from or+ or schoolC it is not a time to sit in the Masjid incomlete ignorance of ones self and his siritual surroundingsC it is not the 1enue to ass ones

time in idleness Iti+af is not the act of sleeing and snoring in the Masjid and +illing timeD

0ruly Iti+af is a three day siritual retreat to build the selfC it is the act of lea1ing ones ersonal

house to be in the ser1ice of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 and to recogni(e ones self in

Allah s house 3the Masjid5 hile at the same time being a guest in the House of Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 6 eating His food hich He has sent and being around His ser1antshich He has guided

[efiiti] ]f Irsquotikaf

0he literal definition of the ord Iti+af is to stay in a articular lace hoe1er in the definition

of the faith of Islam this ord means to stay in the Masjid for a articular time eriod in theorshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 hile maintaining certain conditions hich

shall be co1ered later on in this article

In the state of Iti+af a erson can stand sit slee etcD and there is not one articular Eform

that this retreat must be carried out in 3unli+e the Salat hich has a secific form to it5 What is

imortant in this eriod is to obey the commandments of Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5

to refrain from the things hich He has rohibited 3both in life in general and in this three daysojourn5 and to be in the ser1ice of Him

^]_iti]` ]f Irsquotikaf

0here are a fe conditions for the erson ho ishes to arta+e in the 2i1ine blessing of Iti+afamp

Itelliebe cdlg

0hus the erson must not be mentally unstableC

True aith cIag

0hus although a 7on-Muslim can erform the Iti+af and it may be correct from the oint of 1ie of the outer actions hoe1er to earn the 2i1ine gteard he or she must be a true belie1erC

Iteti] cjiatg

Iti+af must be erformed for the urose of see+ing closeness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness beto Him5 and not to sho off or due to societal or family or eer ressureC

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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a`ti cSag [uri Irsquotikaf

0he erson ho is not able to fast for hate1er reason is deri1ed from the 2i1ine grace of

being able to erform Iti+af He or she may still gain a reard from Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 for ha1ing the intention to erform this act of orshi hoe1er cannot directly

articiate in this act as ill be mentioned

0herefore if a erson is a tra1eler or one ho is not able to fast due to some danger to his life he

cannot arta+e in Iti+af Hoe1er if the tra1eler ho ants to erform the Iti+af ma+es an oaththat he ill fast for three days on a tri then he can erform the Iti+af e1en though his Salat

may be rayed as that of a tra1eler In addition if one needs to erform any sort of fasting

hether it be obligatory recommended a enitence for a missed fast on behalf of someone elseetcD then ones Iti+af ill be correct ith the erformance of this tye of fast

meri``i]

ne must ha1e the ermission of the erson hom he needs to gain ermission from to carry outthis act 3guardian husband etcD5 to ensure the correctness of the Iti+af

Placeamp ne must stay inside the Masjid for the entire eriod for his Iti+af to be correct 3the rules

of this ill be elained in more detail laterD5

Tie meri]_ cnethg ]f the Irsquotikaf

0he erson erforming Iti+af must stay in this state for a minimum of three comlete days from

sunrise of the first day until the sunset of the third day 3for eamle if he starts Iti+af on Monday

at Fajr time he must comlete it until 0hursday at Maghrib time5 0he first to days of Iti+af

are recommended and if a erson ishes he may lea1e after this eriod and end his Iti+afhoe1er if he comletes to full days of Iti+af in the Masjid 3until the Maghrib of the second

day5 then it becomes obligatory uon him to continue his fast on the third day and to stay in the

Masjid for the remaining eriod of his Iti+af 6 meaning till the time of Maghrib of the third day

Similarly if a erson goes into Iti+af for days the th day becomes obligatoryC and if he goes

into Iti+af for G days then the th day becomes obligatory and so onD

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0hus Iti+af is for full days and nights hich are in beteen these days and this eriod must

be maintained In this ruling just as that of the daily Salat the meaning of three comlete days

means three eriods of Fajr to Maghrib

Tie ]f Irsquotikaf

Anytime in hich fasting is ermissible is an oortune time for Iti+af and the state of Iti+af

does not ha1e a secific time related to it f course the ltWhite 2ays= hich are the 9th 9th

and 9th of the lunar month and the last ten days of the Month of gtamadhan are the best timesfor this siritual eercise 0herefore one cannot ma+e Iti+af on the day of Eid since it is

forbidden to fast on that day and similarly he cannot start Iti+af to days before Eid

It has been mentioned that the Prohet of Islam 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5

used to erform Iti+af in the Month of gtamadhan in the first 9 days 3three days5 the second 9

days 3three days5 and then in the last ten days 3three days5 as ell

meri``i] ]f the ouar_iaAs mentioned re1iously in assing Iti+af erformed ithout the ermission of his guardian or any erson hose rights ould be ta+en aay if the erson as to go in a state of Iti+af is not

correct 0hus it is for this reason that the ife must also ta+e her husbands ermission if her

Iti+af ould infringe on martial rights ith his ife Similarly if ones arents are not hay or are concerned for their son or daughter and do not ermit him to ma+e Iti+af then the child is

not ermitted to go forth for this 3recommended5 act of orshi

The Iteti] cjiahg f]r Irsquotikaf

0he intention for Iti+af is of three main tyes 0he most common form is the recommendedIti+af hoe1er it can also become obligatory 3ajib5 if a erson ma+es an oath or romise toAllah is for the fulfillment of something 3and in that oath he had romised Allah is that he ould

erform Iti+af if his rayer is fulfilled5 0he third intention hich can be made for Iti+af is that

it is being done on behalf of someone else 6 similar to ho eole erform Hajj for their deceased relati1es or ma+e u missed rayers of arents ho ha1e assed aay or others

0herefore it is necessary for the correctness of Iti+af to secify the intention and the tye that

one ants to erform

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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Tie a_ mlabe ]f the Iteti] ]f the Irsquotikaf a_ the mlabe ]f Irsquotikaf

0he intention must be made from the beginning of the time of Fajr on the first day and it is not

ermissible to delay it until the end of the time of Fajr 3just before sunrise5 hoe1er if just

before the rising of the sun of Fajr one ma+es his intention this ill still be sufficient At thetime of ma+ing intention for Iti+af the erson must be inside the Masjid in hich heshe ishes

to erform Iti+af hoe1er if at the beginning time of Fajr he lea1es to redo his Wudhu or for

another imortant tas+ then he is still able to do his intention 3uon returning5

0he lace of Iti+af must be the Masjid and therefore erforming Iti+af in any lace other than aMasjid such as a room or hall used for Salat a Musalla 3secific building hich is made only for

