Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Ramdan And Itikaf

Itikaf is a form of worship, It is formed by staying in a Mosque for a certain time. It is Ehtiyat that one should stay with the intention to worship Allah by praying formal or informal prayers although prayer is not a condition therein.

The time for this form of worship could be anytime when one is allowed to fast. The best time is the month of Ramadan, especially, the last ten days. which was suggested by the prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to stay in the mosque for the last ten days of Ramadan and Prophet himself does the Itikaf many times in his life.

It is important for a Muslim to do Itikaf once in life.

The conditions regarding Itikaf have been determined by Prophet(PBUH) in his hadith and some of these are.

1. Intention as in the rest of the worship acts. It is mandatory that the intention be made at the beginning of Itikaf so that the rule, requiring the worship act to be completed with intention, be followed thoroughly from the beginning to the end.

2. Belief in Islam.

3. Freedom from mental illness.

4. Fasting; thus the Itikaf of one who cannot fast for some reason is not valid.

5. Duration; which is three continuous days at least. It could be more but not less than three days.

6. Completing it in the Mosque where it was started. Thus, going out of the Mosque without an acceptable reason will invalidate the Itikaf, regardless, one knows the rule or is ignorant or has gone out because of forgetfulness, except in the case of an emergency or one being forced or it is because of some need such as using wash room or having Taharat.

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