Usul16

Chapter on i'tikaf (spiritual retreat)

faqih-2085Vol. 2, p. 184

قَالَ: وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا كَانَ الْعَشْرُ الْأَوَاخِرُ اعْتَكَفَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَ ضُرِبَتْ لَهُ قُبَّةٌ مِنْ شَعْرٍ وَ شَمَّرَ الْمِئْزَرَ[3] وَ طَوَى فِرَاشَهُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ وَ اعْتَزَلَ النِّسَاءَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَمَّا اعْتِزَالُ النِّسَاءِ فَلَا[4].

Hadith.2087 - It is narrated: "When the last ten nights of Month of Ramadan arrived, the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) would perform i'tikaf in the mosque. A tent made of hair would be set up for him, he would tighten his waist wrap, and he would fold up his bedding." Some pe

faqih-2087Vol. 2, p. 184-185

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي الِاعْتِكَافِ بِبَغْدَادَ فِي بَعْضِ مَسَاجِدِهَا قَالَ لَا تَعْتَكِفْ إِلَّا فِي مَسْجِدِ جَمَاعَةٍ قَدْ صَلَّى فِيهِ إِمَامٌ عَدْلٌ جَمَاعَةً وَ لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يُعْتَكَفَ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْكُوفَةِ وَ الْبَصْرَةِ- وَ مَسْجِدِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَ مَسْجِدِ مَكَّةَ[1].

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as): 'What do you say about performing i'tikaf in Baghdad in some of its mosques?' Imam (as) replied: 'Do not perform i'tikaf except in a congregational mosque where a just Imam has led the congregation in prayer. There is no harm in performing i'tikaf in the mosque of Kufa, the mosque of Basra,

faqih-2089Vol. 2, p. 185

لَا أَرَى الِاعْتِكَافَ إِلَّا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ أَوْ مَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ ص أَوْ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْجَامِعِ وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُعْتَكِفِ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْجَامِعِ إِلَّا لِحَاجَةٍ لَا بُدَّ مِنْهَا ثُمَّ لَا يَجْلِسُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ وَ الْمَرْأَةُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ‌[4].

"I do not consider i'tikaf valid except in the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), the Mosque of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), or a congregational mosque. The one performing i'tikaf should not leave the congregational mosque except for a necessity that cannot be avoided, and they should n

faqih-2090Vol. 2, p. 185

الْمُعْتَكِفُ بِمَكَّةَ يُصَلِّي فِي أَيِّ بُيُوتِهَا شَاءَ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِ صَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ أَوْ فِي بُيُوتِهَا[5].

Hadith.2092 - In a narration from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdullah (as), it is reported: "The one performing i'tikaf in Mecca may pray in any of its houses; it is the same whether they pray in the mosque or in its houses."

faqih-2091Vol. 2, p. 185

الْمُعْتَكِفُ بِمَكَّةَ يُصَلِّي فِي أَيِّ بُيُوتِهَا شَاءَ وَ الْمُعْتَكِفُ فِي غَيْرِهَا لَا يُصَلِّي إِلَّا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الَّذِي سَمَّاهُ.

Hadith.2093 - In a narration from Mansur ibn Hazim, from Abu Abdullah (as), it is reported: "The one performing i'tikaf in Mecca may pray in any of its houses as they wish. However, the one performing i'tikaf elsewhere must pray only in the specific mosque designated for their i'tikaf."

faqih-2092Vol. 2, p. 185-186

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ كَانَ زَوْجُهَا غَائِباً فَقَدِمَ وَ هِيَ مُعْتَكِفَةٌ بِإِذْنِ زَوْجِهَا فَخَرَجَتْ حِينَ بَلَغَهَا قُدُومُهُ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الَّذِي هِيَ فِيهِ فَتَهَيَّأَتْ لِزَوْجِهَا حَتَّى وَاقَعَهَا فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَتْ خَرَجَتْ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَمْضِيَ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ وَ لَمْ تَكُنِ اشْتَرَطَتْ فِي اعْتِكَافِهَا فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهَا مَا عَلَى الْمُظَاهِرِ[1].

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a woman whose husband was absent. While she was performing i'tikaf with her husband's permission, he returned, and upon hearing of his arrival, she left the mosque where she was performing i'tikaf, prepared herself for him, and engaged in intimacy with him. Imam (as) said: 'If she left

faqih-2093Vol. 2, p. 186

لَا يَكُونُ الِاعْتِكَافُ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ وَ مَنِ اعْتَكَفَ صَامَ وَ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُعْتَكِفِ إِذَا اعْتَكَفَ أَنْ يَشْتَرِطَ كَمَا يَشْتَرِطُ الَّذِي يُحْرِمُ‌[2].

"I'tikaf cannot be for less than three days. Whoever performs i'tikaf must fast, and it is appropriate for the one performing i'tikaf to make a stipulation, just as one who enters into ihram (for pilgrimage) makes a stipulation."

faqih-2094Vol. 2, p. 186

إِذَا اعْتَكَفَ الرَّجُلُ يَوْماً وَ لَمْ يَكُنِ اشْتَرَطَ فَلَهُ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ وَ أَنْ يَفْسَخَ اعْتِكَافَهُ وَ إِنْ أَقَامَ يَوْمَيْنِ وَ لَمْ يَكُنِ اشْتَرَطَ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَفْسَخَ اعْتِكَافَهُ حَتَّى تَمْضِيَ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ‌[3].

"If a man begins i'tikaf for one day and has not made any stipulation, he is allowed to leave and break his i'tikaf. However, if he has completed two days without making a stipulation, he is not permitted to break his i'tikaf until three days have been completed."

faqih-2095Vol. 2, p. 186

الْمُعْتَكِفُ لَا يَشَمُّ الطِّيبَ وَ لَا يَتَلَذَّذُ بِالرَّيْحَانِ وَ لَا يُمَارِي وَ لَا يَشْتَرِي وَ لَا يَبِيعُ قَالَ وَ مَنِ اعْتَكَفَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَهُوَ يَوْمَ الرَّابِعِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ زَادَ ثَلَاثَةً أُخْرَى وَ إِنْ شَاءَ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَإِنْ أَقَامَ يَوْمَيْنِ بَعْدَ الثَّلَاثَةِ فَلَا يَخْرُجْ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى يُتِمَّ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ‌

"The one performing i'tikaf must not smell perfume, enjoy fragrant plants, engage in argumentation, buy, or sell." Imam (as) further said: "Whoever performs i'tikaf for three days has the option on the fourth day: if they wish, they may continue for another three days, or if they wish, they may leave the mosque. Howeve

faqih-2096Vol. 2, p. 187

كُنْتُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْتَكِفَ فَمَا ذَا أَقُولُ وَ مَا ذَا أَفْرِضُ عَلَى نَفْسِي فَقَالَ لَا تَخْرُجْ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ إِلَّا لِحَاجَةٍ لَا بُدَّ مِنْهَا[2] وَ لَا تَقْعُدْ تَحْتَ ظِلَالٍ حَتَّى تَعُودَ إِلَى مَجْلِسِكَ.

"I was in Medina during the Month of Ramadan, and I said to Abu Abdullah (as): 'I wish to perform i'tikaf. What should I say, and what should I make obligatory upon myself?' Imam (as) said: 'Do not leave the mosque except for an unavoidable necessity, and do not sit under any shade until you return to your place in the

faqih-2097Vol. 2, p. 187

لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُعْتَكِفِ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ إِلَّا لِحَاجَةٍ لَا بُدَّ مِنْهَا ثُمَّ لَا يَجْلِسُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ وَ لَا يَخْرُجُ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا لِجَنَازَةٍ أَوْ يَعُودُ مَرِيضاً[3] وَ لَا يَجْلِسُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ قَالَ وَ اعْتِكَافُ الْمَرْأَةِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ.

"It is not appropriate for the one performing i'tikaf to leave the mosque except for an unavoidable necessity, and they should not sit until they return. They should only leave for attending a funeral or visiting a sick person, and even then, they should not sit until they return to the mosque. The i'tikaf of a woman i

faqih-2098Vol. 2, p. 187

إِذَا مَرِضَ الْمُعْتَكِفُ أَوْ طَمِثَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُعْتَكِفَةُ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي بَيْتَهُ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُ إِذَا بَرَأَ وَ يَصُومُ‌[4].

Hadith.2100 - In a narration from Safwan ibn Yahya, from Abdur-Rahman ibn Al-Hajjaj, from Abu Abdullah (as), it is reported: "If the one performing i'tikaf falls ill, or if the woman performing i'tikaf experiences menstruation, they may return to their home. Once they recover, they should resume their i'tikaf and compl

faqih-2099Vol. 2, p. 188

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ اعْتِكَافُ عَشْرٍ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ يَعْدِلُ حَجَّتَيْنِ وَ عُمْرَتَيْنِ.

Hadith.2101 - In a narration from Al-Sakuni, with his chain of transmission, it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Performing i'tikaf for ten days in the Month of Ramadan is equivalent to two Hajj and two Umrah."

faqih-2100Vol. 2, p. 188

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَلْمُعْتَكِفِ يُجَامِعُ قَالَ «إِذَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَعَلَيْهِ مَا عَلَى اَلْمُظَاهِرِ ». وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ: «أَنَّهُ إِنْ جَامَعَ فِي اَللَّيْلِ فَعَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ إِنْ جَامَعَ بِالنَّهَارِ فَعَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَتَانِ.

"I asked Abu Ja'far (as) about the ruling on an individual performing i'tikaf who engages in sexual relations. Imam (as) said: 'If they do so, they incur the same penalty as one who has taken a vow of zihar (atonement).'" It has also been narrated: "If they engage in sexual relations during the night, they must pay one

faqih-web-2103Vol. 2, p. 188

رَوَى ذَلِكَ ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اَلْأَعْلَى بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَطِئَ اِمْرَأَتَهُ وَ هُوَ مُعْتَكِفٌ لَيْلاً فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ «عَلَيْهِ اَلْكَفَّارَةُ» قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ وَطِئَهَا نَهَاراً قَالَ «عَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَتَانِ ».

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who engaged in sexual relations with his wife at night while performing i'tikaf during the Month of Ramadan. Imam (as) said: 'He must pay one expiation.' I then asked: 'What if he engaged in sexual relations during the day?' Imam (as) said: 'He must pay two expiations.'"

faqih-2101Vol. 2, p. 189

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ مُعْتَكِفٍ وَاقَعَ أَهْلَهُ فَقَالَ هُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَنْ أَفْطَرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ‌[1].

"I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a person performing i'tikaf who engaged in sexual relations with their spouse. Imam (as) said: 'They are like one who has broken their fast on a day of Month of Ramadan.'"

faqih-2102Vol. 2, p. 189

اعْتَكَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأُولَى ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْوُسْطَى ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَزَلْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ[2].

"The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) performed i'tikaf in the first ten days of Month of Ramadan, then in the second ten days (the middle ten), and then in the last ten days. After that, the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) consistently

faqih-2103Vol. 2, p. 189

تَرْجِعُ إِلَى بَيْتِهَا فَإِذَا طَهُرَتْ رَجَعَتْ فَقَضَتْ مَا عَلَيْهَا[3].

Hadith.2106 - It is narrated by Ibn Mahbub, from Abu Ayyub, from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a woman performing i'tikaf who experiences menstruation. Imam (as) said: "She should return to her home, and when she becomes pure, she should return and make up for what she missed."

faqih-2104Vol. 2, p. 189

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمُعْتَكِفِ يَأْتِي أَهْلَهُ قَالَ لَا يَأْتِي امْرَأَتَهُ لَيْلًا وَ لَا نَهَاراً وَ هُوَ مُعْتَكِفٌ‌[4].

Hadith.2107 - It is narrated by Al-Hasan ibn Al-Jahm, from Abu Al-Hasan (as), who was asked about a person performing i'tikaf engaging in relations with their spouse. Imam (as) said: "They must not approach their wife, neither by night nor by day, while they are in i'tikaf."

faqih-2105Vol. 2, p. 189

كُنْتُ جَالِساً عِنْدَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍ‌

"I was sitting with Imam Al-Hasan ibn Ali (as) when a man came to him and said, 'O son of the Messenger of Allah (swt), so-and-so has a debt against me, and he intends to imprison me.' Imam Al-Hasan (as) said: 'By Allah (swt), I have no money to repay your debt.' The man then said: 'Could you speak to him on my behalf?

Chapter on i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) - Hadith topics — Usul16