Jamat Salat and other laces li+e this 3hich are not roer Masajid5 is not correct

0he referential order of here Iti+af should be erformed isamp Masjidul Haram Masjid an-7abi

3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 Masjid )ufa and then the Masjid of Basrah 6 after these then any other ltentral= and ltongregational= Masjid is ermissible to erform the

Iti+af in

By stating this it clearly means that in laces li+e the traditonal Hussainiyah or Imambargah and

other laces such as this it is not correct to erform the Iti+af6 this act is limited to the four mentioned Masajid and then the entral Masjid of a city

Based on this ruling although the scholars ermit Iti+afin these other buildings 3hich are not

roer Masjid5 hoe1er the secific rulings of Iti+af ould not hold in other such 1enues If one as to erform Iti+af in any lace other than the ltentral Masjid= then he ould need to do

so ith the intention that this act ould bring him closer to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be toHim5 and that he is hoing for a reard in this act 3of being done outside of a roer Masjid as er the Islamic legislations5

0herefore if there are three or four Masjid in one city since they are not of the four Masjidhich Iti+af can be erformed in 3ith that secial intention5 the eole may use all of them for

the rogram of Iti+af

0he meaning of the entral or ongregational Masjid is that hich a majority of the eole

freKuent 3other than this Masjid ould be those referred to ith names such as the Masjid of the

Ba(ar the Masjid of a School the Masjid inside a factory etcD5 and it is not ermissible to

erform the Iti+af in these laces

0he courtyards and entrances of the Masjid are not considered as a art of the Masjid ecet in

the case that they are recogni(ed and +non 3by others5 to be an actual art of the Masjid If a erson doubts if the lace in hich he is is actually a Masjid or not then according to the rules

he is not ermitted to erform Iti+af there until he ascertains and has certainty that the lace

here he is truly is a art of the Masjid

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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mr]hiite_ bt` [uri Irsquotikaf

0he rohibited accts during the state of Iti+af includeamp

Alying erfume and smelling erfume ith the intention of deri1ing leasure 0his act ma+es

Iti+af null and 1oid and is also a sin

2iscussions and arguments both in relation to the orld and the faith 0his means that a erson

argues ith another to ro1e that he is better or smarter or that he +nos more etcD Hoe1er if a erson must argue or debate to uhold the truth and destroy falsehood it is ermissible - rather

this is the best form of orshi and ser1itude to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 during

this noble state

Buying and selling anything

2eri1ing leasure from the oosite se in any ay 6 holding hands hugging +issing etcD is

comletely forbidden in the state of Iti+af

If any of these things are erformed ones Iti+af becomes 1oid and in certain cases a )affarahor enitence must be aid out 3hich ill be discussed belo5

j]te

Seeing as ho the erson in Iti+af is also in a state of fasting all of those things hich ma+e the

fast 1oid must not be erformed hich includeamp eating drin+ing seual intercoursemasturbation 3hich is a sin at all times5 ascribing lies to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 the 7oble Prohet 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 or the Aimmah

3rayers be uon all of them5 salloing thic+ dust 3and smo+ing as an etension5 immersingones head in ater 3such as in a simming ool5 remaining in a state of ritual imurity until thetime of Fajr and 1omiting If any of these are done then one must ma+e u the fast in those

ays mentioned in the boo+s of egal gtulings

In addition the rights of others ho are in the Masajid must also be obser1ed 0he resect and

honor of the Masjid must be obser1ed and one should try to stay in a state of Wudhu the entire

eriod

Also the cleanliness of the Masjid must also be maintained

0hose in this state should also try and +ee aay from tal+ing about issues of the transient orld3tal+ing about anything other than Allah5 are some of the things hich ha1e been mentioned in

the boo+s hich highlight the siritual traits of this state

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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neaqi the a`si_ [uri the meri]_ ]f Irsquotikaf

It is not ermissible to lea1e the Masjid during the state of Iti+af ecet for a reason andnecessity hich ould 3a5 be a logical and reasonable ecuseC 3b5 be deemed so according to the

general oulation and 3c5 the religious rules of Islam dictate

0hus in the folloing eamles it ould be ermitted to lea1e the Masjid hile in the state of

Iti+afamp going to a doctor in cases of emergency going to the bathroom 3as these are logicalreasons5 1isiting someone ho is 1ery sic+ and ta+ing art in the burial rites of a erson IF the

erson ho has assed aay as a close relation to the erson erforming Iti+af 3hich ould be a necessity deemed so by the general consensus and oulation5 or to erform a 4husl3if

needed5 or to do Wudhu 3hich are necessities hich the religion dictates5

ea1ing the Masjid for classes 3school5 or for study sessions ith a study artner or for 0abligh

and roagation of the faith and other things such as this is not ermissible as they do not fall

into any of the three categories mentioned abo1e 3since hen a erson ma+es the intention to

erform Iti+af he has also ta+en into consideration that he ill not be attending school and hasmade the necessary arrangements beforehand Similarly the one engaged in Iti+af +nos from

beforehand that if his Efield of or+ is 0abligh that he ould be disconnecting himself from thatEjob for this eriod5

If a erson erforms his Iti+af in a lace in hich another erson as already in Iti+af 3but had

left for a brief moment5 hoe1er he has left his rayer mat or other signs that he as coming bac+ to that sot then the second erson must lea1e that area otherise he ould be considered

as a usurer of that iece of land here he is erforming his Iti+af His Iti+afould be correct if

he continues to stay there hoe1er he ould ha1e committed a sin

If a erson in Iti+af has a et dream and needs to erform a 4husl hoe1er it is not ossible to

do this in the Masjid 3or its comound5 it is ob1iously obligatory uon him to lea1e the Masjid

and his Iti+af ill be considered null and 1oid 0he same rule alies to sisters ho are not ableto stay inside the Masjid due to their monthly cycle since they are not ermitted to stay inside a

Masjid they too must immediately lea1e the Masjid and for them too their Iti+af is null and

1oid

According to obligatory recaution if a erson lea1es the Masjid for a necessity he must choose

the shortest and closest route to lea1e and return by and it is obligatory that he does not +eehimself out of the Masjid for more than the needed time eriod It is also obligatory that he does

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not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

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Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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a`ti cSag [uri Irsquotikaf

0he erson ho is not able to fast for hate1er reason is deri1ed from the 2i1ine grace of

being able to erform Iti+af He or she may still gain a reard from Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 for ha1ing the intention to erform this act of orshi hoe1er cannot directly

articiate in this act as ill be mentioned

0herefore if a erson is a tra1eler or one ho is not able to fast due to some danger to his life he

cannot arta+e in Iti+af Hoe1er if the tra1eler ho ants to erform the Iti+af ma+es an oaththat he ill fast for three days on a tri then he can erform the Iti+af e1en though his Salat

may be rayed as that of a tra1eler In addition if one needs to erform any sort of fasting

hether it be obligatory recommended a enitence for a missed fast on behalf of someone elseetcD then ones Iti+af ill be correct ith the erformance of this tye of fast

meri``i]

ne must ha1e the ermission of the erson hom he needs to gain ermission from to carry outthis act 3guardian husband etcD5 to ensure the correctness of the Iti+af

Placeamp ne must stay inside the Masjid for the entire eriod for his Iti+af to be correct 3the rules

of this ill be elained in more detail laterD5

Tie meri]_ cnethg ]f the Irsquotikaf

0he erson erforming Iti+af must stay in this state for a minimum of three comlete days from

sunrise of the first day until the sunset of the third day 3for eamle if he starts Iti+af on Monday

at Fajr time he must comlete it until 0hursday at Maghrib time5 0he first to days of Iti+af

are recommended and if a erson ishes he may lea1e after this eriod and end his Iti+afhoe1er if he comletes to full days of Iti+af in the Masjid 3until the Maghrib of the second

day5 then it becomes obligatory uon him to continue his fast on the third day and to stay in the

Masjid for the remaining eriod of his Iti+af 6 meaning till the time of Maghrib of the third day

Similarly if a erson goes into Iti+af for days the th day becomes obligatoryC and if he goes

into Iti+af for G days then the th day becomes obligatory and so onD

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0hus Iti+af is for full days and nights hich are in beteen these days and this eriod must

be maintained In this ruling just as that of the daily Salat the meaning of three comlete days

means three eriods of Fajr to Maghrib

Tie ]f Irsquotikaf

Anytime in hich fasting is ermissible is an oortune time for Iti+af and the state of Iti+af

does not ha1e a secific time related to it f course the ltWhite 2ays= hich are the 9th 9th

and 9th of the lunar month and the last ten days of the Month of gtamadhan are the best timesfor this siritual eercise 0herefore one cannot ma+e Iti+af on the day of Eid since it is

forbidden to fast on that day and similarly he cannot start Iti+af to days before Eid

It has been mentioned that the Prohet of Islam 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5

used to erform Iti+af in the Month of gtamadhan in the first 9 days 3three days5 the second 9

days 3three days5 and then in the last ten days 3three days5 as ell

meri``i] ]f the ouar_iaAs mentioned re1iously in assing Iti+af erformed ithout the ermission of his guardian or any erson hose rights ould be ta+en aay if the erson as to go in a state of Iti+af is not

correct 0hus it is for this reason that the ife must also ta+e her husbands ermission if her

Iti+af ould infringe on martial rights ith his ife Similarly if ones arents are not hay or are concerned for their son or daughter and do not ermit him to ma+e Iti+af then the child is

not ermitted to go forth for this 3recommended5 act of orshi

The Iteti] cjiahg f]r Irsquotikaf

0he intention for Iti+af is of three main tyes 0he most common form is the recommendedIti+af hoe1er it can also become obligatory 3ajib5 if a erson ma+es an oath or romise toAllah is for the fulfillment of something 3and in that oath he had romised Allah is that he ould

erform Iti+af if his rayer is fulfilled5 0he third intention hich can be made for Iti+af is that

it is being done on behalf of someone else 6 similar to ho eole erform Hajj for their deceased relati1es or ma+e u missed rayers of arents ho ha1e assed aay or others

0herefore it is necessary for the correctness of Iti+af to secify the intention and the tye that

one ants to erform

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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Tie a_ mlabe ]f the Iteti] ]f the Irsquotikaf a_ the mlabe ]f Irsquotikaf

0he intention must be made from the beginning of the time of Fajr on the first day and it is not

ermissible to delay it until the end of the time of Fajr 3just before sunrise5 hoe1er if just

before the rising of the sun of Fajr one ma+es his intention this ill still be sufficient At thetime of ma+ing intention for Iti+af the erson must be inside the Masjid in hich heshe ishes

to erform Iti+af hoe1er if at the beginning time of Fajr he lea1es to redo his Wudhu or for

another imortant tas+ then he is still able to do his intention 3uon returning5

0he lace of Iti+af must be the Masjid and therefore erforming Iti+af in any lace other than aMasjid such as a room or hall used for Salat a Musalla 3secific building hich is made only for

Jamat Salat and other laces li+e this 3hich are not roer Masajid5 is not correct

0he referential order of here Iti+af should be erformed isamp Masjidul Haram Masjid an-7abi

3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 Masjid )ufa and then the Masjid of Basrah 6 after these then any other ltentral= and ltongregational= Masjid is ermissible to erform the

Iti+af in

By stating this it clearly means that in laces li+e the traditonal Hussainiyah or Imambargah and

other laces such as this it is not correct to erform the Iti+af6 this act is limited to the four mentioned Masajid and then the entral Masjid of a city

Based on this ruling although the scholars ermit Iti+afin these other buildings 3hich are not

roer Masjid5 hoe1er the secific rulings of Iti+af ould not hold in other such 1enues If one as to erform Iti+af in any lace other than the ltentral Masjid= then he ould need to do

so ith the intention that this act ould bring him closer to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be toHim5 and that he is hoing for a reard in this act 3of being done outside of a roer Masjid as er the Islamic legislations5

0herefore if there are three or four Masjid in one city since they are not of the four Masjidhich Iti+af can be erformed in 3ith that secial intention5 the eole may use all of them for

the rogram of Iti+af

0he meaning of the entral or ongregational Masjid is that hich a majority of the eole

freKuent 3other than this Masjid ould be those referred to ith names such as the Masjid of the

