Shafaqna English- Answering a question about E’tikaf/Itikaaf duing Ayyamul Beidh (days of bright nights).
Question: What is E’tikaf?
Concise answer
Literally, E’tikaf means to stay or remain at a place. E’tikaf in Islamic Law is a pious practice consisting of a period of retreat at a sacred place for the purpose of seeking proximity and nearness to God, the Exalted. E’tikaf is not particular to Islam because it had also been practiced by other religions before it. Thus, Islam has simply carried on this act of worship, though some of its features and rules may have changed in the sacred Shari’ah of Islam.
The time for this form of worship could be anytime when one is allowed to fast. Hence, whenever one can observe fast, he can observe E’tikaf as well. The best time is the Month of Ramadhan, especially the last ten days of this month.
Also, it is recommended to observe E’tikaf duing Ayyamul Beidh of the Month of Rajab. According to the verdict of some jurists, a person should stay in one of the following mosques for performing E’tikaf: Masjid-ul-Haram (in Makkah); Masjid-un-Nabi (the Mosque of the Prophet (PBUH) in Madinah); Mosque of Kufa; Mosque of Basra. However, some other jurists have said that it is permissible to perform E’tikaf in the central Mosque of every city or region.
The Spiritual Value of E’tikaf
Breaking off with the worldly affairs, confining oneself to the mosque, and continuous Zikr/Dhikr and worship of Allah (SWT) are highly valuable and important by themselves even if they are not in the form of E’tikaf. There are many verses and traditions bearing such a concept. However, E’tikaf has been specifically underlined and emphasized upon in the Quran. God, the Exalted, says in the holy Quran:
“And We enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying: Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion and those who bow down (and) those who prostrate themselves.”[1]
Some of the conditions of E’tikaf have been mentioned in the Quran. [2]
Time of E’tikaf
The time for this form of worship could be anytime when one is allowed to fast. Hence, whenever one can observe fast, he can observe E’tikaf as well. The best time is the month of Ramadan, especially, the last ten days. Also, it is recommended to observe E’tikaf during Ayamul Beidh of the Month of Rajab. E’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan may have some link with one’s becoming prepared for the Night of Qadr (destiny) so as to benefit from the blessings of this night as much as one can.
What has been mentioned in the traditions is that the Prophet (PBUH) retreated in the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadhan. [3] Even in the year in which he had gone to the Battle of Badr during the Month of Ramadhan, he made up the missed E’tikaf in Ramadhan of the next year. So, he engaged in E’tikaf for two third of the Month of Ramadha n.[4] In Iran, E’tikaf is observed during three days of the Month of Rajab with a greater number of people than in the Month of Ramadhan. These three days are important from several reasons.
Firstly, Rajab is one of the Haram months and it is inferred from the traditions that there are more spiritual rewards in E’tikaf in Haram months than there are in other months.
Secondly, fasting in the Month of Rajab has a special virtue because Rajab is a great month which people respected even in the time of ignorance. Islam further sanctified it. [5] It appears that such a behavior and belief towards the Month of Rajab has been passed on to Muslims from other Divine Religions.
Is E’tikaf permissible in every Mosque?
A question may arise here and that is: Is it not better to consider E’tikaf as permissible in every Mosque because of its constructive spiritual impacts? In addition, if it is allowed to be performed in every Mosque, everyone would be able to benefit from this act of worship. It should be said in answer to the above question that the acts of worship and their special features and rules are extracted from Islamic sources and religious laws and that they should be performed in the same manner as prescribed.
If it is understood from the sources that the place of E’tikaf is the central Mosque, one cannot use his own taste to change the condition for an act of worship and expand its sphere.
Basically, some of the acts of worship are confined to special places and locations. For example, Hajj should be performed at certain places. Hence, it is not permissible to perform those acts at any other places. When it comes to E’tikaf, if it is understood from reliable Islamic sources that it can be performed in the central Mosques, we come to know that God wants us to perform them at these places.
There is no doubt that there are some rationales behind it which we are unaware of and our mind cannot perceive. [12] – [13]
[1] – Al-Baqarah (2): 125
[2] – Al-Baqarah (2): 187
[3] – Hurr Ameli, Muhammad bin Hasan Wasail-al-Shia, Vol.10, P.533, Hadith No.14046, Aalulbayt Institute, Qom 1409 A.H.
[4] – Ibid, Hadith No. 14047.
[5] – Sheikh Saduq, Fadhail Al-Ashhor Al-Thalatha, P.24, Narration No.12.
[6] – Beharul-Anwar, Vol.90, P.151.
[7] – Seyyed Muhammad Kazemi Tabatabai, Al-Urwatul Wuthqa, Kitabl Al-E’tikaf, P.399.
[8] – Imam Khomeini (RA), Tahrirul Wasilah, Vol.1, P.305.
[9] – Shaykh Muhammad Hassan Najafi, Jawaher Al-Kalam, Vol.17, P.170.
[10] – Ibid, P.171.
[11] – Ayatollah Gulpaigani, Majma’ul Masail, Vol.1, P.154.
[12] – Beharul-Anwar, Vol.33, P.542
[13] – Ismail Nassaji Zawwara, extracted from Hawzah website.
Source: Islamquest