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Spiritual Retreat [Iʿtikāf] and its Rulings - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief Spiritual Retreat [Iʿtikāf] and its Rulings 2024-04-08 386 Views I'tikaf , Spiritual Retreat , Ayatollah Sistani In Islam, spiritual retreat [Iʿtikāf] is one of the highly supererogatory acts of worship, particularly in the Holy month of Ramadan, which is guided by some rules and regulations.

In this article, we shall examine the rulings of spiritual retreat [Iʿtikāf] based on the religious verdicts [Fatwas] of His Eminence, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani [May Allah prolonged his authorities] as documented in his treaty titled “The Islamic Law”. However, it is pertinent to mention the ruling numbers are edited and arranged here sequentially.

Contents Conditions for the Validity of Iʿtikāf Miscellaneous Rulings on Iʿtikāf Ruling 1: Iʿtikāf is one of the recommended (mustaḥabb) ritual acts of worship (ʿibādāt) that becomes obligatory (wājib) by means of a vow (nadhr), covenant (ʿahd), oath (qasam), and suchlike. A valid Iʿtikāf is when one stays in a mosque with the intention of attaining proximity to Allah (qaṣd al‑qurbah).

And the recommended precaution (al‑iḥtiyāṭ al‑mustaḥabb) is that the stay should take place with the intention of performing ritual acts of worship, such as prayers (ṣalāh) and supplications (duʿās). Ruling 2: There is no particular time for performing Iʿtikāf; rather, whenever it is correct (ṣaḥiḥ) to keep a fast (ṣawm) during the year, performing Iʿtikāf at that time is also correct.

The best time for performing Iʿtikāf is the blessed month of Ramadan, more so during the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Ruling 3: The minimum length of time for Iʿtikāf is two nights and three days; less than that is not correct. There is no maximum limit. There is no problem in including the first or the fourth night in the intention of Iʿtikāf.

If a person is a muʿtakif [the term given to someone who is performing Iʿtikāf] for five full days, he must also be a muʿtakif on the sixth day. Ruling 4: The starting time for Iʿtikāf is the time of morning (ṣubḥ) prayers on the first day, and, based on obligatory precaution (al‑iḥtiyāṭ al‑wājib), the finishing time for Iʿtikāf is the time of Maghrib prayers on the third day. For a valid Iʿtikāf to take place, a period equivalent to three days will not suffice; i.e.