Ba(ar the Masjid of a School the Masjid inside a factory etcD5 and it is not ermissible to

erform the Iti+af in these laces

0he courtyards and entrances of the Masjid are not considered as a art of the Masjid ecet in

the case that they are recogni(ed and +non 3by others5 to be an actual art of the Masjid If a erson doubts if the lace in hich he is is actually a Masjid or not then according to the rules

he is not ermitted to erform Iti+af there until he ascertains and has certainty that the lace

here he is truly is a art of the Masjid

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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mr]hiite_ bt` [uri Irsquotikaf

0he rohibited accts during the state of Iti+af includeamp

Alying erfume and smelling erfume ith the intention of deri1ing leasure 0his act ma+es

Iti+af null and 1oid and is also a sin

2iscussions and arguments both in relation to the orld and the faith 0his means that a erson

argues ith another to ro1e that he is better or smarter or that he +nos more etcD Hoe1er if a erson must argue or debate to uhold the truth and destroy falsehood it is ermissible - rather

this is the best form of orshi and ser1itude to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 during

this noble state

Buying and selling anything

2eri1ing leasure from the oosite se in any ay 6 holding hands hugging +issing etcD is

comletely forbidden in the state of Iti+af

If any of these things are erformed ones Iti+af becomes 1oid and in certain cases a )affarahor enitence must be aid out 3hich ill be discussed belo5

j]te

Seeing as ho the erson in Iti+af is also in a state of fasting all of those things hich ma+e the

fast 1oid must not be erformed hich includeamp eating drin+ing seual intercoursemasturbation 3hich is a sin at all times5 ascribing lies to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 the 7oble Prohet 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 or the Aimmah

3rayers be uon all of them5 salloing thic+ dust 3and smo+ing as an etension5 immersingones head in ater 3such as in a simming ool5 remaining in a state of ritual imurity until thetime of Fajr and 1omiting If any of these are done then one must ma+e u the fast in those

ays mentioned in the boo+s of egal gtulings

In addition the rights of others ho are in the Masajid must also be obser1ed 0he resect and

honor of the Masjid must be obser1ed and one should try to stay in a state of Wudhu the entire

eriod

Also the cleanliness of the Masjid must also be maintained

0hose in this state should also try and +ee aay from tal+ing about issues of the transient orld3tal+ing about anything other than Allah5 are some of the things hich ha1e been mentioned in

the boo+s hich highlight the siritual traits of this state

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 811

neaqi the a`si_ [uri the meri]_ ]f Irsquotikaf

It is not ermissible to lea1e the Masjid during the state of Iti+af ecet for a reason andnecessity hich ould 3a5 be a logical and reasonable ecuseC 3b5 be deemed so according to the

general oulation and 3c5 the religious rules of Islam dictate

0hus in the folloing eamles it ould be ermitted to lea1e the Masjid hile in the state of

Iti+afamp going to a doctor in cases of emergency going to the bathroom 3as these are logicalreasons5 1isiting someone ho is 1ery sic+ and ta+ing art in the burial rites of a erson IF the

erson ho has assed aay as a close relation to the erson erforming Iti+af 3hich ould be a necessity deemed so by the general consensus and oulation5 or to erform a 4husl3if

needed5 or to do Wudhu 3hich are necessities hich the religion dictates5

ea1ing the Masjid for classes 3school5 or for study sessions ith a study artner or for 0abligh

and roagation of the faith and other things such as this is not ermissible as they do not fall

into any of the three categories mentioned abo1e 3since hen a erson ma+es the intention to

erform Iti+af he has also ta+en into consideration that he ill not be attending school and hasmade the necessary arrangements beforehand Similarly the one engaged in Iti+af +nos from

beforehand that if his Efield of or+ is 0abligh that he ould be disconnecting himself from thatEjob for this eriod5

If a erson erforms his Iti+af in a lace in hich another erson as already in Iti+af 3but had

left for a brief moment5 hoe1er he has left his rayer mat or other signs that he as coming bac+ to that sot then the second erson must lea1e that area otherise he ould be considered

as a usurer of that iece of land here he is erforming his Iti+af His Iti+afould be correct if

he continues to stay there hoe1er he ould ha1e committed a sin

If a erson in Iti+af has a et dream and needs to erform a 4husl hoe1er it is not ossible to

do this in the Masjid 3or its comound5 it is ob1iously obligatory uon him to lea1e the Masjid

and his Iti+af ill be considered null and 1oid 0he same rule alies to sisters ho are not ableto stay inside the Masjid due to their monthly cycle since they are not ermitted to stay inside a

Masjid they too must immediately lea1e the Masjid and for them too their Iti+af is null and

1oid

According to obligatory recaution if a erson lea1es the Masjid for a necessity he must choose

the shortest and closest route to lea1e and return by and it is obligatory that he does not +eehimself out of the Masjid for more than the needed time eriod It is also obligatory that he does

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1111

and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 511

0hus Iti+af is for full days and nights hich are in beteen these days and this eriod must

be maintained In this ruling just as that of the daily Salat the meaning of three comlete days

means three eriods of Fajr to Maghrib

Tie ]f Irsquotikaf

Anytime in hich fasting is ermissible is an oortune time for Iti+af and the state of Iti+af

does not ha1e a secific time related to it f course the ltWhite 2ays= hich are the 9th 9th

and 9th of the lunar month and the last ten days of the Month of gtamadhan are the best timesfor this siritual eercise 0herefore one cannot ma+e Iti+af on the day of Eid since it is

forbidden to fast on that day and similarly he cannot start Iti+af to days before Eid

It has been mentioned that the Prohet of Islam 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5

used to erform Iti+af in the Month of gtamadhan in the first 9 days 3three days5 the second 9

days 3three days5 and then in the last ten days 3three days5 as ell

meri``i] ]f the ouar_iaAs mentioned re1iously in assing Iti+af erformed ithout the ermission of his guardian or any erson hose rights ould be ta+en aay if the erson as to go in a state of Iti+af is not

correct 0hus it is for this reason that the ife must also ta+e her husbands ermission if her

Iti+af ould infringe on martial rights ith his ife Similarly if ones arents are not hay or are concerned for their son or daughter and do not ermit him to ma+e Iti+af then the child is

not ermitted to go forth for this 3recommended5 act of orshi

The Iteti] cjiahg f]r Irsquotikaf

0he intention for Iti+af is of three main tyes 0he most common form is the recommendedIti+af hoe1er it can also become obligatory 3ajib5 if a erson ma+es an oath or romise toAllah is for the fulfillment of something 3and in that oath he had romised Allah is that he ould

erform Iti+af if his rayer is fulfilled5 0he third intention hich can be made for Iti+af is that

it is being done on behalf of someone else 6 similar to ho eole erform Hajj for their deceased relati1es or ma+e u missed rayers of arents ho ha1e assed aay or others

