This slide program explains the significance of I'tikaf, its methods and how to best benefit from it. References are given to ahadith of our beloved Prophet Mohammad (SAW) and companions. It is a forgotten Sunnah and excellent spiritual retreat which helps us to get closer to Allah (SWT)

2. • The meaning of I’tikaf is to seclude oneself in the
masjid ( or for women at home)
• The only intention (niyyah) for I'tikaf is worship &
remembrance of Allah to seek His pleasure.
• Traditionally it is done in the last 9-10 days of
Ramadan.
• It could be done any time even for a few seconds
only

4. Abu Huraira (RA) reported that Prophet (SAW)
did I’tekaf every Ramadan for (last) ten days
In the year that he passed away, he did
I’tekaf for20 days. (Bukhari)

5. Aisha (RA) reported that Prophet (SAW) used to
spend the last ten days of Ramadan in I'tekaf until he
died, then his wives continued to do I'tekaf after he
died. (Narrated by Bukhari, 1921; Muslim, 1171).

6. • Al-Zuhri (RA) said:
• “How strange the Muslims are! They have given up
I’tikaaf, despite the fact that the Prophet (SAW)
never abandoned this practice from the time he
came to Madinah until his death.”
• Imam Ahmad (RA) said: “I have not heard from any
of the scholars that it is anything other than
Sunnah.” (Abu Dawood)

7. • Following Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (SAW) since
he performed it every year in Medina
• Person residing in the, masjid in I'tikaf is like one gone
to appeal for his needs to Allah(SWT) and remains
there until it is granted
• In every moment of I'tikaf one remains in lbadah
(worship), even when asleep
• One of the major objective of I'tikaf during Ramadan is
to search for Lailatul Qadar
• In I'tikaf one is free from all daily tasks and thus has all
the time to devote to dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
and meditation.

8. • Just as fasting is a shield which protects the heart
from the harmful influences, I'tekaf offers an
immense benefit, which is protection from the
effects of excessive socializing
• I’tikaf also offers protection from the evil
consequences of talking too much
• It also offers protection from sleeping too much by
doing different kinds of acts of worship
• I'tekaf will help make one’s heart turn towards
Allah (SWT).

9. • Ali Ibn Hussain (RA) narrates from his father that
Prophet (SAW) said: “He who observes the ten days
I’tikaf during Ramadhan will obtain the reward of two
Hajj & two Umrah.” (Bayhaqi)
• Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) reported that Prophet (SAW)
said: “Whosoever for Allah’s sake did even one days
i’tikaf, Allah would keep him away from Jahannam by
trenches.” (Tabarani)
• Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said,
(about him who engages in i’tikaf), “that he is safe from
sin & he also gets that reward which everyone (outside
i’tikaf) gets for pious deeds.” (Ibn Majah)

10. • Messenger of Allah (SAW) did not do I'tekaf except
in conjunction with fasting.
• , ‘Aisha(RA) said: ‘There is no I'tekaf except with
fasting.’” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2473)
• Majority of the scholars agreed “that fasting is a
condition of I'tekaf. This is the view that was
regarded as most correct by Ibn Taymiyah.” (Zaad
al-Ma’aad, 2/87, 88)
• That fasting is a condition of I'tekaf was narrated
from Ibn ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Abbas. It was also the
view of Malik, al-Oza’i and Abu Haneefah,

11. 1. To be a Muslim.
2. To be sane
3. To be pure and clean from major impurity,
monthly menses, and bleeding of childbirth,
4. To perform I'tikaf in a masjid (for males only),
5. To form the niyyah (intention) for I'tikaf.
6. To fast for wajib and sunnah I'tikaf

12. 1. Wajib I'tikaf: I'tikaf becomes compulsory (wajib)
when a person makes it obligatory upon himself. For
instance, when a person makes a vow
2. Sunnah I'tikaf: This I'tikaf was observed by Rasulullah (SAW)
in every year of his stay at Madina. This I'tikaf means to seclude
oneself inside the masjid for the last ten days of Ramadan
3. Nafl l'tikaf: There is no special time or
specific number of days

13. • Females should perform I'tikaf in the room set
aside for prayer inside their homes.
• Domestic duties should be carried out by others
while the person in I'tikaf remains constantly in
lbadah in her room.
• Permission of her husband for I'tikaf is needed
• If, during the I'tikaf, the woman has her menses or
nifas (bleeding after child birth), the I'tikaf is
nullified

14. • a. To answer the call of nature when necessary.
• b. To perform wudu when the wudu' terminates
(breaks).
• c. To perform the wajib bath (due to a wet dream).
• d. To perform Jumu'ah Salah if it is not performed
in that masjid

15. • a. To eat and sleep
• b. To change clothes.
• c. To clip the nails or trim the moustache.
• d. To recite the Qur'an aloud or recite tasbih or
dhikr with a raised voice if it does not disturb
others.
• e. To have religious discussions and lectures and to
speak about lawful matters.

16. • Going out of the mosque except for genuine needs.
Salim says: “As for his food and drink, it was brought to
him (Prophet) where he was in his place of I'tekaf.”
• Touching spouse with desire – including intercourse.
This is something which invalidates I'tekaf. ):“And do
not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while
you are in I'tekaf in the mosques”( 2:187].
• Menstruation and post-natal bleeding.
• To complete ‘iddah. If the husband of a woman who is
in I’tikaaf dies and she is in the mosque, she has to
leave the mosque so that she can do her ‘iddah in her
house.
• Apostasy or leaving Islam

17. • “When he (SAW) wanted to do I'tekaf, he would have
his mattress or his bed placed behind the Column of
Repentance.” ( Ibn Majah, 1/564).
• Aisha (RA) said: “The Prophet(SAW) used to do I'tekaf
in the last ten days of Ramadan, and I used to put up a
tent for him. He would pray Fajr, then go into the
tent…” (Bukhari, 4/810).
• Aisha (RA) said: “… he would not enter the house
unless he needed to, when he was in I'tekaf.”
• Aisha (RA) used to comb the hair of the Prophet
(SAW) when he was in I'tekaf and she was
menstruating. She was in her room and he would lean
his head towards her. (Narrated by al-Bukhari).

18. • Intention (niyyah). ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (RA) said:
I heard the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) say: ‘Actions
are but by intentions and every man shall have but
that which he intended….”
• Staying in the mosque. As it says in the ayah : “We
commanded Ibrahim and Ismael that they should
purify My House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) for those
who are circumambulating it, or staying (I‘tikaaf),
or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in
prayer).” [Baqarah 2:125].

19. • It is mustahab for the person in I'tekaf to keep himself
busy with prayer, reading Qur'an, remembering Allah
(dhikr) and other kinds of pure worship
• Avoid excessive talking, because the one who talks too
much, is more likely to say wrong things
• It is permissible for the person who is in I’tikaaf to see
a visitor out and talk with him
• There is a difference of opinion among the scholars
regarding teaching during I’tekaf. According to Imam
Ahmad, this is not recommended. The view of al-
Shaafa’i, as recorded in al-Mughni, was: that it is
mustahabb because it is the best kind of worship and
its benefit is not limited to only one person.

20. • All the time spent in I'tikaf should be beneficially used
for lbadah.
• The farad Salah should be performed with meticulous
care and humbleness and without haste.
• The most virtuous act is reciting the Qur'an
• Du'a- Prophet (SAW) said,”Du'a is the essence of'
ibadah”
• Zikr of Allah-
• Istighfar- Sayyidul-Istighfar should be recited as many
times as possible
• Tahajjud and other nawafil should be performed

22. 1- Purify
intentio
n
2-
Schedule
worship
3- Exert
in
worship
4- Recite
Quran
5-
Nawafil
6- Zikr 7- Dua
8-
Taubah
9-
Practicing
Sunnah
10-
Refrain
from sins
11- Avoid
over
eating
12-
Lailatul
Qadar

23. • “Verily actions are judged by intention.” [Bukhari &
Muslim]
• Ibn Al-Mubarak said: “Maybe a small action is
made great by its intention, & maybe a great action
is made small by its intention.”
• So for I’tikaf we should make good intentions like
for example we are sitting I’tikaf to draw closer to
Allah, to strengthen one’s iman, to correct one’s
heart & purify oneself etc.

24. • Plan & schedule our time so that we can spend it as
effectively as possible.
• By setting ourselves daily targets we can ensure
that we are more likely to achieve them.
• We can set our hourly worship targets & schedule
daily worship.
• Daily worship schedule check can monitor our daily
worship throughout the last ten nights.
• Here is a link for making such plan:
Ramadan Planner.pdf

25. • Allah’s Messenger used to exert himself in devotion
during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at
any other time.” (Muslim).
• Aisha (RA) reported: With the start of the last ten
days of Ramadan, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi
Wasallam) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work
harder) & used to pray all the night, & used to keep
his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari)
• The person sitting I’tikaf should exert themselves in
worship in each night of the last ten nights
particularly the last ten odd numbered nights: 21,
23, 25, 27, 29.

