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| Itikaaf for women? |
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| Anonymous |
| 11/07/02 at 08:40:39 |
| I know a person who wants to sit in I'tikaaf for the last 10 days in Ramadan but she doesn't know the rules and things to do when sitting. If anyone knows a site where I can get good information for women sitting in I'tikaaf please post here. Take this as urgent please Ma'slama May Allah (SWT) Bless us all in this Holy Month. |
| Re: Itikaaf for women? |
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| amatullah |
| 11/12/02 at 21:50:29 |
| [slm] As a woman if you do itikaf in a room you designated for that purpose in your own home insha'Allah you get hte same ajir as doing it in the masjid if not more since the prophet saw said our prayer in our homes is better. (i read this in a book in Arabic earlier tonight) personally I prefer the masjid. When you do i'tikaf you make the intention first of all, then you stay there... to do thikr, recite Quran, study, memorize Quran, pray nawafil, and when you get tired you sleep. You don't really do chitchatting and extracurricular activities during that time. You can end it when you want. this is a site that has some things from fiqh assunna by shaikh sayid sabiq http://khayma.com/wael/ramdan/index1.html this is from islamonline.org the live fatwa from Dr muhammad abu layla, the one about welcome ramadan, but you might want to research the subject further Question As-Salamu `Alaykum. As you know Ramadan is coming and some ladies want to arrange qayamul-lail n the Mosque for the last odd nights. I would like to know whether it is allowed do so keeping in mind that the ladies who want to observe the act have the permission of their husbands. Answer Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. “Ramadan is the month of the Qur'an, fasting, taraweeh, and qayam or staying in vigilance observing prayer. Ramadan comes to Muslims with mercy, release from sins, patience, and spiritual nourishment and hygiene. Fasting in Ramadan is not a punishment but a way to perfect our behavior, to sharpen our sense of responsibilityy, and to be more united. Qayamul-lail is a Sunnah as in the Hadith reported by Salman, who says: The Prophet gave us a speech at the end of Sha`ban in which he said: "O people a blessed and holy month comes to you spreading its shade on you, a month in which Allah made fasting obligatory and qayam as an optional act. In this month there is a single night which is better than one thousand months…" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to make i`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. I`tikaf as done by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) should be in a Mosque. The Prophet used to put his bed in one corner of the Mosque which he took as an i`tikaf place. The Prophet's wives used to make i`tikaf too. In the case of Muslim women, if there is enough room in the Mosque for them and they are safe and not exposed to men, they are allowed to have their i`tikaf or qayamul-lail in the Mosque or alternatively Muslim women can allocate one room in their houses in the beginning of Ramadan for her i`tikaf and qiyam. This shall be considered as a mini-mosque. qayamul-lail in this context has no special requirements. Just the devotee` should concentrate on her prayer and recitation of the Qur'an, and she should have a nap during the night. This will help her to feel fresh and concentrate more on her prayer. However, if she intends to do i`tikaf, there are certain requirements to be applied. First to make the intention after dawn prayer of the twentieth day of Ramadan or maximum before the sunset of this day. While she is in the state of i`tikaf, she should not go out of the house to visit sick persons or to attend funeral or to do anything of the like. She is allowed to do only what is necessary for her.” Allah Almighty knows best. *** You can also read: I`tikaf in the Last Third of Ramadan: Question of Fatwa As-Salaamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh. Dear scholars, now that the last third of Ramadan is about to commence, I heard that it’s part of the Prophetic Tradition to perform I`tikaf during the last third of Ramadan. Could you please clarify this issue for me? Jazakum Allah khayran. Name of Mufti Muzammil Siddiqi Content of Reply Wa`alykum As-Salaam Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Brother, may you have a happy and blessed Ramadan! Ramadan, as you know, is the month of worship, charity, recitation of the Qur'an, good deeds, etc. I`tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is an act of worship highly recommended for Muslims to perform during the last third of Ramadan. It is of great merits and significance in Islam. Shedding more light on this issue, we'd like to cite for you the following fatwa issued by Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County and President of the Islamic Society of North America: "I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan in the Masjid (mosque) is a beautiful tradition of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. It is like a spiritual retreat. It is reported by `Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to observe I`tikaf during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan and he continued this practice until his death. After him his wives carried on this practice of observing I`tikaf regularly. (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) It is recommended that every Muslim make at least one I`tikaf in his/ her life. There must be at least few people in every community who should do it in every Masjid every year to keep this tradition alive. Men should do I`tikaf in the Masjid so that they can pray in Jama`ah (congregation) and also offer the Friday prayers. Women can also do I`tikaf, but theirs must be at home for reasons of modesty and for their own convenience. There is a great blessing in I`tikaf and people who do it bring blessings upon themselves, upon their families, and upon the Muslim Ummah (community) at large. The Sunnah of I`tikaf is that one make its intention and begin the I`tikaf on the evening of the 20th of Ramadan from sunset time and continue until the sighting of the moon for `Edul-Fitr. During I`tikaf men should stay in the Masjid day and night and should not leave it except for the use of toilet or shower. They are allowed to eat also inside the Masjid, but if it is not convenient they may go outside and come back as soon as they finish. During I`tikaf one should spend most of one’s time in prayer, reading the Qur’an, Zikr, and reflection. Engaging in business and other worldly conversation and activities is not allowed during I`tikaf. However, attending a Janazah (Funeral) or visiting a sick person or leaving for any emergency is permissible." Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: http://pakistanlink.com/religion/2001/1123.html Allah Almighty knows best. **** Women Performing I`tikaf in the Mosque Question of Fatwa Dear Sheikh, As-Salamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh. My question is about the women's I`tikaf in the mosque. What is the Islamic stance on it? Name of Mufti Dr. `Abdul-Fattah `Ashoor Content of Reply Wa`alykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear brother, in Islam, first of all, let's express our appreciation for your forwarding this question to us, and we really commend your keenness in getting yourself well-acquainted with the teachings of Islam. In the last third of Ramadan, a Muslim is recommended to increase his worship and devotion so as to bring himself nearer to Allah; he should make use of the last chance of the blessed month of Ramadan. Here, we recall the Hadith narrated by `Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, in which she said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to observe I`tikaf during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan and he continued this practice until his death. After him his wives carried on this practice of observing I`tikaf regularly." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) As regard your question about "women performing I`tikaf in the mosque", the eminent Muslim scholar, Dr. `Abdul-Fattah `Ashoor, Professor of the Exegesis of the Qur'an at Al-Azhar Univ., states: "I`tikaf is recommended by the Sunnah for both men and women. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, performed I`tikaf himself and so did his wives during his life and after his death. Accordingly, there is nothing wrong if women perform I`tikaf in the mosque provided that this will not cause any negligence to the rights of their husbands or that of their children. However, scholars of Al-Hanafiyyah and Al-Malikiyyah are of the opinion that women can perform I`tikaf in their homes where they are accustomed to performing prayer. In conclusion, I think it is better for women to follow this latter opinion." Allah Almighty knows best. |
| 11/12/02 at 21:58:42 |
| amatullah |
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