ITIKAF

MAULANAIMRANKHANNAQSHBANDI

ITIKAF

MeaningofItikaf
Itikaf()isparticularlyrecommendedasapiousIslamicpracticeconsistingofaperiodtoretreatin amosque,foracertainnumberofdaysinaccordancewiththebeliever'sownwish. AccordingtoQuran: "AndwhenWemadetheHouseapilgrimageformankindanda(placeof)security,andsaid,Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standingplace of Ibrahim [MaqameIbrahim]. And We enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying: Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it)fordevotion,thosewhobowdown(and)thosewhoprostratethemselves. (SuratulBaqarah,Verse125)

DefinitionofItikaf
The literal definition of the word Itikaf is to stay in a particular place, however in Islamic terminology, this word means to stay in the Masjid for a particular time period in the worship of Allah (Glory and GreatnessbetoHim)whilemaintainingcertainconditions. In the state of Itikaf, a person can eat, drink (after Maghrib by Fajr), stand, sit, sleep, etc. And there is not one particular form that this retreat must be carried out in (unlike the Salat which has a specific formtoit).WhatisimportantinthisperiodistoobeythecommandmentsofAllah(GloryandGreatness betoHim),torefrainfromthethingswhichHehasprohibited(bothinlifeingeneralandinthissojourn) andtobeintheserviceofHim. HewhoperformsItikafstaysawayfromsinsandattainsrewardsasifhedidallgooddeeds. (IbnMaja) HewhoperformsItikaffortwodaysinRamadanreceivesrewardsasifheperformedtwo (voluntary)pilgrimages. (Bayhaqi)

TimeofItikaf
Anytime in which fasting is permissible is an opportune time for Itikaf and the state of Itikaf does not have a specific time related to it. Of course the White Days which are the 13th, 14th and 15th of the lunarmonthandthelasttendaysoftheMonthofRamadanarethebesttimesforthisspiritualexercise. Therefore,onecannotmakeItikafinthedaysof`Eidsinceitisforbiddentofastonthatday. It has been mentioned that the Prophet of Islam (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) used to perform Itikaf in the Month of Ramadan in the first 10 days (three days), the second 10 days (three days)andtheninthelasttendays(threedays)aswell.

ByMaulanaImranKhan(Naqshbandi)

ITIKAF

According to different ahadith we find that in the last ten days of Ramadan Prophet used to practice ItikaftofindtheLaylaTulQadar. YahyanarratedfromZiyadfromMalikthat: Hesawsomeofthepeopleofknowledgewho,whentheydidItikafinthelasttendaysofRamadan, wouldnotgobacktotheirfamiliesuntiltheyhadattendedtheEidalFitrwitheverybody. (MuwattaImamMalik) ImamBukharinarratesfromAbdullahbinUmar AllahsApostleusedtopracticeItikafinthelasttendaysofthemonthofRamadan. (Vol3,Book33RetiringtoaMosqueforRemembranceofAllah(Itikaf)) ImamBukharinarratesfromAbuHuraira(R.Z) TheProphetusedtoperformItikafeveryyearinthemonthofRamadanfortendays,andwhenit wastheyearofhisdeath,hestayedinItikaffortwentydays. (Vol3,Book33RetiringtoaMosqueforRemembranceofAllah(Itikaf))

PlaceofPracticingItikaf
In view of the objective, the most appropriate place for Itikaf is the mosque. The Quran has referred to thepracticeinthefollowingwords:
WhileyouareinthemosquesinastateofItikaf (AlBaqara:187)

The most important rule during Itikaf is to strictly remain limited to the place of Itikaf and not to get outofthatplace,exceptincaseofaneedandemergencyexplainedinShariah. ImamBukharinarratesfromHazratAisha(R.Z) AllahsApostleusedtolethisheadin(thehouse)whilehewasinthemosqueandIwouldcomband oilhishair.WheninItikafheusednottoenterthehouseexceptforaneed. (Vol3,Book33,RetiringtoaMosqueforRemembranceofAllah(Itikaf)) ImamMaliksaid ApersondoingItikafisnotdoingItikafuntilheavoidsfromvisitingthesick,prayingoverthedead andenteringhouses,excepttorelievehimself. (MuwattaImamMalik)

ByMaulanaImranKhan(Naqshbandi)

ITIKAF

A woman should not perform Itikaf in a mosque. If she performs it in her home, there are certain conditions for her to meet. If there is a room that she uses as a prayer room, she can observe it in that room.Duringthepractice ofItikaf,sheisnotallowedtodoanyofthechoreslikecookingandcleaning. She must engage only in acts of worship. However, there is no religious obstacle in doing indispensably necessaryduties,suchasmakingablutionetc. TheProphetusedtopracticeItikafinthelasttendaysofRamadantillhe diedandthenhiswivesusedtopracticeItikafafterhim. (Vol3,Book33,RetiringtoaMosqueforRemembranceofAllah(Itikaf))

TypesofItikaf
AccordingtotheHanafischoolofthought,therearethreedifferenttypesofItikaf.

