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.
one cannot be a muʿtakif after the time of ṣubḥ prayers on the first day [and stay in the mosque until the same time on the fourth day] even if he compensates the time lost from the first day on the fourth day; for example, he stays in the mosque from the time of afternoon prayers (ẓuhr) of the first day until the time of afternoon prayers on the fourth day.
CONDITIONS FOR THE VALIDITY OF IʿTIKĀF TIMES WHEN IT IS RECOMMENDED (MUSTAḤABB) FOR ONE TO ABSTAIN FROM THINGS THAT INVALIDATE A FAST العربية فارسی اردو English Azərbaycan Türkçe Français