Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Askimam.org » I’tikaaf related issues

I’tikaaf related issues

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

Answer

Comments from Mufti Ebrahim Desai:

Moulana Ismail Dawoodjee is a first year student of the Darul Iftaa from Zambia. As his thesis for the first year, he chose the topic of ie’tikaaf in which he compiled various fatawa on the topic.

This compilation will be very useful for anyone who wishes to learn the laws of ie’tikaaf. I have read this compilation in detail and made some adjustments for easy understanding.

May Allah accept this compilation and grant barakah in the Uloom of Moulana Ismail Dawoodjee Hafizahullah.

Ebrahim Desai.

___________________________________________________________


IE’TIKAAF RELATED ISSUES


The following is a compilation of Fatawa regarding ie’tikaaf from the

Fatawa of our Akabereen. The references of the various Fatawa are attached with the Fatawa.

Ismail Dawoodjee (19/06/2014)

Virtues of Ie’tikaaf

Ie’tikaaf (secluding oneself in the masjid to worship Allah) invokes the special mercies and bounties of Allah.  When Moosa (Alayhi Salaam) sat in ie’tikaaf, Allah blessed him with the Towrah. When Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam was in ietikaaf in the cave of Hira, Allah blessed Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam with prophet hood and the Quraan.

It was the noble habit of Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam and the sahaba to sit in ie’tikaaf. Our pious predecessors would take great pride and joy in making ie’tikaaf.

The act of ie’tikaaf exhibits humbleness and humility as one entraps himself in the house of Allah to ensure the forgiveness of Allah as a mutakif is like a beggar who refuses to leave the doors of the palace unless his need is fulfilled.

Alhamdulillah, in the month of Ramadhan, we observe many people taking an interest in performing sunnah ie’tikaaf. This is a great bounty and favour of Allah.

FATAWA MAHMOODIYYAH (Maktaba Mahmoodiyyah)

Q. Explain the difference between fardh, sunnah and nafil ie’tikaaf.

A. There is no such thing as fardh ie’tikaaf. If a person takes an oath to perform ie’tikaaf, then it becomes wajib. The ie’tikaaf of the last ten days of Ramdaan is sunnah and performing ie’tikaaf whenever one wishes to is nafil. (p251)

Q. Do the rulings of sunnah e muakadah ie’tikaaf also apply on one performing mustahab (nafil) ie’tikaaf?

A. The rulings of sunnah e muakadah do apply in nafil ie’tikaaf. However, in a nafil ie’tikaaf fasting is not a prerequisite. As for sunnah e muakadah ie’tikaaf, it only takes place during the last ten days of Ramadhan and fasting is a prerequisite. Secondly, in nafil ie’tikaaf, if one leaves the masjid without a valid reason his ie’tikaaf period will automatically end and it won’t break. However, the sunnah ie’tikaaf will break. (p252)

Q. Can ie’tikaaf be nafil? If a man goes to the masjid with the intention that as long as he is in the masjid he will be in the state of ie’tikaaf. Will he get the reward of nafil ie’tikaaf? Can one perform nafil ie’tikaaf at home as well?

A. One will be rewarded for performing ie’tikaaf in the masjid with the intention of being in ie’tikaaf while being in the masjid. However, a male will not get the reward of performing ie’tikaaf at home. (p253)

Q. How is it to perform ie’tikaaf during the whole month of Ramadhan? If a person performs ie’tikaaf for the whole month of Ramadhan, will he be rewarded? Ten days have been proven by hadith. Those things that haven’t been proven to have rewards, how is it to do such things and expect to be rewarded?

A. Ie’tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadan is sunnah e muakadah alal kifayah. Ie’tikaaf throughout the whole moth of Ramadhan in search of laylatul Qadar was also the practice of Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam. Even 20 days is an established sunnah of Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam. It is not an innovation.

عن عائشة رضى الله عنه ان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يعتكف العشر الاواخر من رمضان حتى توفاه الله ثم اعتكف ازواجه من بعده متفق عليه مشكوة ص183 ج1

Aisha Radiyallahu Anha narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam would perform ie’tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan until Allah Taala took him away, then his wives performed ie’tikaaf after him.

عن ابى هريرة رضى الله تعالى عنه قال كان يعرض على النبى صلى الله عليه و سلم القران كل عام مرة فعرض عليه مرتين فى العام الذى قبض و كان يعتكف كل عام عشرا فاعتكف عشرين فى العام الذى قبض مشكوة ص183 ج1

Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu narrates that the Quraan would be presented to Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam once every year. It was presented to him twice the year he passed away and he would perform perform ietikaaf for ten days every year and he performed ie’tikaaf for twenty days the year he passed away.

عن ابى سعيد الخدرى رضى الله عنه ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم اعتكف العشر الاول من رمضان ثم اعتكف العشر الاوسط فى قبة تركية ثم اطلع راسه فقال انى اعتكف العشر الاول التمس هذه اليلة ثم اعتكف العشر الاوسط ثم اتيت فقيل لى انها فى العشر الاواخر متفق عليه (مشكوة شريف)

Abu Saeed Khudri Radiallahu Anhu Narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam would perform ie’tikaaf of the first ten days of Ramadhan, then he would perform ie’ttikaaf of the second ten days in a Turkish tent, then he would take his head out and say “I performed ie’tikaaf of the first ten days loking for this night (night of power), then I performed ie’tikaaf of the second ten nights, then I was told that it is in the last ten nights.”

Q. Zaid was performing ie’tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan. All of a sudden after 3 days news came that he has go for hajj, because of which he had to leave. Does he have to make up his ie’tikaaf of the last 10 days? If he has to, then how will he make them up? Can he join the qadah of last year with the ada of this year?

A. Most preferably after Ramadhan he should perform ie’tikaaf of the full ten days and fast during the period of ie’tikaaf as well. However, this is not compulsory. If he wishes to, he may only make up the day that he broke his ie’tikaaf, that too will be enough. Making up the qadah of the previous year with the ada of the present year will not suffice. The qada will not be fulfilled. (258)

Q. Can a mu’takif teach Quraan or not? If the children learn Quraan from him even out of ie’tikaaf.

A. It is permissible to teach children Quraan in ie’tikaaf, however if the children are such that they do not understand the laws of purity, then such children should not be brought into the masjid. (262)

Q. Can a mu’takif eat paan that has tobacco in the masjid?

A. It is permissible as long as it doesn’t have a strong smell. (263)

Q. Zaid is addicted to cigarettes and he can’t do without them. The question is that can he smoke cigarettes outside the masjid or inside the masjid? No one else in our community is prepared to sit for ie’tikaaf apart from Zaid. In such a situation should he be allowed to sit for ietikaf or should the ie’tikaaf be left out? Please also mention what things fall under human needs. Please explain in detail.

A. The virtues of ie’tikaaf are numerous and so are its benefits.  A lot of importance should be given to ie’tikaaf. When one goes out to answer the call of nature, then the need of smoking etc. may also be fulfilled after which the mouth should be thoroughly cleansed by doing wudu and miswak. Do not go into the masjid with foul smells of the mouth. (264)

Q. A mu’takif has diarrhoea due to which he has to go home 15/20 times to relieve himself. What is the ruling?

A. The above will not invalidate the ie’tikaaf. (266)

Q. If a mu’takif goes into the house after answering the call of nature and speaks to his wife and children, picks up a book to bring back to the masjid, picks up bills, reads letters, speaks to visitors, takes a bath or washes his clothes or replies to letters. Can one do such actions in the state of ie’tikaaf?

A. After relieving one’s self, one shouldn’t specifically attend to the above duties. Whilst one is leaving the house, one could greet his family members and visitors on his way out. One could bring the rest of the mentioned things into the masjid and read the letters in the masjid and reply to them. (267)

Q. A mu’takifs house is a few steps away from the masjid. Can he do sehri, iftar and answer the call of nature at home?

A. In all conditions one will answer the call of nature outside the masjid. And so will be the faradh ghusal. sehri and iftar is permitted in the masjid, hence it won’t be permissible for one to leave the masjid. If no one can bring food for the mu’takif, then he will be permitted to go and collect the food from home. If one is habituated with answering the call of nature at home, then he may do so. (268)

Q. During ie’tikaaf whilst one is awake or sleeping ones wudu keeps breaking. Will it be necessary to always keep on making wudu? How is it to read tafseer and fiqhi books without wudu?

A. It is preferable to stay in the state of wudu, it is not  wajib to be always in the state of wudu. It is also preferable to read books of tafseer and fiqh with wudu. (268)

Q. Should the ie’tikaaf of a woman in the house be nafil or sunnah?

A. She can do nafil or sunnah ie’tikaaf. (270)

Q. If no one in the community sat for ie’tikaaf. Will only the mature males be sinfull or mature males, females and children will also be sinful.

A. Immature children aren’t answerable. A woman cannot perform ie’tikaaf in the masjid, she should ascertain a portion in her house for ie’tikaaf. If no one performs ietikaa, then everyone that is mature will be answerable for leaving out the sunnah of ie’tikaaf. (271)

Q. If an immature child sits for ie’tikaaf what is  the ruling?

A. He will also be rewarded for the ie’tikaaf. (271)

Q. If a mu’takif kisses his wife’s foreheadout of love without lust, will this invalidate the ie’tikaaf?

A. It is not advisable to do such things during ie’tikaaf, however nor is the ietkaaf or the fast nullified and nor is it necessary for him to make up the ie’tikaaf. (273)

Q.1. Can a mu’takif go out of the boundaries of the masjid to give the athaan? 2. Even though he can make wudu from the masjid with a utensil, can a mu’takif go out of the masjid to make wudu just so that he doesn’t make the masjid dirty?

A. 1. If a mu’takif climbs the minaret of the masjid to give athaan and the door of the minaret is outside the masjid, this will not invalidate the ie’tikaaf (badaye, raddul muhtar, bahar and fath). However, I haven’t come across the ruling of giving athaan outside the masjid, but in sakbul anhur it is stated that one could leave the masjid to give the athaan and there is no mention of the minaret. (280)

Q. A mu’takif was in ie’tikaaf, unexpectedly there was a janazah. The community requested the mu’takif (trying to seek blessing from his ie’tikaaf) to perform the janazah salah. The reason being that none of them would manage to perform the janazah salah correctly. According to shariah can the mu’takif perform the janazah salah or not?

A. If a mu’takif leaves the masjid for janazah salah, his ie’tikaaf will break. (286)

لو خرج لجنازة يفسد اعتكافه و كذا لصلاتها و لو تعينت عليه (هندية ج1 ص211)

Q. If the courtyard of the masjid is not regarded as part of the masjid can a mu’takif come out of the masjid and perform taraweeh salah there?

A. If salah with jamaah doesn’t take place in the covered area, then ie’tikaaf won’t be valid there. The reason being that the mu’takif will have to leave the masjid for jamaah. Ie’tikaaf should only be done in a masjid that has salah with jamaah. So that the mu’takif won’t have the need of leaving the masjid for jamaah. (289)

Q. Is ie’tikaaf in a village which doesn’t have the conditions of jummah sunnah e mukadah alal kifaya or not? If it is muakadah, then does the mu’takif have to go for jummah salah to an area where jummah takes place or not? Will the muakadah ie’tikaaf break if he goes?

A. It is not  necessary to perform ie’tikaaf in a city and nor are the conditions of jummah necessary for ie’tikaaf. It is masnoon alal kifayah in any place, however, the masjid should be such that jamaah takes place in it. Jummah is not  faradh on people living in villages nor is it sunnah e mukadah. Hence, it won’t be permissible for him to go to a city for jummah. If he leaves for jummah, his ie’tikaaf will be invalid. (292)

Q. There are certain situations in which the mu’takif has to leave the masjid. In such situations how will the sunnah muakadah ie’tikaaf be fulfilled? If a mu’takif passes away, gets mad, gets arrested, the masjid caught fire or there was some sort of turmoil due to which the mu’takif had to run for his life. Or the mu’takif got sick, had to go to court or either his wife or children passed away.

A. If in every masjid and locality ie’tikaaf takes place and if one was effected by such unforeseen circumstances, then the rest of the ie’tikaafs will suffice and sunnah alal kifayah will be fulfilled. If a masjid catches fire or some sort of difficulty arises and a mu’takif comes out of that masjid and immediately goes into another masjid, then his ie’tikaaf won’t break. (293)

Q. Who can sit in ie’tikaaf from amongst the following: 1.Slave 2.leper 3. Blind 4.Ignorant 5.hermaphrfrodite 6.Transexual 7.One that doesn’t pray salah 8.One that is not fasting 9.Deaf 10.Semi-insane 11.Poor 12.Asetic 13. Debtor 14.Open sinner 15.Pregnant woman when she is close to delivery

A. (The simple principle for the above is that) If a person’s body releases some kind of fluid or smell or people dislike something about him. He shouldn’t come to the masjid nor should he sit in ie’tikaaf (hence, if this applies to any of the above then they shouldn’t perform ietikaaf). (295)

Q.A mu’takif needs to take fardh ghusal and there is not any water in the masjid. What should he do? Should he make tayamum then go out and make ghusal?

A. He should make tayamum, then go out and make ghusal. (298)

Q. A mu’takif left his shoes outside the masjid. After a while he realised that they could get stolen. Can he go and pick them up?

A. If they are close to the boundary of the masjid then he may do so. (302)

Q. A mu’takif keeps on talking about his business with people in the masjid, although he adheres to all the other laws of ie’tikaaf.

A. His ie’tikaaf is valid although he will be deprived of the spiritual benefits of ie’tikaaf. (303)

Q. A mu’takif phones from the masjid, the whole time he keeps informed of his business, wife and children. What is  the ruling?

A. There’s nothing wrong in keeping informed according to necessity. (303)

Q. If a mu’takif mistakenly leaves the masjid what will the ruling be?

A. His ie’tikaaf will be nullified. (305)

Q. Can a mu’takif performing ie’tikaaf in his local masjid go to the Jamee masjid of that locality for jumah salah?

A. It is permissible for him to go (if no jummah takes place in that masjid).)306)

Q. If a mu’takifs one leg is in the masjid and the other outside the masjid will his ie’tikaaf break?

A. No it won’t (322).قوله الخروج الخ المراد بالخروج انفصال قدميه  

Q. Can a mu’takif light candles and lamps in the masjid?

A. If the candles do not emit awful smells, then it will be permissible. (322)

Q. If hot water is far away and only cold water is available. Can one go to collect hot water?

A. If by making wudu with cold water one would have to endure extreme difficulty or would get sick, then one could go and get hot water. (323)

Q. Can a mu’takif make tayamum on the mat of the masjid (straw mat) or wall or not?

A. If the mat (straw) has dust, then tayamum will be permissible. However, some books of fiqh mention that it is makroo to make tayamum on the walls of the masjid. (323)

Q. Can a person sit for ie’tikaaf on the 20th after maghrib athaan?

A. One ought to sit for ie’tikaaf just before sunset because as soon as the sun sets at the end of the month the month ends. Hence, if one sat for ie’tikaaf on the 20th after sunset, the amount of time that he delays will have an effect on the 10 days and it is sunnah to perform ie’tikaaf for full ten days. (324)

Q. Is it permissible for one to perform ie’tikaaf in a masjid that is not waqf? How is the condition of ie’tikaaf only being in a masjid that is mentioned in behishti zewar?

A. A masjid can only be a masjid in shariah if it is waqf. If the masjid is not waqf it can’t be a masjid. Although performing jumah and five times salah in it will be valid. However, a masjid that is waqf has virtues and ie’tikaaf should be done in a masjid that is waqf. (328)

Q. If a person of one locality performs ie’tikaaf in another locality during the last ten days of Ramadhan, will his ie’tikaaf surfice for the rest of the people of his locality? Or does a person have to perform ie’tikaaf in the masjid of the locality?

A. The masjid in which a mu’takif does his ie’tikaaf the obligation of ie’tikaaf will only be fulfilled for that masjid. The people of the locality should personally try and perform ie’tikaaf in their masjid instead of depriving themselves from the blessings of ie’tikaaf by calling someone else from another locality. (329)

Q. Can a mu’takif put a bed in the masjid or not? Can he sleep on a bed or not? Can women put beds when they perform ie’tikaaf in their houses? Can she move around in the rest of the house without any need?

A. A mu’takif could put a bed for ie’tikaaf on his spot and sleep on it. However, in today’s times putting beds in masjids is regarded to be disrespectful, hence precaution should be taken. This objection (of putting a bed in the place of ie’tikaaf) is not faced by women, hence permissible. If a woman leaves her ie’tikaaf area without any valid reason, then her ie’tikaaf will break. و للمراة الاعتكاف فى مسجد بيتها و هو محل (333)لصلوة فيه و لا تخرج منه اذا اعتكفت فلو خرجت بغير عذر يفسد واجبه و ينتهى نفله كذا فى مراقى الفلاح و الطحطاوى

Q. Can a woman performing ie’tikaaf in her house cook food? If she has permission to go for Azaan and wudu then this is against the text of كافى which is: و يخرج لغائط او بول او جمعة شامى

A. If there is not anyone else to cook the food then she can cook in the area designated for ie’tikaaf. All the laws of a masjid do not apply to the

masjid of the house (area designated for ie’tikaaf). (335)

Q. What is the ruling regarding a person that performs ie’tikaaf in a different locality for money? If ie’tikaaf is done in such a manner will the sunnah be fulfilled on behalf of the people of the locality or not? If the sunnah is not fulfilled, then will his ie’tikaaf be valid? Will he get rewarded for it?

A. Making ie’tikaaf a business is not permissible. Taking money in lieu of performing ie’tikaaf is like selling it, which is impermissible. Such an ie’tikaaf is void of reward and nor has the sunnah ie’tikaaf been fulfilled on behalf of the people of the locality. (336)

Ahsanul Fatawa (H.M.Saeed)

Q. Performing ie’tikaaf during the last 10 days of Ramadhan is sunnah e muakadah alal kifayah. What is the meaning of alal kifayah? If ie’tikaaf is performed in only one masjid will it suffice the whole town or will it only be counted for that locality? Is it necessary that every locality should perform ietifaak?

A. We couldn’t locate any specific reference on the subject. However, Shami has mentioned the sunniyah of ie’tikaaf to be similar to that of the performance of taraweeh. Three opinions have been narrated in the chapter of taraweeh of which preference has been given to the opinion that at least one masjid in every locality should perform taraweeh in order to fulfil the sunnah e kifayah. From this we deduce that ie’tikaaf also has the same ruling. (509) (أي سنة كفاية) نظيرها إقامة التراويح بالجماعة فإذا قام بها البعض سقط الطلب عن الباقين فلم يأثموا بالمواظبة على الترك لا عذر ولو كان سنة عين لأثموا بترك السنة المؤكدة إثما دون إثم ترك الواجب (2-442)

أفاد أن أصل التراويح سنة عين فلو تركها واحد كره بخلاف صلاتها بالجماعة فإنها سنة كفاية فلو تركها الكل أساؤوا أما لو تخلف عنها رجل من أفراد الناس وصلى في بيته فقد ترك الفضيلة وإن صلى أحد في البيت بالجماعة لم ينالوا فضل جماعة المسجد وهكذا في المكتوبات كما في المنية وهل المراد أنها سنة كفاية لأهل كل مسجد من البلدة أو مسجد واحد منها أو من المحلة ظاهر كلام الشارح الأول واستظهر ط الثاني ويظهر لي الثالث لقول المنية حتى لو ترك أهل محلة كلهم الجماعة فقد تركوا السنة وأساؤوا ا(2-45)

Q. Can a mu’takif leave the masjid for in the state of ie’tikaaf to make wudu for fardh, nafil or recitation of the Quraan?

A. If the masjid has a place in which water can flow out of the masjid, then it won’t be permissible to leave the masjid. Otherwise it will be. If wudu is done for fardh, nafil, zikar or recitation of the Quraan, then the same ruling applies. (510) لااطلاق الطهور في عبالراتهم على انه صرح بجواز الخروج لوضوء النفل فى اشعة اللمعات عن الامداد…الخ

Q. If a mu’takif left the masjid to answer the call of nature and the toilet is occupied. Should he wait outside the toilet or should he go back to the masjid and then come back after a while? Sometimes a person has to come back and forth a number of times.

A. In such situations it is permissible for one to wait outside the toilet. (511)

Q. Can a mu’takif walk around in the masjid?

A. He can if there is a need to. (511)

Q. If a woman experiences menses during ie’tikaaf, then will she have to make up the days she had menses or not?

A. She will only have to make up the first day that she experienced menses. (512)

Kifayatul Mufti (Darul ishaat) 

Q. Should a mu’takif make zikar extensively or should he recite the Quraan extensively?

A. Recitation of the Quraan, salah and the zikar are all very good acts. (244) و يلازم التلاوة و الحديث و العلم و التدريس و سير النبى صلى الله عليه و سلم (1-212)

Q. If a mu’takif has the need to do fardh ghusal, when he goes to make fardh ghusal, can he quickly wash he’s soiled clothes and can he bring water back with him on his way to the masjid? If he does these things will his ie’tikaaf break or still be valid?

A. If the ie’tikaaf is wajib i.e. (if one takes an oath to make ie’tikaaf) one will only be allowed to go out of the masjid for a period in which he can perform ghusal. It won’t be permissible for him to spend time washing his clothes or fill water. If he does so, then he will have to make up his ie’tikaaf again. However, if it is ie’tikaaf e nafil or sunnah i.e. (last ten days of ramadhan) then, it will be permissible to wash his clothes and fill up water as long as he left the masjid to make ghusal. (246) و يرجع الى المسجد كما فرغ من الوضؤ و لو مكث فى بيته ساعة فسد اعتكاف عند ابى حنيفة (1-212) و ليس كالمكث بعدها ما لو خرج لها ثم ذهب لعيادة المريض او الصلاة جنازة من غير ان يكون خرج لذا قصدا فانه جائز (2-445)

Imdadul Fatawa (Maktaba Darul Uloom Karachi)

Q. It is written in various books of fiqh and in bahishti gohar that silence during ie’tikaaf is makroo e tahreemi (severely disliked). Hence, how much of silence is makroo e tahreemi? It is my habit that after esha when I go to sleep I carry out the pass anfaas zikar. Which I learnt from hazrat. So will this also be counted as silence? Will reading deeni books or bayan books also be regarded as silence? Can a mu’takif talk if he has to? If one remains completely silent and uses signs or wrights down what he needs, won’t this be a difficulty upon him?

A. فى الدر المختار و يكره تحريما صمت ان اعتقده قربة و الا لا لحديث من صمت نجا و يجب اى الصمت كما فى غرر الاذكار عن شر و تكلم الا بخير

From the above maxim it is clearly understood that the silence you are practicing is not makroo but instead it is good. However, if one regards silence to be an act of worship, then it will be makroo (disliked). (184)

Q. 1.If person suffers from weakness and can’t sit in ie’tikaaf for the entire 10 days and decides to sit only on the 3 or 5 or a few days between 21-30. Then, will he receive the rewards of sunnah ie’tikaaf? 2. During the last 10 days of sunnah ie’tikaaf, can a mu’takif take a bath for jummah or to cool one’s self? If he leaves for the mentioned reasons, then will he’s ie’tikaaf break or facilitate or is it permissible while not invalidating? What is regarded as coming out of the masjid? Is it the boundary of the masjid or is it that area that has been ascertained for salah? If the bathroom is within the main door, then will bathing in it or bathing outside be equal?

A. 1.Sunnah ie’tikaaf is conditional on 10 days, if the condition is not  found, that which it is conditioned upon won’t be found. And 10 days is the sunnah. A part of the sunnah in the condition of infirad (single practice) doesn’t constitute a part of the sunnah in the state of ijtimaa with the rest of the parts and nor has it been established. 2. It will invalidate the day the ie’tikaaf started however for the rest of the day’s it will be an apprehension and a facilitator. However, for oaths the total will be invalid and the masjid will be regarded to be the area in which salah is performed and not the whole boundary. (185)

Imdadul Ahkaam (Maktaba Darul Uloom Karachi)

Q. An Alim that keeps on travelling has settled down in our area since the past 2 years. He mentioned in his lecture “the sitting of people in ie’tikaaf during the month of Ramadhan is a very good thing. If that is not possible for everyone, then at least one person should sit, even then it will suffice on behalf of the rest of the people. People think that why doesn’t he sit himself. I would love to sit but I can’t due to a few factors: 1.There is not any one to stay in my house 2.Nor do I have any relatives or family 3.In front of my house there’s an empty field due to which my wife and children are always scared and feel uneasy that is why I can’t sit for ie’tikaaf”. I also feel that the reasons the molana has given are valid and I also know that stones fall on his house at night. Are the reasons he has given valid according to shariah?

A. The above mentioned excuses are valid. In such situations it is not advisable for him to sit in ie’tikaaf. (143)

Q. In the state of ie’tikaaf after eating sehri a mu’takif went out to gargle his mouth. At the particular time there was water in the masjid as well. He didn’t remember that there was water in the masjid nor did he remember that he was in ie’tikaaf. As soon as he gargled he immediately returned to his place in the masjid. In this condition is his ie’tikaaf valid or not? After eating sehri is gargling a natural need or not. If his ie’tikaaf broke does he have to make it up or not?

A. It is a shari need to gargle ones mouth after sehri.لما فيه من صيانة الصوم عن بقايا الطعام فى الفم. For this reason it is permissible for him to leave the masjid as long as there is no water in the masjid or it is not possible for one to gargle from the masjid. If there is water in the masjid and it is possible for him to gargle from the masjid, then if he leaves his nafil/sunnah ie’tikaaf it will end and ie’tikaaf e wajib (ie%

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

Read answers with similar topics: