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  • I'tikaf (Confining ourselves to a closer relationship with god)

    One of the many observances that are related exclusively to Ramadhan, particularly to it’s last ten days, is I’tikaf. The basic aim of I’tikaf is that the bondsman continued at the door of the Almighty, i.e.; in the corner of a mosque, cutting himself aloof from the world and devoting his time wholly to prayer and worship. It is the worship of the favourite worship of the bondsman of the Lord.



    I'tikaf (Itikaf, iktikaf, iqtikaf, i'tiqaf, itiqaf), derived from the Arabic meaning akafa settled, shut down or blocked, or remain silent on something . The sense in the context of worship in Islam is to silence in the mosque in order to seek pleasure of Allah SWT and introspection over his actions. Meanwhile, in the sense of religious Shariah, I'tikaf means silent worship at the mosque as was done in every time and preferably in the holy month of Ramadan, and more devoted the last ten days to expect the arrival of Laylat al-Qadr.

    More purposes of I'tikaf
    1. In order to revive the Sunnah as the norm by the Prophet.
    2. As one of our respect in order to fill the holy month of Ramadan is full of blessings and mercy from Allah.
    3. Waiting for a good minute to decrease the value of Laylat al Qadr with a thousand months of worship.
    4. Develop a sense of self awareness will the existence of the creator and humble themselves as being weak in the God side

    In I’tikaf the bondsman cuts himself away from everything and throws himself at the threshold , or rather the feet oh his Lord and Creator. He remembers Him, exalts His name and offers earnest repentance to Him, cries over his sins and follies, entreats Him for mercy and forgiveness and seeks His countenance and propinquity. His days and nights are spent in that way. The holy Prophet (saw) used to take special care to observe I’tikaf during the Last ten days of Ramadhan. Once when he could not carry it out due to some reason, it observed it for twenty days in the following Ramadhan.

    The fasts of Ramadhan have been prescribed for all Muslims for the development of the soul and for enabling it to subdue the carnal appetites. In other words, this much exertion and sacrifice of sensual desires has been made obligatory for every Muslim that he neither ate nor drank anything nor sought sexual satisfaction during the whole of the blessed month, in compliance with the command of Allah (SWT) and with the intention of paying divine honours to Him, and, along with it avoided all sinful acts and worthless things. It is the general, compulsory course of spiritual training and self-purification for the month of Ramadhan. For higher upliftment and forging a closer affinity with the Celestial World we have I’tikaf.

    The powerful urge that had seized the Prophet (saw) before the revelation of the Qur’an to seek solitude and spend his time mostly in prayer and meditation, and , in consequence of which, he used to pass several months on end in the Cave of Hira - this, so to speak was the first I’tikaf of the Prophet (saw), and it was in that that his spirituality had evolved to the stage that marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’an. During the last ten days of this I’tikaf, Gabriel (as) came to him with the opening verse of the Surah of Iqra. Beyond doubt and for certain it was the month of Ramadhan, it’s last ten days, and the night was the Night of Power. The last ten days of Ramadhan have, thus, been set apart for I’tikaf.

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