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The Three Types of Spiritual Retreat (i`tikaf)

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Answered by Ustadha Naielah Ackbarali

Question: I wanted to know  if one can make an intention to perform i’tikaf for less than ten days during the last ten days of Ramadan?

Answer: Bismi Llahir Rahmanir Rahimi

Assalamu alaykum.

The Three Types of I’tikaf

There are three types of spiritual retreats (I’tikaf) that a person may perform:

1. necessary,

2. emphasized sunna, and

3. recommended.

The necessary I’tikaf is an I’tikaf that one vowed to make.

The emphasized sunna I’tikaf is the I’tikaf performed during the last 10 days and nights of Ramadan. It is a communal sunna. If an entire community left the emphasized sunna I’tikaf, then they are sinful. However, if a few people perform the emphasized sunna I’tikaf, then they raise the sin from the community.

The recommended I’tikaf is any I’tikaf aside from the aforementioned. It has no minimum time length and fasting is not a stipulation for its validity. As such, it is recommended to intend to perform I’tikaf whenever one passes through the mosque during any time of the year in order to receive the reward.

[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; Ala al-Din Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-Alaiyya; Shurunbulali Imdad al-Fattah]

Ruling on Performing An I’tikaf Of Less Than Ten Days in Ramadan

If one intends to perform I’tikaf for less than ten days during the last ten days of Ramadan then he receives the reward of the recommended I’tikaf but not the full reward of the emphasized sunna I’tikaf.

One should strive to perform whatever one can reasonably handle. Scholars say, “If one cannot do something completely, then one shouldn’t leave it completely.”

If one can only perform a few days of I’tikaf due to external reasons, then the last ten days of Ramadan are better than the rest of the month. Also, the odd nights are better than the even nights.

Please refer to the following links for more guidance on the fiqh of I’tikaf:

The Spiritual Retreat

The Complete Guide to Fasting

Ustadha Naielah Ackbarali
Ramadan 3, 2010
August 13, 2010

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Naielah Ackbarali was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad. She was raised in Miami, Florida and obtained a double major degree in International Affairs and Sociology from Florida State University. In 2004, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she began her studies in Arabic and other shariah sciences. She currently lives in Damascus, Syria with her husband where she is further pursuing her studies in Islamic sciences with a focus on Islamic law and women’s issues.

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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