WajibItikaf
This Itikaf becomes compulsory when a person makes it obligatory upon himself. An example of this is, when a person makes a vow to Allah that if Allah fulfills a certain wish of his, he will do Itikaf. In this case, at the moment his wish is fulfilled, Itikaf becomes compulsory. A person may just make unconditional vow whereby he makes Itikaf Wajib upon himself for certain number of days. This becomesaWajibdutyonhimfromthatmomentonwards.

SunnahItikaf
This was the general practice of Prophet (P.B.U.H) and it means to seclude oneself inside the Masjid for thelasttendaysofRamadan.

NafilItikaf
There is no special time or specific number of days for Nafil Itikaf. A person may have intention for any number of days at any time. Imam Abu Hanifah however states that it must be for at least one full day. ImamMohammedstatesthatthereisnolimitontheminimumperiodoftime.Thefatwaisonthislater view. Therefore, it is desirable for anyone entering a Masjid to make the niyyah (intention) of Itikaf for the period that he will remain in the mosque. So while he is in Ibaadah he also gains the reward of Itikaf. TheMessengerofAllah(blessingsofAllahareuponhimandhisfamily)hassaid: Thepersonswhosecludehimself(intheMasjidinItikaf)intruefaithandhope(fortherewardof Allah);allofhisprevioussinsshallbeforgiven. (KanzulUmmal,Hadith24007)

ByMaulanaImranKhan(Naqshbandi)

ITIKAF

ConditionsofItikaf
1. Intention,asintherestoftheworshipacts.Itisnecessarythattheintentionbemadeat the beginning of Itikaf so that the rule, requiring the worship act to be completed with intention,isfollowedthoroughlyfromthebeginningtotheend.Thedecisionismadeat thebeginningofthenight(frommagrib)tostartItikaf.
2. BeliefinIslam. 3. Freedomfrommentalillness. 4. Fasting; thus the Itikaf of one who cannot fast for some reasons is not valid but it is only in Itikaf.e.WjibandSunnahbecauseinNafilapersoncanbeinItikafonlyforfewminutes. 5. Duration is one day at least. It could be more but not less than from dawn to dusk (because of prescribedfasttiming)butinNafilitisallowed. 6. Completing it in the Mosque where it was started. Thus, going out of the Mosque without an acceptable reason will invalidate the Itikaf, regardless, one knows the rule or is ignorant or has gone out because of forgetfulness, except in the case of an emergency or one being forced or it isbecauseofsomeneedsuchasusingwashroomorhavingTaharat. AllahsaysinHisBook: Andeatanddrinkuntilthewhitethreadbecomescleartoyoufromtheblackthreadofdawn,then completethefastuntilnighttime,anddonothaveintercoursewiththemwhileyouaredoingItikaf inmosques. (SuratulBaqarah(2),Verse187).

TheIntention(Niyyah)forItikaf
The intention for Itikaf is of three main types. The most common form is the recommended Itikaf, however (secondly) it can also become obligatory (wajib) if a person makes an oath or promise to Allah (forthefulfillmentofsomething)andinthatoathhehadpromisedAllah(thathewouldperformItikafif his prayer[dua] is fulfilled). The third intention which can be made for Itikaf is that it is being done on behalf of someone else similar to how people perform Hajj for their deceased relatives or pay their dues (especially of parents) who have passed away or others. Therefore, it is necessary for the correctnessofItikaftospecifytheintentionandthetypethatonewantstoperform. ImamBukharinarratesfromIbnUmar: UmaraskedtheProphetIvowedinthePrelslamicperiodofignorancetostayinItikafforonenight inAlMasjidalHaram.TheProphetsaidtohim,Fulfillyourvow.So,heperformedItikafforone night. (Vol3,Book33,RetiringtoaMosqueforRemembranceofAllah(Itikaf))

ByMaulanaImranKhan(Naqshbandi)

ITIKAF

ProhibitedActsDuringItikaf

TheprohibitedactsduringthestateofItikafinclude: 1. Unnecessary and meaningless discussions and arguments both in relation to the world and the faith.Thismeansthatapersonargueswithanothertoprovethatheisbetterorsmarterorthat heknowsmore,etc.However,ifapersonmustargueordebatetoupholdthetruthanddestroy falsehood, it is permissible rather this is the best form of worship and servitude to Allah (Glory andGreatnessbetoHim)duringthisnoblestate. 2. Buyingandsellinganything. 3. Deriving pleasure from the opposite sex in any way holding hands, hugging, kissing, etc is completelyforbiddeninthestateofItikaf. Ifanyofthesethingsareperformed,onesItikafbecomesvoid.

Invitation
Islami Roohani Mission (Pakistan) arranges every year in the month of Ramazan, Tarbiyati Itikaf (training Itikaf) at AlMarkaz MaqsoodulUloom (Karachi) in which different scholars of I.R.M delivers their knowledge full lectures for the self development of an individual. DrseQuran, Hadith and Fiqh are delivered under the guidance and supervision of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Maqsood Ilahi and his precious words in the end plays the provoking role in the selfspiritualdevelopmentofeveryindividual.

You people are invited to join us in this training Itikaf, it will not only give you the true knowledge of Islamic teachings but will also support you to be prepare foryourgraveandHereafter.

ByMaulanaImranKhan(Naqshbandi)