0herefore it is necessary for the correctness of Iti+af to secify the intention and the tye that

one ants to erform

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 611

Tie a_ mlabe ]f the Iteti] ]f the Irsquotikaf a_ the mlabe ]f Irsquotikaf

0he intention must be made from the beginning of the time of Fajr on the first day and it is not

ermissible to delay it until the end of the time of Fajr 3just before sunrise5 hoe1er if just

before the rising of the sun of Fajr one ma+es his intention this ill still be sufficient At thetime of ma+ing intention for Iti+af the erson must be inside the Masjid in hich heshe ishes

to erform Iti+af hoe1er if at the beginning time of Fajr he lea1es to redo his Wudhu or for

another imortant tas+ then he is still able to do his intention 3uon returning5

0he lace of Iti+af must be the Masjid and therefore erforming Iti+af in any lace other than aMasjid such as a room or hall used for Salat a Musalla 3secific building hich is made only for

Jamat Salat and other laces li+e this 3hich are not roer Masajid5 is not correct

0he referential order of here Iti+af should be erformed isamp Masjidul Haram Masjid an-7abi

3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 Masjid )ufa and then the Masjid of Basrah 6 after these then any other ltentral= and ltongregational= Masjid is ermissible to erform the

Iti+af in

By stating this it clearly means that in laces li+e the traditonal Hussainiyah or Imambargah and

other laces such as this it is not correct to erform the Iti+af6 this act is limited to the four mentioned Masajid and then the entral Masjid of a city

Based on this ruling although the scholars ermit Iti+afin these other buildings 3hich are not

roer Masjid5 hoe1er the secific rulings of Iti+af ould not hold in other such 1enues If one as to erform Iti+af in any lace other than the ltentral Masjid= then he ould need to do

so ith the intention that this act ould bring him closer to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be toHim5 and that he is hoing for a reard in this act 3of being done outside of a roer Masjid as er the Islamic legislations5

0herefore if there are three or four Masjid in one city since they are not of the four Masjidhich Iti+af can be erformed in 3ith that secial intention5 the eole may use all of them for

the rogram of Iti+af

0he meaning of the entral or ongregational Masjid is that hich a majority of the eole

freKuent 3other than this Masjid ould be those referred to ith names such as the Masjid of the

Ba(ar the Masjid of a School the Masjid inside a factory etcD5 and it is not ermissible to

erform the Iti+af in these laces

0he courtyards and entrances of the Masjid are not considered as a art of the Masjid ecet in

the case that they are recogni(ed and +non 3by others5 to be an actual art of the Masjid If a erson doubts if the lace in hich he is is actually a Masjid or not then according to the rules

he is not ermitted to erform Iti+af there until he ascertains and has certainty that the lace

here he is truly is a art of the Masjid

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 711

mr]hiite_ bt` [uri Irsquotikaf

0he rohibited accts during the state of Iti+af includeamp

Alying erfume and smelling erfume ith the intention of deri1ing leasure 0his act ma+es

Iti+af null and 1oid and is also a sin

2iscussions and arguments both in relation to the orld and the faith 0his means that a erson

argues ith another to ro1e that he is better or smarter or that he +nos more etcD Hoe1er if a erson must argue or debate to uhold the truth and destroy falsehood it is ermissible - rather

this is the best form of orshi and ser1itude to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 during

this noble state

Buying and selling anything

2eri1ing leasure from the oosite se in any ay 6 holding hands hugging +issing etcD is

comletely forbidden in the state of Iti+af

If any of these things are erformed ones Iti+af becomes 1oid and in certain cases a )affarahor enitence must be aid out 3hich ill be discussed belo5

j]te

Seeing as ho the erson in Iti+af is also in a state of fasting all of those things hich ma+e the

fast 1oid must not be erformed hich includeamp eating drin+ing seual intercoursemasturbation 3hich is a sin at all times5 ascribing lies to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 the 7oble Prohet 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 or the Aimmah

3rayers be uon all of them5 salloing thic+ dust 3and smo+ing as an etension5 immersingones head in ater 3such as in a simming ool5 remaining in a state of ritual imurity until thetime of Fajr and 1omiting If any of these are done then one must ma+e u the fast in those

ays mentioned in the boo+s of egal gtulings

In addition the rights of others ho are in the Masajid must also be obser1ed 0he resect and

honor of the Masjid must be obser1ed and one should try to stay in a state of Wudhu the entire

eriod

Also the cleanliness of the Masjid must also be maintained

0hose in this state should also try and +ee aay from tal+ing about issues of the transient orld3tal+ing about anything other than Allah5 are some of the things hich ha1e been mentioned in

the boo+s hich highlight the siritual traits of this state

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

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neaqi the a`si_ [uri the meri]_ ]f Irsquotikaf

It is not ermissible to lea1e the Masjid during the state of Iti+af ecet for a reason andnecessity hich ould 3a5 be a logical and reasonable ecuseC 3b5 be deemed so according to the

general oulation and 3c5 the religious rules of Islam dictate

0hus in the folloing eamles it ould be ermitted to lea1e the Masjid hile in the state of

Iti+afamp going to a doctor in cases of emergency going to the bathroom 3as these are logicalreasons5 1isiting someone ho is 1ery sic+ and ta+ing art in the burial rites of a erson IF the

erson ho has assed aay as a close relation to the erson erforming Iti+af 3hich ould be a necessity deemed so by the general consensus and oulation5 or to erform a 4husl3if

needed5 or to do Wudhu 3hich are necessities hich the religion dictates5

ea1ing the Masjid for classes 3school5 or for study sessions ith a study artner or for 0abligh

and roagation of the faith and other things such as this is not ermissible as they do not fall

into any of the three categories mentioned abo1e 3since hen a erson ma+es the intention to

erform Iti+af he has also ta+en into consideration that he ill not be attending school and hasmade the necessary arrangements beforehand Similarly the one engaged in Iti+af +nos from

beforehand that if his Efield of or+ is 0abligh that he ould be disconnecting himself from thatEjob for this eriod5

