Bakhabar, July, ramadan special, 2013 - Bihar Anjuman

I’takaafBy Muqeet… [http://yassarnalquran.wordpress.com/] So it is clear that itikaaf is Sunnah, the wayof the glorious Messenger of Allah.In the name of Allah, the Merciful, theMercy-giving6. Is it only for men? or Can women also___________________________________ perform itikaaf?There is no gender bias. Itikaaf can be1. The word itikaaf comes from the performed by both, men and women. InArabic root ‘a-ka-fa. case of married woman, her husband’s‘akafa means to adhere, cling, stick, to give permission is necessary.oneself over, apply oneself, devote oneself.It also means to seclude oneself, isolate 7. Three conditions control the act of itikaaf. صلّى االله عليه وسلّم consideration. The Prophetoneself, withdraw, retire to a place, to hold a. Niyyah (Intention as discussed before) said, “I was shown the rewards of myback, to restrain. b. To be in a state of purity Ummah (for their different deeds) even for aIf you apply the meanings of this verbal root c. Staying in a masjid. speck of dirt that someone removes fromakafa to itikaaf, Subhanallah, a myriad ofthe masjid”.meaning emerges!8. It is compulsory that one should stay inIn simple terms “itikaaf is to seclude oneself itikaaf for all ten days? 13. Avoiding unnecessary talks is veryto the devotion of one and only Almighty Islam is an easy religion and it never makes importantAllah. things difficult for people. It is better for the one who observes ItikaafThe question ‘where to seclude oneself’ is So if someone is desirous to perform itikaaf not to talk much with people. Rather, theyanswered in ayah no. 187 of Surah al and is not in a position to devote all ten days should keep to the `Ibadah and obedience.Baqarah. In a masjid! at a stretch, then it allowed to perform However, if a man is visited by some of hisI take the liberty to translate the word itikaaf even for a day or two. brothers or a woman is visited by Muslimitikaaf as ‘to disconnect oneself from Itikaaf can be even for some hours! sisters or some of her Mahram relativeseverything to connect with Allah in His very Just go to the masjid, spend some hours in (unmarriageable relatives) and has talkshouse, the masjid’. the dhikr, remembrance of Allah, and come with them, there is nothing wrong in that.The person in itikaaf is called as ‘aakif back. You will get the reward of performing(singular) and ‘aakifoon (plural) – itikaaf.14. What are the commendable things inعاكفونAs itikaaf is a preferred Sunnah and the Itikaaf? Prophetused to sit in itikaaf 1. To recite the Qur’an and ponder over its٢. One must make his intention clear: To during the last ten days of Ramadhaan, it is meanings.please Allah and none else! better to complete all the ten days, by those 2 . To e n g a g e o n e s e l f i n t h e Z i k rAs it is eloquently clear from the word who have the means to do so. (remembrance) of Allah.meaning itself, the purpose of itikaaf must3. To seek forgiveness for one’s sins.be to devote oneself, fully and exclusively, 9. Beginning and the end of itikaaf Sayyidul Istighfaar is the best form offor the devotion, remembrance and According to the Sunnah, Itikaaf begins seeking forgiveness from Allah.worship of Allah Tabarak Wa Ta’ala. with one having the intention to observe it 4. To invoke blessings upon Prophetصلّى االله عليه وسلّم One must be online with Allah as He is and it ends when the period intended ends. Muhammadalways available hotline! It is desirable to begin Itikaaf after the Fajr ٥. To offer as much of Nawafil (extra)It is sensible not to connect to the internet in Prayer of the twenty-first day of prayers as possible.the masjid during itikaaf! Ramadhaan, following the example of the 6. To perform Qiyaamul Layl/Tahajjudprayers.3. Is there any special masjid to perform 7. To memorize the chapters (surahs) oritikaaf?۱٠. Three things nullify an I’tikaaf:aayaats (verses) of the Qur’an.Itikaaf can be performed in any masjid 1. Leaving the mosque intentionally 8. To memorize the ahadeeth.where congregational Salah is offered. without any genuine reason 9. To read any good book on Seerah.2. Conjugal relations 10. To seek Laylatul Qadr preferably in all4. Itikaaf is better performed in Ramadhaan 3. Loss of purity by menstruation in case of the nights (of the last ten days)than in any other month.womenItikaaf has to be done in the last ten days ofRamadhaan as it was the usual practice of 11. The person in itikaaf, is he or she allowed15. Do you know what a vowed Itikaaf is?t h e M e s s e n g e r o f A l l a h , P r o p h e t to leave the masjid? Suppose a Muslim swears by Allah that heMuhammad صلّى االله عليه وسلّم The one who observes Itikaaf should keep to will observe itikaaf in one of the threethe place of their itikaaf, and should not go masjids (Masjid al Haram, Masjid an Nabawi٥. Itikaaf is optional or obligatory, you may out except for answering the call of nature or Masjid al Aqsa) then he must fulfill hisask. or for bringing food, if there is no one to vow by compulsorily observing that itikaaf.Itikaaf is optional. It is reported from provide it for them. I hope most of the major points are coveredصلّى authentic ahadeeth that the Prophetin this post, alhamdulillah.once abandoned itikaaf in 12. Eat, drink and sleep but do keep keep theRamadhaan and did it in Shawwal! masjid clean! Jazakallahu Khayra for reading this post.Had itikaaf in Ramadhaan been Fardh Cleanliness of the masjid and caution May Allah give us the Tawfeeq, Hidayah and(obligatory) how could the Prophet against things that might dirty it, such as Istiqaamah to live by His teachings.abandon it? remnants of food, have to be taken into Aameen.صلّى االله عليه وسلّمصلّى االله عليه وسلّم Prophetعاكفإعتكافع ك فاالله عليه وسلّمBakhabar21