26. • The Qur’an was revealed on the night of Power, so
we should increase our recitation even more during
the last ten days & nights.
• The pious predecessors used to increase the
amount of Qur’an they recited during the last ten
days & nights.
• Along with recitation we should also read & learn
the meanings of the Qur’an. We should
contemplate & ponder over the verses & implement
what we read & learn into our daily lives.

27. • What better way of drawing closer to Allah during
I’tikaf than by praying the voluntary prayers:
• Allah says in Hadith Qudsi:
“….And My slave keeps on coming closer to Me
through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I
love him,” [Bukhari]
• In Ramadan we get the reward equal to Farad for
praying Nawafil prayer.
• Subhaanallah! What other time of the year are
Nawafil prayers rewarded equal to that of a fard
prayer?

28. • A-PRAY 12 RAKAHS OF SUNNAH DAILY: –
 2 SUNNAH OF FAJR,
4 SUNNAH & 2 SUNNAH OF DHUHR &
2 SUNNAH OF MAGHRIB
• Umm Habibah Ramilah bint Abu Sufyan (RA)
narrated she heard the Prophet (SAW) saying: “A
house will be built in Paradise for every Muslim who
offers twelve units of Prayers other than the
obligatory ones in day & night, to seek pleasure of
Allah.”(Muslim)

29. • Can be prayed from 20 mins after sunrise up until
20 minutes before Dhuhr begins
• Salat al-Dhuhaa consists of 2 – 12 Rakahs & it is
preferable to perform 8 Rakahs.(Raddul Mukhtaar)
• The Prophet (SAW) is reported to have
said: Whoever prayed twelve rakahs (before
midday), then Allah will, as a reward, prepare a
palace of gold for him in Paradise.
(Mishkat, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

30. • Umm Habibah (RA) narrated that the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:
• “Whoever sticks to the habit of offering four rakahs
before Noon Prayer & four rakahs after it, Allah will
shield him against the Hell-Fire.”
(Abu Dawud & At-Tirmidhi)

31. • The Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi wa sallam)
said:”May Allaah have Mercy on the one who offers
four (Rakahs) before ‘Asr prayer.”(Abu Dawud)
• Abu Qatadah (RA) narrated the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) as saying: “If any one of you enters
a mosque, he should pray two rakahs before
sitting.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

32. • Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported the Prophet (Sallallahu
Alaihi Wasallam) saying to Bilal (RA): “Tell me about
the best of your deeds (i.e. one which you deem the
most rewarding) since your embracing Islam
because I heard your footsteps in front of me in
Paradise.”
• Bilal (RA) replied: “I do not consider any act of mine
more rewarding than that whenever I make
ablution at any time of night or day, I perform
Prayer for as much as was destined for me to
do.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)”

33. • : “Establish worship at the going down of the sun
until the dark of the night, & (the recital of) the
Qur’an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur’an at
dawn is ever witnessed. And some part of the night
awake for its recital, as voluntary worship for you. It
may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised
estate.” (Qur’an, 17: 78-79)
• Imam Abu Sa’id al-Khadimi said, “There is scholarly
consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous
acts is the night vigil prayer.” [al-Bariqa al-
Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]

34. • 1. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 Rakahs.
[Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]
• 2. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 Rakahs,
because this was the general practice of the Messenger
of Allah (SAW) [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]
• 3. Lengthier recitation of Qur’an is superior to a larger
number of Rakahs prayed.
[Durr al-Mukhtaar, Radd al-Muhtar]
• If one has not memorized much of the Qur’an then one
should recite whatever they know or recite Surah Ikhlas
3 times after Surah Faathiha in each rakah to gain
reward of reciting entire Qur’an.

35. • Abu Hurayrah (RA), related that the Prophet
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: When the last
one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the
Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the
earth & proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for
Me, & I grant his supplication? Who is that who
begs Me for anything & I grant it to him? And who
is that who seeks My forgiveness, & I forgive
him?(Bukhari, Muslim).
• The last third portion of the night is the most
blessed & dua’s are readily accepted at this time

36. • Mu`adh Ibn Jabal (RA) said that the Prophet (SAW)
said: “The People of Paradise will not regret
anything except one thing alone: the hour that
passed them by in which they made no
remembrance of Allah.” Narrated Bayhaqi in
Shu`ab al-iman (1:392 #512-513)
• Abu Sa`id (RA) narrates the Prophet (SAW) was
asked, “Which of the servants of Allah is best in
rank before Allah on the Day of resurrection?” He
said: “The ones who remember him much.”
(Ahmad, Tirmidhi, & Bayhaqi)

