Aitikaaf

[simple_sa_jalal]

Aitikaaf ______________________________________
Definition

Aitikaaf means staying in the mosque for a specific purpose, which is to worship Allaah (may He be glorified). It is prescribed in Islam and is mustahabb according to the consensus of the scholars. Imaam Ahmad said, as was narrated from him by Abu Dawood: “I have not heard from any of the scholars that it is anything other than Sunnah.”

The benefits of Aitikaaf

There are many hidden benefits in the acts of worship and much wisdom behind them. The basis of all deeds is the heart, as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In the body there is an organ which if it is sound, the entire body will be sound, and if it is corrupt, the entire body will be corrupt. That organ is the heart.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 52; Muslim, 1599)
as the poet said:
“Your enemy was once your friend, so do not have too many companions,
For, as you see, most diseases come from food and drink.”
It also offers protection from sleeping too much, because when a person makes Aitikaaf in the mosque, he devotes his time to drawing closer to Allaah by doing different kinds of acts of worship; he does not stay in the mosque to sleep.

The connection between fasting and Aitikaaf

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim said: “It was not reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ever did Aitikaaf when he was not fasting. Indeed, ‘Aa’ishah said: ‘There is no Aitikaaf except with fasting.’” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2473)
Allaah did not mention Aitikaaf except in conjunction with fasting, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not do Aitikaaf except in conjunction with fasting.
The most correct opinion concerning the evidence which the majority of the Salaf agreed upon is: “that fasting is a condition of Aitikaaf. This is the view that was regarded as most correct by Shaykh al-Islam Abu’l-‘Abbaas Ibn Taymiyah.” (Zaad al-Ma’aad, 2/87, 88)

With the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in his Aitikaaf
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did Aitikaaf during the first ten days of Ramadaan, then in the middle ten days, seeking Laylat al-Qadr, then it became clear to him that it was in the last ten days, after which he always spent them (the last ten days) in Aitikaaf.
Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do Aitikaaf during the middle ten days of the month, and when the night of the twentieth had passed and the twenty-first had begun, he would go back to his home, and those who were doing Aitikaaf with him also went home. Then one month he made Aitikaaf on that night when he used to go home. Then he addressed the people, commanding them as Allaah willed, then he said: ‘I used to spend these ten days in Aitikaaf, but now I want to spend these last ten days in Aitikaaf, so whoever used to do Aitikaaf with me, let him stay in his place of Aitikaaf. I was shown that night (Laylat al-Qadr) then I was made to forget it, so seek it during the last ten nights, in the odd-numbered nights. And I saw myself prostrating in water and mud.’
Abu Sa’eed said: it rained on the night of the twenty-first, and the roof of the mosque leaked in the place where the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was praying. I looked at him when he had finished praying Subh (Fajr), and his face was wet with water and mud, so what he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had seen came to pass. And this was one of the signs of his Prophethood.”

His guidance concerning Aitikaaf

The guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the most perfect and straightforward of guidance and teaching. When he wanted to do Aitikaaf, he would have a bed or mattress put in the mosque for him,
He used to stay in the mosque all the time and not go out except in the case of “human need”, i.e. to pass urine or stools. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “… he would not enter the house unless he needed to, when he was in Aitikaaf.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4/808 Fath al-Baari).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to have his food and drink brought to him when he was in Aitikaaf, as Saalim narrated: “His food and drink were brought to him in the place where he was doing Aitikaaf.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not visit the sick or attend funerals when he was in Aitikaaf, so that he could focus and devote all his attention to worshipping Allaah. According to a hadeeth narrated from ‘Aa’ishah: “

The aims of Aitikaaf

1. seeking Laylat al-Qadr.
2. Being alone with Allaah, may He be glorified, and keeping away from people as much as possible, so that one may be entirely focused on Allaah and on remembering Him.
3. Purifying one's heart. He did not let himself become dishevelled at all when he devoted himself to worshipping Allaah.
4. Devoting oneself completely to pure worship, praying, making du’aa’, remembering Allaah and reading Qur’aan.
1. Protecting one's fast from everything of one's selfish desires that could affect it.
5. Reducing one's involvement in permissible worldly matters and ignoring many of them at the time when one is able to deal with them.

Different types of Aitikaaf

Waajib (obligatory): this can only be as the result of a vow. Whoever vows to do Aitikaaf is obliged to do it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever vows to obey Allaah, let him obey Him; and whoever vows to disobey Allaah (commit a sin), let him not do that.” According to a hadeeth, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: ‘Umar asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “I made a vow during the Jaahiliyyah to spend one night in Aitikaaf in al-Masjid al-Haraam.’ He said, ‘Fulfil your vow.’” (al-Bukhaari, 4/809)
Mandoob (recommended): This is what was the habit of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), when he did Aitikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadaan, and he persisted in doing this. It is Sunnah Mu’akkadah (confirmed Sunnah) which is known from his life (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), as was reported in the ahaadeeth referred to when we discussed the fact that Aitikaaf is prescribed in Islam.

The conditions of Aitikaaf

Certain conditions apply to Aitikaaf, as follows:
1. Islam; Aitikaaf on the part of a kaafir is not valid, as is also the case with an apostate who has left the religion.
2. Discernment; it is not valid on the part of a child who has not yet reached the age of discernment.
3. It should be in the mosque. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

The place, time and starting point of Aitikaaf

The place of Aitikaaf is the mosque, as indicated in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in Aitikaaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques” [al-Baqarah 2:187].
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his wives and companions (may Allaah be pleased with them all) used to do Aitikaaf in the mosques, and it is not reported that any of them did Aitikaaf in any place other than the mosque.
The timing of Aitikaaf is during Ramadaan and it is best to be done during the last ten days of the month. But it is permissible at any time during Ramadaan and at other times. It is not restricted to a specific time; indeed it is mustahabb at all times, and it is obligatory if a person makes a vow committing himself to it. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them both) reported that ‘Umar asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “I made a vow during the Jaahiliyyah that I would spend a night in Aitikaaf in al-Masjid al-Haraam.” He said, “Fulfil your vow.” (al-Bukhaari, 4/809).
The beginning of Aitikaaf is before sunset, for the person who wants to spend a day and night or longer in Aitikaaf. Some scholars said that a person should enter his place of Aitikaaf at Fajr.