If a erson erforms his Iti+af in a lace in hich another erson as already in Iti+af 3but had

left for a brief moment5 hoe1er he has left his rayer mat or other signs that he as coming bac+ to that sot then the second erson must lea1e that area otherise he ould be considered

as a usurer of that iece of land here he is erforming his Iti+af His Iti+afould be correct if

he continues to stay there hoe1er he ould ha1e committed a sin

If a erson in Iti+af has a et dream and needs to erform a 4husl hoe1er it is not ossible to

do this in the Masjid 3or its comound5 it is ob1iously obligatory uon him to lea1e the Masjid

and his Iti+af ill be considered null and 1oid 0he same rule alies to sisters ho are not ableto stay inside the Masjid due to their monthly cycle since they are not ermitted to stay inside a

Masjid they too must immediately lea1e the Masjid and for them too their Iti+af is null and

1oid

According to obligatory recaution if a erson lea1es the Masjid for a necessity he must choose

the shortest and closest route to lea1e and return by and it is obligatory that he does not +eehimself out of the Masjid for more than the needed time eriod It is also obligatory that he does

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 911

not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1011

Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1111

and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 611

Tie a_ mlabe ]f the Iteti] ]f the Irsquotikaf a_ the mlabe ]f Irsquotikaf

0he intention must be made from the beginning of the time of Fajr on the first day and it is not

ermissible to delay it until the end of the time of Fajr 3just before sunrise5 hoe1er if just

before the rising of the sun of Fajr one ma+es his intention this ill still be sufficient At thetime of ma+ing intention for Iti+af the erson must be inside the Masjid in hich heshe ishes

to erform Iti+af hoe1er if at the beginning time of Fajr he lea1es to redo his Wudhu or for

another imortant tas+ then he is still able to do his intention 3uon returning5

0he lace of Iti+af must be the Masjid and therefore erforming Iti+af in any lace other than aMasjid such as a room or hall used for Salat a Musalla 3secific building hich is made only for

Jamat Salat and other laces li+e this 3hich are not roer Masajid5 is not correct

0he referential order of here Iti+af should be erformed isamp Masjidul Haram Masjid an-7abi

3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 Masjid )ufa and then the Masjid of Basrah 6 after these then any other ltentral= and ltongregational= Masjid is ermissible to erform the

Iti+af in

By stating this it clearly means that in laces li+e the traditonal Hussainiyah or Imambargah and

other laces such as this it is not correct to erform the Iti+af6 this act is limited to the four mentioned Masajid and then the entral Masjid of a city

Based on this ruling although the scholars ermit Iti+afin these other buildings 3hich are not

roer Masjid5 hoe1er the secific rulings of Iti+af ould not hold in other such 1enues If one as to erform Iti+af in any lace other than the ltentral Masjid= then he ould need to do

so ith the intention that this act ould bring him closer to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be toHim5 and that he is hoing for a reard in this act 3of being done outside of a roer Masjid as er the Islamic legislations5

0herefore if there are three or four Masjid in one city since they are not of the four Masjidhich Iti+af can be erformed in 3ith that secial intention5 the eole may use all of them for

the rogram of Iti+af

0he meaning of the entral or ongregational Masjid is that hich a majority of the eole

freKuent 3other than this Masjid ould be those referred to ith names such as the Masjid of the

Ba(ar the Masjid of a School the Masjid inside a factory etcD5 and it is not ermissible to

erform the Iti+af in these laces

0he courtyards and entrances of the Masjid are not considered as a art of the Masjid ecet in

the case that they are recogni(ed and +non 3by others5 to be an actual art of the Masjid If a erson doubts if the lace in hich he is is actually a Masjid or not then according to the rules

he is not ermitted to erform Iti+af there until he ascertains and has certainty that the lace

here he is truly is a art of the Masjid

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 711

mr]hiite_ bt` [uri Irsquotikaf

0he rohibited accts during the state of Iti+af includeamp

Alying erfume and smelling erfume ith the intention of deri1ing leasure 0his act ma+es

Iti+af null and 1oid and is also a sin

2iscussions and arguments both in relation to the orld and the faith 0his means that a erson

argues ith another to ro1e that he is better or smarter or that he +nos more etcD Hoe1er if a erson must argue or debate to uhold the truth and destroy falsehood it is ermissible - rather

this is the best form of orshi and ser1itude to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 during

this noble state

Buying and selling anything

2eri1ing leasure from the oosite se in any ay 6 holding hands hugging +issing etcD is

comletely forbidden in the state of Iti+af

If any of these things are erformed ones Iti+af becomes 1oid and in certain cases a )affarahor enitence must be aid out 3hich ill be discussed belo5

j]te

Seeing as ho the erson in Iti+af is also in a state of fasting all of those things hich ma+e the

fast 1oid must not be erformed hich includeamp eating drin+ing seual intercoursemasturbation 3hich is a sin at all times5 ascribing lies to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 the 7oble Prohet 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 or the Aimmah

3rayers be uon all of them5 salloing thic+ dust 3and smo+ing as an etension5 immersingones head in ater 3such as in a simming ool5 remaining in a state of ritual imurity until thetime of Fajr and 1omiting If any of these are done then one must ma+e u the fast in those

ays mentioned in the boo+s of egal gtulings

In addition the rights of others ho are in the Masajid must also be obser1ed 0he resect and

honor of the Masjid must be obser1ed and one should try to stay in a state of Wudhu the entire

eriod

Also the cleanliness of the Masjid must also be maintained

0hose in this state should also try and +ee aay from tal+ing about issues of the transient orld3tal+ing about anything other than Allah5 are some of the things hich ha1e been mentioned in

the boo+s hich highlight the siritual traits of this state

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 811

neaqi the a`si_ [uri the meri]_ ]f Irsquotikaf

It is not ermissible to lea1e the Masjid during the state of Iti+af ecet for a reason andnecessity hich ould 3a5 be a logical and reasonable ecuseC 3b5 be deemed so according to the

general oulation and 3c5 the religious rules of Islam dictate

0hus in the folloing eamles it ould be ermitted to lea1e the Masjid hile in the state of

Iti+afamp going to a doctor in cases of emergency going to the bathroom 3as these are logicalreasons5 1isiting someone ho is 1ery sic+ and ta+ing art in the burial rites of a erson IF the

erson ho has assed aay as a close relation to the erson erforming Iti+af 3hich ould be a necessity deemed so by the general consensus and oulation5 or to erform a 4husl3if

needed5 or to do Wudhu 3hich are necessities hich the religion dictates5

ea1ing the Masjid for classes 3school5 or for study sessions ith a study artner or for 0abligh

and roagation of the faith and other things such as this is not ermissible as they do not fall

into any of the three categories mentioned abo1e 3since hen a erson ma+es the intention to

erform Iti+af he has also ta+en into consideration that he ill not be attending school and hasmade the necessary arrangements beforehand Similarly the one engaged in Iti+af +nos from

beforehand that if his Efield of or+ is 0abligh that he ould be disconnecting himself from thatEjob for this eriod5