37. • We should try & aim to recite each of these 10
Dhikr a 100 times each which makes a total of
1000 a day minimum.
• 1. Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa
fa’fu ‘annee – Recite this abundantly during the
last ten nights of Ramadan.
• 2. Subhaanallah
• 3. Alhamdulillah
• 4. Allahu Akbar
• 5. Laa ilaaha illallah
• 6. LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH-HIL
ALIYYIL ADHEEM
• 7. Asthaghfirullah-halladhee Laa ilaaha illa-
huwal Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay

38. • 7. Asthaghfirullah-halladhee Laa ilaaha illa-huwal
Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay
• Or short version: Asthaghfirullah
• 8. SUB-HAAN’ALLAAHi WA BI-HAM’DIHI SUB-
HAAN’ALLAH-IL ADHEEM
• Or short version: SUB-HAAN’ALLAAHi WA BI-HAM’DIHI
• 9. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-
llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā
bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm
• 10. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-
mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa
ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām,
biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr

39. • Or the shortened version:
• Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu,
lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli
shay-in qadeer
• 11. Radeetu billahi Rabban Wa bil Islami deenan
Wabi Muhammadin Nabiyyan
• We should also recite much of durood e Ibrahim
which is the durood that is recited towards the end
of Salaah.
• Or the shortest durood is: Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallim

41. • What better opportunity to make long & sincere dua’s
to Allah than whilst devoting oneself to Allah in his
house.
• “When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them)
I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of
every suppliant when he calls on me.” [2:186]
• The place of Dua is so high in front of Allah, that the
Prophet (SAW) has said: “Nothing is more honourable
to Allah the Most High than Dua.” [Sahih al-
Jami` no.5268].

42. • We should not let our minds wonder whilst in Dua
• We should concentrate more, making sure our
hearts are present whilst asking of Allah.
• Whilst we are in dua we should imagine Almighty
Allah in front of us & so we should humble
ourselves in front of him in a state of meekness &
humility.
• It may also help if we made a list of what we want
to ask Allah during our dua’s.

43. 1. The third portion of the night shortly before suhoor ends.
2. Whilst fasting.
3. Between Asr & Maghrib.
4. Just before aftaar.
5. On Jumu'ah before & after khutbah.
6. Between Adhan & Iqama.
7. After Qur’an recitation.
8. The Night of Qadar

44. • Allah loves repentance & loves those
who turn to him in sincere repentance,
so repent unto him sincerely as much
as possible:
• Truly Allah loves those who turn [to
Him] in repentance… (Qur’an 2:222)

45. 31-Say: "If you do love Allah follow me: Allah will
love you and forgive you your sins for Allah is Oft-
Forgiving Most Merciful."
32-Say: "Obey Allah and His Apostle"; but if they
turn back Allah loves not those who reject
Faith.(Ale-Imran, 3:31,32)

46. • “There certainly is an excellent example in Allah’s
messenger for he who fears Allah & the last day &
remembers Allah abundantly” (al-Ahzaab 21)
• By following the Sunnah in every aspect of our daily
lives, everything we do will become worship, even
going to the toilet, having a bath, dressing &
undressing etc.

47. • The person sitting in I’tikaf must refrain from
committing any sins.
• That includes guarding the ears, eyes, tongue, privates
& heart, thus deriving the maximum benefit from
I’tikaf & attaining a special closeness to Allah & an
increase & strengthening of iman (faith).
• The mu’takif (person sitting I’tikaf) should remember
that they are the guest of Almighty Allah in his house
and should be extremely vigilant of his behavior in the
House of Almighty Allah.
• He must also avoid getting into idle discussions,
debates & arguments which will be of no benefit but
cause more harm than good.

48. • Ibrahim al-Nakha’i (RA), one of the teachers of
Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) mentioned: “The people
ruined before you were done in by three
characteristics: too much talking, too much eating,
& too much sleeping.”
• Ash-Shafi’I (RA) said: I have not filled myself in
sixteen years because filling oneself makes the body
heavy, removes clear understanding, induces sleep
& makes one weak for worship.
• It used to be said: Whoever takes control of his
stomach gets control of all good deeds.

49. • : “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand
months”[97:3]
• Therefore we should strive to stay up & worship on
all of the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
• If we can’t do that then we should at least
worship the odd numbered nights of the last ten
days.
• If we still can’t manage that then let us pray on
whatever nights we can, minimum on the 27th
night.
• We should make dua of Lailatul Qadar frequently