If i’tikaaf is done solely for the pleasure of Allaah Ta’ala, it is a very high and noble ibaadat. The author of Nurul-Idaah, Shaikh Hasan Ibn Ali Shurumbulaali (rahimahullaah) states, “I’tikaaf is proven from the Qur’aan and Sunnah. It is amongst the most virtuous of acts when done with Ikhlaas (sincerity). From amongst its benefits is that the heart becomes free from the matters of the world, the soul is handed to its Maula (Allaah), one is continuously in worship in His house and one is protected in His fort”.
Ataa Ibn Abi Ribah (rahimahullaah) has said, “The example of a person in i’tikaaf is like a person who continues coming to the door of a great person to fulfil his needs. It is as the mu’takif is saying, “I will remain here until Allaah Ta’ala forgives me.”
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ فِي الْمُعْتَكِفِ "هُوَ يَعْكِفُ الذُّنُوبَ، وَيُجْرَى لَهُ مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَعَامِلِ الْحَسَنَاتِ كُلِّهَا
1) Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said regarding the mu’takif (the one in i’tikaaf), “He stays away from sins and so much reward is written for him like one who is doing all good actions.” (Ibn Majah no. 1781)
عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: اعْتِكَافُ عَشْرٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ كَحَجَّتَيْنِ وَعُمْرَتَيْنِ
2) Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The reward for performing i’tikaaf in the (last) ten days of Ramadhaan is equal to the reward of two Hajj and two Umrahs.” (Al-Mu’jamul-Kabeer of Tabaraani no. 2888)
3) Ibn Abbaas (radiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whomsoever performs i’tikaaf for a day, thereby seeking the pleasure of Allaah, Allaah will open three trenches between him and the fire of hell, the width of each being the distance between heaven and earth.” (Al-Mu’jamul-Awsat of Tabaraani no. 7326)
4) Rasulullaah H said, “Verily some people are pegs in the Masjid (i.e. they always remain in the Masjid). The angels are their companions. If those people happen to be absent sometimes, then the angels look for them. If they become sick, then the angles visit them. If they have any need, then the angels assist them.” (Mustadrak of Haakim no. 3507, Musnad Ahmad no. 9424)
5) Ayeshah (Radiyallahu Anha) narrates that Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The one who sits for i’tikaaf for ten days with imaan and hoping for rewards from Allaah Ta’ala, all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Al-Jaamiul-Kabeer no. 20677)
As for those who cannot spend the whole night in I’tikaaf, they can spend some time in the masjid in worship to acquire the blessings of i’tikaaf.
Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “The person who makes i’tikaaf in the Masjid between Maghrib and ‘Isha, not speaking to anyone while being engaged in salaah and recitation of Qur’aan, Allaah Ta’ala will build for him a palace in Jannah.” (Targheeb of Ibn Shaheen no. 75)
Besides this, whenever a person enters the masjid, he should make intention of I’tikaaf. For this he will be given a separate reward.
Imam Zuhri (Rahimahullaah) states, “How astonishing it is that people do not perform i’tikaaf whereas there are many actions which Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sometimes did and sometimes did not do. But he did not miss i’tikaaf from the time he came to Madeenah until the end of his life. (If he did not perform it for a certain reason, he would make qadha of it as mentioned in the ahadith).
Just as i’tikaaf is Sunnah for man during the last ten days of Ramadhaan so too is it for women. After the demise of Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), the noble wives of Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would sit for i’tikaaf in their homes. Thus, these virtues which have been mentioned are not confined to men only.
If there is a specified place in the house for salaah and ibaadat, then she may perform i’tikaaf there. If there is no place, then she may specify a place for these few days. If a married woman wants to sit for i’tikaaf, she needs the consent of her husband.
Also, since fasting is a condition for i’tikaaf, she should not sit if her haidh (menses) coincides with this period. She can sit for nafl i’tikaaf until it commences. If she sat for sunnah i’tikaaf, then as soon as her haidh commences, she should break the i’tikâf and make one day qadha after her haidh ends. She must fast on this day. The place where the woman sits has the same law as the Masjid. Without necessity, she cannot leave this place. (Abridged from Ahkaam-e-I’tikaaf)
BENEFITS AND WISDOMS OF I’TIKAAF
Since i’tikaaf is a command of the Shari’ah, there are great wisdoms and benefits in it, many of which we cannot even comprehend. Hereunder a few benefits and wisdoms will be mentioned:
(1) If one is told to spend ten days in such a place where there are even no birds flying, then it is obvious that one would have greater solitude than anywhere else. However, what benefit is there in this? Instead of becoming a proper human being, one becomes like a wild animal. By trying to stay away from evil company, one becomes deprived of good company. Thus Allaah Ta’ala, who is All-Wise, has stipulated the place of i’tikaaf in the Masjid, since generally evil people, whose companionship is detrimental, do not frequent the Masjid. In the Masjid, one comes across pious people as well as those particular with tahajjud etc.
Just by sitting in their company, there is unlimited benefit. Therefore, one has been commanded to sit in such a Masjid wherein five times Salaah is performed. If a person sat in a deserted place, then instead of benefit, there would be more harm. Neither would one be able to perform his Salaah with jamaa’at, nor would he achieve the companionship of the pious.
(2) Due to meeting people and being involved in business endeavours, many sins are committed. In i’tikaaf one is saved from these evils.
(3) A guest to any honourable and generous person is honoured and given great consideration. Will then the Most Honourable and Most Generous not afford honour and respect to His guests?
(4) Shaytaan is man’s old enemy. However when man comes into Allaah Ta’ala’s house, then it is as if he is in a fortified area. Shaytaan cannot destroy him.
(5) In i’tikaaf, one attains the quality of focussing on one thing (referred to as yaksoo in urdu). The heart is free of the worries of the world. Those things which turn one’s attention to those things besides Allaah Ta’ala, gradually come to an end in solitude, whether these things are in him or are found externally. The heart becomes completely free of worldly thoughts and turns its focus towards Allaah Ta’ala. By this, the ability to attain the anwaar (effulgence) and barakaat (blessings) of ibaadat (worship) are created.
(6) Allaah Ta’ala says, “The one who comes close to Me a hand-span, I come close to him by two hands span. He who walks towards Me, I run towards him”. The one who is in i’tikaaf leaves his house and actually comes to the door of Allaah Ta’ala. When he is so close to Allaah Ta’ala, how many divine favours will rain upon him!
(7) The angels are always in the ibaadah (worship) and zikr remembrance of Allaah Ta’ala. The believer, sitting in i’tikaaf, is also always engaged in the remembrance and worship of Allaah Ta’ala. He thus resembles the angels. Since the angels are very close to Allaah Ta’ala, this servant will also begin attaining closeness to Allaah Ta’ala.
(8) Nabî (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has said, “As long as a person waits for Salaah, he will continue getting the reward of salaah. In i’tikaaf, one gets this reward.
(9) As long as one remains in i’tikaaf, one attains the reward of ibaadat (worship), whether he is sleeping, sitting quietly, or involved in any other work.
(10) A person in i’tikaaf is every minute in ibaadat. Thus there is no better way to find Lailatul Qadr because whenever it occurs, one will be in ibaadat.