Retiring to a Mosque for Remembrance of Allah (I'tikaf)

33/1. Chapter:

The I'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan.

وَالاِعْتِكَافِ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ كُلِّهَا، لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: {وَلاَ تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلاَ تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ}And I‘tikaf may be practised in any mosque, as is evident in the Statement of Allah تعالى: “... And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives); while you are in I‘tikaf [i.e., confining oneself in a mosque for Salat (prayers) and invocations leaving the worldly activities for a limited number of days] in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah; so approach them not. Thus does Allah make clear His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, laws, legal and illegal things, Allah’s set limits, orders), to mankind that they may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” (V.2:187)

Sahih Bukhari : 2025

Hadith No. 2025

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، أَنَّ نَافِعًا، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan.

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2025In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 242

Sahih Bukhari : 2026

Hadith No. 2026

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ أَزْوَاجُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) The Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice I`tikaf after him.

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2026In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 2USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 243

Sahih Bukhari : 2027

Hadith No. 2027

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْهَادِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوْسَطِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، فَاعْتَكَفَ عَامًا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ، وَهِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي يَخْرُجُ مِنْ صَبِيحَتِهَا مِنِ اعْتِكَافِهِ قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعِي فَلْيَعْتَكِفِ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ، وَقَدْ أُرِيتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ ثُمَّ أُنْسِيتُهَا، وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ مِنْ صَبِيحَتِهَا، فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ، وَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي كُلِّ وِتْرٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَمَطَرَتِ السَّمَاءُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، وَكَانَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَلَى عَرِيشٍ فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ، فَبَصُرَتْ عَيْنَاىَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ أَثَرُ الْمَاءِ وَالطِّينِ، مِنْ صُبْحِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ‏.‏

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the middle ten days of Ramadan and once he stayed in I`tikaf till the night of the twenty-first and it was the night in the morning of which he used to come out of his I`tikaf. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever was in I`tikaf with me should stay in I`tikaf for the last ten days, for I was informed (of the date) of the Night (of Qadr) but I have been caused to forget it. (In the dream) I saw myself prostrating in mud and water in the morning of that night. So, look for it in the last ten nights and in the odd ones of them." It rained that night and the roof of the mosque dribbled as it was made of leaf stalks of date-palms. I saw with my own eyes the mark of mud and water on the forehead of the Prophet (i.e. in the morning of the twenty-first).

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2027In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 244

33/2. Chapter:

A menstruating woman is permitted to comb the hair of a man in I'tikaf.

Sahih Bukhari : 2028

Hadith No. 2028

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصْغِي إِلَىَّ رَأْسَهُ وَهْوَ مُجَاوِرٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَأُرَجِّلُهُ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to (put) bend his head (out) to me while he was in I`tikaf in the mosque during my monthly periods and I would comb and oil his hair.

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2028In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 245

33/3. Chapter:

Mu'takif not to enter the house except for a need.

Sahih Bukhari : 2029

Hadith No. 2029

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، وَعَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيُدْخِلُ عَلَىَّ رَأْسَهُ وَهْوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَأُرَجِّلُهُ، وَكَانَ لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْبَيْتَ إِلاَّ لِحَاجَةٍ، إِذَا كَانَ مُعْتَكِفًا

Narrated `Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to let his head in (the house) while he was in the mosque and I would comb and oil his hair. When in I`tikaf he used not to enter the house except for a need.

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2029In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 246

33/4. Chapter:

The taking of a bath by a Mu'takif.

Sahih Bukhari : 2030 - 2031

Hadith No. 2030 - 2031

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُبَاشِرُنِي وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ‏.‏ وَكَانَ يُخْرِجُ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَهْوَ مُعْتَكِفٌ فَأَغْسِلُهُ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to embrace me during my menses. He also used to put his head out of the mosque while he was in I`tikaf, and I would wash it during my menses.

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2030, 2031In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 6USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 247

33/5. Chapter:

The I'tikaf at night.

Sahih Bukhari : 2032

Hadith No. 2032

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ عُمَرَ، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ كُنْتُ نَذَرْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ أَنْ أَعْتَكِفَ لَيْلَةً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ، قَالَ ‏ "‏ فَأَوْفِ بِنَذْرِكَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Umar: `Umar asked the Prophet (ﷺ) "I vowed in the Pre-Islamic period of ignorance to stay in I`tikaf for one night in Al-Masjid al-Haram." The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Fulfill your vow."

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2032In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 248

33/6. Chapter:

Women's I'tikaf.

Sahih Bukhari : 2033

Hadith No. 2033

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، فَكُنْتُ أَضْرِبُ لَهُ خِبَاءً فَيُصَلِّي الصُّبْحَ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُهُ، فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ حَفْصَةُ عَائِشَةَ أَنْ تَضْرِبَ خِبَاءً فَأَذِنَتْ لَهَا، فَضَرَبَتْ خِبَاءً، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ زَيْنَبُ ابْنَةُ جَحْشٍ ضَرَبَتْ خِبَاءً آخَرَ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى الأَخْبِيَةَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا هَذَا ‏"‏‏.‏ فَأُخْبِرَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ آلْبِرُّ تُرَوْنَ بِهِنَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَتَرَكَ الاِعْتِكَافَ ذَلِكَ الشَّهْرَ، ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ عَشْرًا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ‏.‏

Narrated `Amra: Aisha said, "the Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan and I used to pitch a tent for him, and after offering the morning prayer, he used to enter the tent." Hafsa asked the permission of `Aisha to pitch a tent for her and she allowed her and she pitched her tent. When Zainab bint Jahsh saw it, she pitched another tent. In the morning the Prophet (ﷺ) noticed the tents. He said, 'What is this?" He was told of the whole situation. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do you think that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?" He therefore abandoned the I`tikaf in that month and practiced I`tikaf for ten days in the month of Shawwal."

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2033In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 249

33/7. Chapter:

Tents in mosque.

Sahih Bukhari : 2034

Hadith No. 2034

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ، فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ إِذَا أَخْبِيَةٌ خِبَاءُ عَائِشَةَ، وَخِبَاءُ حَفْصَةَ، وَخِبَاءُ زَيْنَبَ، فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ آلْبِرَّ تَقُولُونَ بِهِنَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ، فَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ، حَتَّى اعْتَكَفَ عَشْرًا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) intended to practice I`tikaf and when he reached the place where he intended to perform I`tikaf, he saw some tents, the tents of `Aisha, Hafsa and Zainab. So, he said, "Do you consider that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?" And then he went away and did not perform I`tikaf (in Ramadan) but performed it in the month of Shawwal for ten days.

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2034In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 250

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