Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadaan in i’tikaaf until he passed away, then his wives observed i’tikaaf after him. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1922; Muslim, 1172 What is the I'tikaf (Spiritual Retreat)? The mother of the believers, Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) said, "The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would always perform I'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah Most High took his soul (Allah bless him and give him peace)." [Bukhari] The scholar al-Zahidi said, "It is strange how the people have left performing the I'tikaf. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) performed some actions and left them, but he never left the I'tikaf–from the time he entered Medina to the moment he died (Allah bless him and give him peace)." The I'tikaf is entering the masjid with the intention to remain there for worship. The masjid must be one where the group prayer is offered for the five obligatory prayers. The I'tikaf is permissible if one is free from a state of major ritual impurity, menstruation, and lochia (post-natal bleeding). The conditions for a valid vowed I'tikaf (see definition below) are 1) the intention, 2) to be Muslim, 3) sanity, and 4) to be free from menstruation and lochia (post-natal bleeding). What Are the Types of I'tikaf? 1) - Necessary (wajib): the vowed I'tikaf: The vowed I'tikaf is an oath to make i'tikaf for a specified time. It must be at least an entire day and night. One is obliged to fast during it in order for the vowed I'tikaf to count. 2) - Emphasized sunna: the last ten days and nights of Ramadan: Performing I'tikaf in the last ten days and nights of Ramadan is a strongly emphasized communal sunna. It is blameworthy upon the community as a whole to not perform the I'tikaf. If some people perform the I'tikaf and others do not, then they raise the blameworthiness from the entire community.The scholars do not stipulate that one must fast during the emphasized sunna I'tikaf because it is performed during Ramadan and the assumption is that the person will be fasting anyway. 3) - Recommended: any times other than the aforementioned: For the recommended I'tikaf, its minimum duration is a moment, even if it's when one passes through the mosque. Fasting is not a condition for the recommended I'tikaf. Q) - Can a Woman Perform I'tikaf? Yes, a woman can perform I'tikaf. A woman's I'tikaf is best performed in the prayer area of her house. The prayer area is the place where she has designated to pray her obligatory and nafl prayers. It is disliked for a woman to perform I'tikaf in the masjid. It is not valid for men to perform I'tikaf in other than the masjid. Q) - Can One Leave the Masjid During I'tikaf? Leaving the masjid without an excuse ends the I'tikaf. This ruling also applies to a woman performing I'tikaf in the prayer area of her house. If one does leave because of an excuse, the excuse must be due to a shariah-compliant need, or to use the restroom if unable to use the masjid facilities, or out of necessity. [Shurunbulali, Imdad al-Fattah] Q) - What Does a Person Do During I'tikaf? One is encouraged to busy oneself with worship and anything beneficial, such as praying, reciting the Qur'an, making much dhikr, speaking of the good, and gaining beneficial knowledge. A person performing I'tikaf can eat, drink, sleep, talk, and do everything that is normally permissible, except for sexual intercourse, kissing, and touching with desire. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Iydah] Allah Most High says, "And do not approach your women while you are performing the spiritual retreat in the masjids." [al-Baqara, v. 187] Engaging in these acts end the I'tikaf whether inside or outside of the masjid. For example, if one left the masjid for a shariah-compliant need and fell into sexual intercourse with one's spouse, then this act ends the I'tikaf. Engaging in these actions end the I'tikaf, regardless of whether one did them during the day or the night. During the I'tikaf, it is disliked to believe that remaining silent is a form of worship. It is also disliked to engage in work or trade. May Allah accept our fasts and any act of worship that we perform for His sake. Don't Forget to Share Islam