If a erson erforms his Iti+af in a lace in hich another erson as already in Iti+af 3but had

left for a brief moment5 hoe1er he has left his rayer mat or other signs that he as coming bac+ to that sot then the second erson must lea1e that area otherise he ould be considered

as a usurer of that iece of land here he is erforming his Iti+af His Iti+afould be correct if

he continues to stay there hoe1er he ould ha1e committed a sin

If a erson in Iti+af has a et dream and needs to erform a 4husl hoe1er it is not ossible to

do this in the Masjid 3or its comound5 it is ob1iously obligatory uon him to lea1e the Masjid

and his Iti+af ill be considered null and 1oid 0he same rule alies to sisters ho are not ableto stay inside the Masjid due to their monthly cycle since they are not ermitted to stay inside a

Masjid they too must immediately lea1e the Masjid and for them too their Iti+af is null and

1oid

According to obligatory recaution if a erson lea1es the Masjid for a necessity he must choose

the shortest and closest route to lea1e and return by and it is obligatory that he does not +eehimself out of the Masjid for more than the needed time eriod It is also obligatory that he does

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 911

not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1011

Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1111

and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 711

mr]hiite_ bt` [uri Irsquotikaf

0he rohibited accts during the state of Iti+af includeamp

Alying erfume and smelling erfume ith the intention of deri1ing leasure 0his act ma+es

Iti+af null and 1oid and is also a sin

2iscussions and arguments both in relation to the orld and the faith 0his means that a erson

argues ith another to ro1e that he is better or smarter or that he +nos more etcD Hoe1er if a erson must argue or debate to uhold the truth and destroy falsehood it is ermissible - rather

this is the best form of orshi and ser1itude to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 during

this noble state

Buying and selling anything

2eri1ing leasure from the oosite se in any ay 6 holding hands hugging +issing etcD is

comletely forbidden in the state of Iti+af

If any of these things are erformed ones Iti+af becomes 1oid and in certain cases a )affarahor enitence must be aid out 3hich ill be discussed belo5

j]te

Seeing as ho the erson in Iti+af is also in a state of fasting all of those things hich ma+e the

fast 1oid must not be erformed hich includeamp eating drin+ing seual intercoursemasturbation 3hich is a sin at all times5 ascribing lies to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 the 7oble Prohet 3blessings of Allah be uon him and his family5 or the Aimmah

3rayers be uon all of them5 salloing thic+ dust 3and smo+ing as an etension5 immersingones head in ater 3such as in a simming ool5 remaining in a state of ritual imurity until thetime of Fajr and 1omiting If any of these are done then one must ma+e u the fast in those

ays mentioned in the boo+s of egal gtulings

In addition the rights of others ho are in the Masajid must also be obser1ed 0he resect and

honor of the Masjid must be obser1ed and one should try to stay in a state of Wudhu the entire

eriod

Also the cleanliness of the Masjid must also be maintained

0hose in this state should also try and +ee aay from tal+ing about issues of the transient orld3tal+ing about anything other than Allah5 are some of the things hich ha1e been mentioned in

the boo+s hich highlight the siritual traits of this state

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 811

neaqi the a`si_ [uri the meri]_ ]f Irsquotikaf

It is not ermissible to lea1e the Masjid during the state of Iti+af ecet for a reason andnecessity hich ould 3a5 be a logical and reasonable ecuseC 3b5 be deemed so according to the

general oulation and 3c5 the religious rules of Islam dictate

0hus in the folloing eamles it ould be ermitted to lea1e the Masjid hile in the state of

Iti+afamp going to a doctor in cases of emergency going to the bathroom 3as these are logicalreasons5 1isiting someone ho is 1ery sic+ and ta+ing art in the burial rites of a erson IF the

erson ho has assed aay as a close relation to the erson erforming Iti+af 3hich ould be a necessity deemed so by the general consensus and oulation5 or to erform a 4husl3if

needed5 or to do Wudhu 3hich are necessities hich the religion dictates5

ea1ing the Masjid for classes 3school5 or for study sessions ith a study artner or for 0abligh

and roagation of the faith and other things such as this is not ermissible as they do not fall

into any of the three categories mentioned abo1e 3since hen a erson ma+es the intention to

erform Iti+af he has also ta+en into consideration that he ill not be attending school and hasmade the necessary arrangements beforehand Similarly the one engaged in Iti+af +nos from

beforehand that if his Efield of or+ is 0abligh that he ould be disconnecting himself from thatEjob for this eriod5

If a erson erforms his Iti+af in a lace in hich another erson as already in Iti+af 3but had

left for a brief moment5 hoe1er he has left his rayer mat or other signs that he as coming bac+ to that sot then the second erson must lea1e that area otherise he ould be considered

as a usurer of that iece of land here he is erforming his Iti+af His Iti+afould be correct if

he continues to stay there hoe1er he ould ha1e committed a sin

If a erson in Iti+af has a et dream and needs to erform a 4husl hoe1er it is not ossible to

do this in the Masjid 3or its comound5 it is ob1iously obligatory uon him to lea1e the Masjid

and his Iti+af ill be considered null and 1oid 0he same rule alies to sisters ho are not ableto stay inside the Masjid due to their monthly cycle since they are not ermitted to stay inside a

Masjid they too must immediately lea1e the Masjid and for them too their Iti+af is null and

1oid

According to obligatory recaution if a erson lea1es the Masjid for a necessity he must choose

the shortest and closest route to lea1e and return by and it is obligatory that he does not +eehimself out of the Masjid for more than the needed time eriod It is also obligatory that he does

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 911

not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1011

Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1111

and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 811

neaqi the a`si_ [uri the meri]_ ]f Irsquotikaf

It is not ermissible to lea1e the Masjid during the state of Iti+af ecet for a reason andnecessity hich ould 3a5 be a logical and reasonable ecuseC 3b5 be deemed so according to the

general oulation and 3c5 the religious rules of Islam dictate

0hus in the folloing eamles it ould be ermitted to lea1e the Masjid hile in the state of

