Chapter on I'tikaf (spiritual Retreat)

It is narrated: "When the last ten nights of Month of Ramadan arrived, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (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 people said he would also avoid the company of women. Regarding this, Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said: "As for avoiding women, no."

Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said: "The Battle of Badr occurred in the Month of Ramadan, so the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not perform i'tikaf that year. However, in the following year, he performed i'tikaf for twenty days: ten days for that year's obligation and ten days as compensation for what he had missed."

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Umar ibn Yazid, who said: "I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: 'What do you say about performing i'tikaf in Baghdad in some of its mosques?' Imam عليه السلام 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, the mosque of Medina, and the mosque of Mecca.'"

It has also been narrated: "I'tikaf is permissible in the mosque of Al-Mada’in."

It is narrated by Al-Bazanti, from Dawud ibn Sirhan, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "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 not sit until they return. The same applies to women."

In a narration from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, 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."

In a narration from Mansur ibn Hazim, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, 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."

It is narrated by Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, from Abu Walad Al-Hannat, who said: "I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام 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 عليه السلام said: 'If she left the mosque before completing three days and had not stipulated any conditions for her i'tikaf, then she incurs the same penalty as that of one who has taken a vow of zihar (penalty for breaking a serious vow).'"

It is narrated by Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, from Abu Ayyub, from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "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."

It is narrated by Abu Ayyub, from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, who said: "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."

It is narrated by Abu Ayyub, from Abu Ubaydah, from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, who said: "The one performing i'tikaf must not smell perfume, enjoy fragrant plants, engage in argumentation, buy, or sell." Imam عليه السلام 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. However, if they stay for two days after the initial three, they must complete another three days and not leave the mosque until they have done so."

It is narrated from Dawud ibn Sirhan, who said: "I was in Medina during the Month of Ramadan, and I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: 'I wish to perform i'tikaf. What should I say, and what should I make obligatory upon myself?' Imam عليه السلام 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 mosque.'"

It is narrated by Al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "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 is the same as this."

In a narration from Safwan ibn Yahya, from Abdur-Rahman ibn Al-Hajjaj, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, 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 complete it while fasting."

In a narration from Al-Sakuni, with his chain of transmission, it is reported that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (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."

It is narrated by Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, from Ali ibn Ri'ab, from Zurara, who said: "I asked Abu Ja'far عليه السلام about the ruling on an individual performing i'tikaf who engages in sexual relations. Imam عليه السلام 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 expiation. However, if they engage in sexual relations during the day, they must pay two expiations."

It is narrated by Muhammad ibn Sinan, from Abdul-A‘la ibn A‘yan, who said: "I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who engaged in sexual relations with his wife at night while performing i'tikaf during the Month of Ramadan. Imam عليه السلام said: 'He must pay one expiation.' I then asked: 'What if he engaged in sexual relations during the day?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'He must pay two expiations.'"

It is narrated by Ibn Al-Mughira, from Sama'ah, who said: "I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a person performing i'tikaf who engaged in sexual relations with their spouse. Imam عليه السلام said: 'They are like one who has broken their fast on a day of Month of Ramadan.'"

It is narrated by Dawud ibn Al-Husayn, from Abu Al-Abbas, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (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 سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) consistently performed i'tikaf in the last ten days of Month of Ramadan."

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

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

It is narrated from Maymun ibn Mihran, who said: "I was sitting with Imam Al-Hasan ibn Ali عليه السلام when a man came to him and said, 'O son of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, so-and-so has a debt against me, and he intends to imprison me.' Imam Al-Hasan عليه السلام said: 'By Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I have no money to repay your debt.' The man then said: 'Could you speak to him on my behalf?' Imam Al-Hasan عليه السلام put on his sandals. I said to Imam عليه السلام: 'O son of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, have you forgotten your i'tikaf?' Imam عليه السلام replied: 'I have not forgotten. But I heard my father عليه السلام narrating from my grandfather, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), who said: “Whoever strives to fulfill the need of his Muslim brother, it is as if he worshipped Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, for nine thousand years, fasting during the day and standing in prayer at night.”'