What is I’tikaf?
“To confine oneself in a mosque for prayers, invocations and Ibadah, leaving the worldly activities for a limited number of days”
I’tikaf is a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. It is related on the authority of our mother Ayesha (RA) that:
“The Apostle of Allah ﷺ observed I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadhan, until the end of his life. After his death, his wives continued with it.” – Bukhari and Muslim.
The purpose of I’tikaf is to seek a favourable environment in which one can get closer to Allah (SWT). This confinement and devotion distances preoccupations with worldly life; allowing one to attain inner composure, serenity and focus purely on the greater eternal reality. The aim being to reach a state of mind whereby all fears, hopes and apprehensions are superseded by love, devotion, and remembrance of Allah (SWT).