Iti+afamp going to a doctor in cases of emergency going to the bathroom 3as these are logicalreasons5 1isiting someone ho is 1ery sic+ and ta+ing art in the burial rites of a erson IF the

erson ho has assed aay as a close relation to the erson erforming Iti+af 3hich ould be a necessity deemed so by the general consensus and oulation5 or to erform a 4husl3if

needed5 or to do Wudhu 3hich are necessities hich the religion dictates5

ea1ing the Masjid for classes 3school5 or for study sessions ith a study artner or for 0abligh

and roagation of the faith and other things such as this is not ermissible as they do not fall

into any of the three categories mentioned abo1e 3since hen a erson ma+es the intention to

erform Iti+af he has also ta+en into consideration that he ill not be attending school and hasmade the necessary arrangements beforehand Similarly the one engaged in Iti+af +nos from

beforehand that if his Efield of or+ is 0abligh that he ould be disconnecting himself from thatEjob for this eriod5

If a erson erforms his Iti+af in a lace in hich another erson as already in Iti+af 3but had

left for a brief moment5 hoe1er he has left his rayer mat or other signs that he as coming bac+ to that sot then the second erson must lea1e that area otherise he ould be considered

as a usurer of that iece of land here he is erforming his Iti+af His Iti+afould be correct if

he continues to stay there hoe1er he ould ha1e committed a sin

If a erson in Iti+af has a et dream and needs to erform a 4husl hoe1er it is not ossible to

do this in the Masjid 3or its comound5 it is ob1iously obligatory uon him to lea1e the Masjid

and his Iti+af ill be considered null and 1oid 0he same rule alies to sisters ho are not ableto stay inside the Masjid due to their monthly cycle since they are not ermitted to stay inside a

Masjid they too must immediately lea1e the Masjid and for them too their Iti+af is null and

1oid

According to obligatory recaution if a erson lea1es the Masjid for a necessity he must choose

the shortest and closest route to lea1e and return by and it is obligatory that he does not +eehimself out of the Masjid for more than the needed time eriod It is also obligatory that he does

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 911

not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1011

Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1111

and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 911

not sit underneath an area hich shades him gtather according to recaution it is not ermitted

for him to sit outside of the Masjid ecet for cases of necessity

If the erson erforming Iti+af lea1es the Masjid in order to comlete a necessity uon him and

the time eriod hich he lea1es the Masjid for is a 1ery long one such as that eole ould

doubt or not consider him being in a state of Iti+af then his Iti+af ould be null and 1oid

meitebe f]r reaki the Rule` ]f the Irsquotikaf

In some instances if a erson does one of the things hich brea+s his state of Iti+af he must

offer a enitence Some eamles of this are mentioned as follosamp

If a erson has seual relations during the eriod of Iti+af and Iti+af as ajib for him to

erform 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must ma+e u the Iti+af by

erforming it roerly at a later date

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as

obligatory 3due to a romise oath etcD hich he made5 then he must finish the time remainingof Iti+af and redo it later on

If Iti+af as not obligatory and if a erson does something on the first day of Iti+af then hemust immediately come out of this state hoe1er if it is on the third day then he must finish the

eriod remaining

If a erson erforms one of the other things hich ma+es Iti+af 1oid and his Iti+af as arecommended one and this haens after the second day then he must redo the Iti+af later on

hoe1er if it is before the end of the second day then he has no resonsibility on him to redo it

reuetl `ke_ ue`ti]` ] Irsquotikaf

0here is a close relationshi to Iti+af and the ihram for Hajj As as seen there are certainthings forbidden hile in the ihram of Hajj hich are also forbidden for the one in the state of

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1011

Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1111

and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1011

Iti+af 0his oint should be +et in mind esecially in the siritual asect of this great act of

orshi

0he intention for this act should be ronounced 1erbally just so one is focused on this act and

hom he is doing it for Some scholars ha1e e1en stated that the intention should be reneed

e1ery day

Although it is discouraged to slee in a Masjid according to the 1erdict of the scholars there are

Eecetions to this rule 6 one being in the state of Iti+af as this itself is an act of orshi hichhas been legislated by Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 to be erformed only in a Masjid

0o slee at other times is discouraged

A erson can change his clothes during the eriod of Iti+af if the need arises 3they become dirty 7ajis etcD5 and there is no roblem in this hoe1er to ta+e a bath esecially ith soa hich

may be erfumed 3done ith the intention of clinging to the transient orld5 must be a1oided 6

ecet in the case of necessity here one must ta+e a bath

Peole can come and 1isit the Masjid during the eriod of Iti+af and there is e1en no roblem if

friends or family come to bring the erson in Iti+af food drin+ 3to brea+ his fast ith5 or thingshich they may need and are a dire necessity during this three day eriod

Food is usually reared by the community members or the leaders of the Masjid for those in thestate of Iti+af as the eole in Iti+af are not ermitted to lea1e the Masjid 3ecet for the

conditions re1iously stated5 0he erson ho lans to enter this siritual retreat can also bring

things ith him hen he begins his three day sojourn if he so desires

In regards to the brea+ing of the fast and eating before the fast starts one cannot lea1e the Masjid

to rocure this 0herefore he should ha1e either brought things ith him or the Masjid

organi(ers should be so +ind so as to ro1ide this to those in the state of orshi for this threeday eriod If there is a +itchen in the Masjid those in the orshi of Allah 34lory and 4reatness

be to Him5 may use it to ma+e their on food

0he three day eriod should be sent in contemlation of the faith of Islam recitation of the

7oble 8uran and sulications and anything else hich can dra a erson closer to Allah 34lory

and 4reatness be to Him5 If a erson has missed rayers he should try and ma+e them u in this

secial eriod If he has a clean slate of rayers then he should try and recite the recommended rayers ther than this all other siritual acts of nearness to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to

Him5 should be maintained

Hoe1er at the same time one should not do things hich +ee him busy ith the transient

orld that he has turned aay from for these three days 6 meaning that reading things hich

ould +ee his mind busy ith or+ school etcD should be refrained from In addition allother things hich are commonly used to lt+ill time= should be comletely left for this short

three day eriod

Dand all the raise belongs to Allah 34lory and 4reatness be to Him5 for the hel in the riting

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1111

and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine

8102019 Itikaf the Spiritual Retreat Saleem Bhimji

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullitikaf-the-spiritual-retreat-saleem-bhimji 1111

and translation of this or+ only the mista+es are mine