A greater virtue is attached to I'tikaaf on these last ten days than on any other days of the year. I'tikaaf means staying in the mosque to worship Allaah. The Prophet (salallaahu alayh wa sallam) used to spend these ten days in I'tikaaf. It was reported from 'Aa'ishah (RA) that the Prophet (salallaahu alayh wa sallam) used to do I'tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadan until he, passed away, then his wives did I'tikaaf after him. (Bukhari).
When to enter I'tikaf When the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) wanted to do I'tikaaf, he would pray Fajr, then enter the place where he was to do I'tikaaf, as was stated in al-Saheehayn from the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah. The four imaams and others (RA) said that he entered it before the sun set, and they interpreted the hadeeth as meaning that he entered his place of I'tikaaf and kept away from people after Salaat al-Subh, not that this was the time when he started his I'tikaaf. (Sharh Muslim li'l-Nawawi; Fath al-Baari).
It is Sunnah for the person in I'tikaaf to keep himself busy with worship, and it is forbidden for him to have intercourse or to do anything that leads to it, because Allaah says:
And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in I'tikaaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques" (Q2[Baqarah]:187).
Where is Itikaf Valid?
It is not valid except in a masjid based on the statement of Allaah that,
"And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in I'tikaaf in the mosque (Q2[Baqarah]:187)
However, there is a difference of opinion regarding the type of mosque in which is valid.
According to some (Which include Abu Hanifah and Ahmad) I'tikaaf is valid in any mosque in which the five prayers are held and which has a congregation. This is based on the hadeeth of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa Sallam): Every mosque that has a caller to prayer and an imam is acceptable for I'tikaaf (Daraqutni)
However, this hadeeth is a fabrication. Majority of the scholars says it is valid in any masjid jaami' (central mosque). This is based on the statement of Aisha (RA) that, "There is no I'tikaaf except in a masjid Jami(Abu Dawud)
However, some other group of scholars hold that there is no I'tikaf except in the three main mosques of Islam, Haram in Makkah, Nabawee in Madinah and al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. This opinion is based on the hadeeth of Hudhayfah (RA) that the Rasul (salallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) said:
"There is no I'tikaf except in the three mosques." (Bayhaqi)
There have been talks about the authenticity of this hadeeth, the strongest opinion is that the hadeeth ls authentic. However, big issue should not be made out of the differences in opinion so as not to break the ranks of the Muslim Ummah.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited