ÅÏÑíÓ ÚÈÏÇááå
_19 _June _2015åÜ ÇáãæÇÝÞ 19-06-2015ã, 11:47 PM
I’tikaaf: refers to seclusion in a masjid with the sole intention of obeying Allah the Most High. It is an optional legislated act of worship with the consensus of all scholars. Imam Ahmad said as reported by Abu Daawud: “ I know not anyone among the people of knowledge (saying anything about I’tikaaf) except that it is sunna”. Imam Az-Zuhriyy may Allah have mercy on him says: “ surprise indeed is the behavior of the Muslims!, they abandoned I’tikaaf though the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him never left it since he migrated to Madina until Allah the mightiest took him away.
The benefits of I’tikaaf and its importance.
Indeed in acts of worship are many secrets and wisdoms. This is so because the pivot of all actions is upon the heart as pointed out by the Messenger of Allah may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him when he said: “indeed in the body is a piece of flesh when it is reformed the entire body get reformed and when it is corrupted the entire body get corrupted and lo!, it is the heart.” Narrated by Bukhaari and Muslim. Among the major things that corrupt hearts are those occupations that prevent the heart from dedication to Allah such as desires of food, drinks, marital affairs , unnecessary conversations, excessive sleep, unnecessary companionship with friends and many others that may lead to dissuading the heart from obeying Allah. Hence, Allah has legislated acts of worship that aimed at attaining His proximity that protects the heart from such acts of delusions. Fasting for instance prevents man from food and drink and sexual intercourse during the day. This turns out to prevent the heart from the effects of such pleasantries and strengthens its journey to Allah. The heart is then liberated from the chains of passions that dissuade a person from the abode of aakhira to the abode of dunya. In I’tikaaf there is also a protection of the heart from the harms of idle talks as in most instances a person does I’tikaaf alone. He turns to Allah through reciting the Qur’an, offering night prayers, making dua, doing zikr and many others. In this is a protection against excessive sleep because a servant would only seclude himself in the masjid only to get ample time to devotions and not for the sake of sleeping.
Combining between fasting and I’tikaaf.
There is no doubt that the combination of the ways of training the heart and abstaining from what dissuades it from obedience is very effective in gaining Allah’s proximity and making advancement towards Him. It is in view of this that many of the pious predecessors prefer combining between fasting and I’tikaaf so much so that Imam Ibn Qayyim said: “it was never reported of the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him that he did I’tikaaf without fasting, nevertheless, Aesha (may Allah be please with her says: “there is no I’tikaaf without a fast” narrated by abu Daawud. And Allah never mentioned I’tikaaf except being associated with fasting and the messenger of Allah also never did I’tikaaf except with a fast. Hence, the authentic opinion and the one upon which are the majority of Muslim scholars is that fasting is a condition in I’tikaaf and that was also the opinion sheikh Al-Islaam Ibn Taimiyya use to prefer( zaad al-ma’aad volume 2 pp 87-88), however it is reported in sahih Bukhari and Muslim that the prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him did I’tikaaf in the month of shawwal and it was never known of him that he was on a fast or not, hence, the correct opinion is that it is liked that I’tikaaf be accompanied by a fast and not a condition of its acceptance and not as said by ibn Qayyim that it was never reported of the prophet peace be upon him making I’tikaaf without fasting.
The benefits of I’tikaaf and its importance.
Indeed in acts of worship are many secrets and wisdoms. This is so because the pivot of all actions is upon the heart as pointed out by the Messenger of Allah may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him when he said: “indeed in the body is a piece of flesh when it is reformed the entire body get reformed and when it is corrupted the entire body get corrupted and lo!, it is the heart.” Narrated by Bukhaari and Muslim. Among the major things that corrupt hearts are those occupations that prevent the heart from dedication to Allah such as desires of food, drinks, marital affairs , unnecessary conversations, excessive sleep, unnecessary companionship with friends and many others that may lead to dissuading the heart from obeying Allah. Hence, Allah has legislated acts of worship that aimed at attaining His proximity that protects the heart from such acts of delusions. Fasting for instance prevents man from food and drink and sexual intercourse during the day. This turns out to prevent the heart from the effects of such pleasantries and strengthens its journey to Allah. The heart is then liberated from the chains of passions that dissuade a person from the abode of aakhira to the abode of dunya. In I’tikaaf there is also a protection of the heart from the harms of idle talks as in most instances a person does I’tikaaf alone. He turns to Allah through reciting the Qur’an, offering night prayers, making dua, doing zikr and many others. In this is a protection against excessive sleep because a servant would only seclude himself in the masjid only to get ample time to devotions and not for the sake of sleeping.
Combining between fasting and I’tikaaf.
There is no doubt that the combination of the ways of training the heart and abstaining from what dissuades it from obedience is very effective in gaining Allah’s proximity and making advancement towards Him. It is in view of this that many of the pious predecessors prefer combining between fasting and I’tikaaf so much so that Imam Ibn Qayyim said: “it was never reported of the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him that he did I’tikaaf without fasting, nevertheless, Aesha (may Allah be please with her says: “there is no I’tikaaf without a fast” narrated by abu Daawud. And Allah never mentioned I’tikaaf except being associated with fasting and the messenger of Allah also never did I’tikaaf except with a fast. Hence, the authentic opinion and the one upon which are the majority of Muslim scholars is that fasting is a condition in I’tikaaf and that was also the opinion sheikh Al-Islaam Ibn Taimiyya use to prefer( zaad al-ma’aad volume 2 pp 87-88), however it is reported in sahih Bukhari and Muslim that the prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him did I’tikaaf in the month of shawwal and it was never known of him that he was on a fast or not, hence, the correct opinion is that it is liked that I’tikaaf be accompanied by a fast and not a condition of its acceptance and not as said by ibn Qayyim that it was never reported of the prophet peace be upon him making I’tikaaf without fasting.