Sanity : Iʿtikāf is considered valid for someone who is mentally stable.

Sanity : Iʿtikāf is considered valid for someone who is mentally stable. In light of this, an insane person is exempted from this obligation during the period of his insanity . Thus, the person must not be mentally unstable [7] . Intention (Niyyat): Iʿtikāf must be performed to attain proximity to Allah [8] (Glory and Greatness be to Him) and not to show off or due to societal, family, or peer pressure. If it is performed for other purposes, it is void.

A minimum of three days: The duration of the Iʿtikāf must be a minimum of three days [9] . Fasting (Sawm) During Iʿtikāf: The person who is to engage in Iʿtikāf must fast during the days of Iʿtikāf [10] . However, someone not able to fast, for whatever reason, cannot perform Iʿtikāf. He or she may still gain a reward from Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) for having the intention to perform this act of worship, however, cannot directly participate in this act as will be mentioned.

However, there is no difference between whether the fast is a compulsory one (such as the Ramadan fast) or a supererogatory one. Therefore, if a person is a traveller or one who is not able to fast due to some danger to his life, he cannot partake in Iʿtikāf. However, if the traveller who wants to perform the Iʿtikāf makes an oath that he will fast for three days on a trip, then he can perform the Iʿtikāf even though his Salat may be prayed as that of a traveller.

In addition, if one needs to perform any sort of fasting whether it be obligatory, recommended, penitence for a missed fast, on behalf of someone else, etc., then one’s Iʿtikāf will be correct with the performance of this type of fast. Performed in one of ‘the four mosques’ or a jāmiʿ mosque: It is correct to perform iʿtikāf in Masjid al-Ḥarām, Masjid al-Nabī (Ṣ), Masjid al-Kūfah, and Masjid al-Baṣrah.

Similarly, it is correct to perform iʿtikāf in the jāmiʿ mosque (the main and usually biggest mosque of a city) of every town. A jāmiʿ mosque is the one that is not particular to people of a specific locality, area, or group; rather, it is a place where people of different areas and localities of the town gather and frequent [11] .

Some jurists allowed Iʿtikāf in every mosque with the intention of Rajāʾ (hoping to receive a probable reward rather than the assured one, because the jurist is not sure whether this act is really recommended or not). Nowadays, most contemporary jurists permit performing Iʿtikāf in Jami’ Mosque and some other important mosques of each city.