Aitekaf

Q. What is Aitekaf ?
A. Staying in a mosque, where Jama'at is said, for devotion and prayers, is called Aitekaf.

Q. Why only staying in the mosque is taken to be 'ibadat.

A. When a man leaves his pleasures, recreations and work and stays in a mosque just for Allah's pleasure, this certainly is an 'ibadat.

Q. Where should a woman do Aitekaf ?

A. At a place in her own house where she says her prayers, she should do the Niyyat for Aitekaf and remain there. She must not move from that place to courtyard or to other part of the house, except when the goes to attend the call of nature. If there is no particular place for saying prayers in the house, she should, before beginning the Aitekaf, fix a place for that, and should observe the Aitekaf there.

Q. What are the benefits of Aitekaf ?

A. These are : (1) one doing Aitekaf dedicates his whole being and time to the "ibadat of Allah (2) he remains safe from sins and evils of worldly life. (3) he gets the blessing of prayers all the time he is in Aitekaf, because in Aitekaf a person is always eagerly waiting to join prayers and Jama'at. (4) he is like angels who worship and remember Allah all the time. (5) a mosque is Allah's house, so a Mo'takif (one who sits for Aitekaf) is Allah's neighbor, and his guest.

Q. How many types of Aitekaf are there ?

A. Three types : Wajib, Sunnat-e-Maukkida and Mustahab.

Q. What Aitekaf is Wajib ?

A. Aitekaf-e-Nazr is Wajib, i.e., Aitekaf as a promise for fulfillment of some desire. For example, somebody promises to sit in Aitekaf and says that if a certain work is completed, he would observe Aitekaf of two or three days for Allah.

Q. What Aitekaf is Sunnat-e-Maukkida ?

A. Aitekaf in the last ten days of Ramadan is Sunnat-e-Maukkida it starts from the evening of the 20th Ramadan after the sunset and ends as soon as the 'Eid moon is seen. The Sunnat will be fulfilled whether the moon is seen on the 29th or 30th. This Aitekaf is Sunnat-e-Maukkida and Kifaya, that is, if a few people do it, the rest are absolved of its responsibility.

Q. What Aitekaf is Mustahab ?

A. Except Wajib and Sunnat-e-Maukkida all the rest of Aitekaf are Mustahab. Aitekaf can be done in all the days throughout the year.

Q. What are the conditions for the propriety of Aitekaf ?

A. (1) to be a Muslim. (2) to be free of menstruation and Hadath-e-Akbar. (3) to be sans (4) to do Niyyat. (5) to sit for Aitekaf in a mosque where Jama'at is said. These conditions are necessary for all sorts of Aitekaf, but for a'itikaf-e-wajib fasting is also a condition.

The Mustahib at-e-Aitekaf

Q. What things are Mustahab in Aitekaf ?

A. (1) to do virtuous and good deeds (2) recitation of the holy Quran. (3) reciting Durood Shareef. (4) reading and teaching of religious books. (5) to give advice and sermons. (6) Aitekaf in Jame'a mosque.

The timings for Aitekaf

Q. What is the minimum period for Aitekaf ?

A. It is necessary to keep fast in the a'itikaf-e-wajib, so the least time for it is a day. Thus to vow for Aitekaf of less than a day, for a few hours or for the night, is not right. The time limit for Aitekaf which is Sunnat-e-Maukkida is the last 10 days of Ramadan. For a'itikaf-e-nafil there is no limit. It may last for 5 or 10 minutes, too. If one when entering the mosque makes the Niyyat for Aitekaf each time. It will bring lots of blessings for several Aitekaf each day.

Things which are permitted during Aitekaf

Q. On what grounds a Mo'itakif is allowed to come out of a mosque?

A. (1) for latrine. (2) for Fard bathing. (3) going out for Friday prayers at zawal (when the sun crosses the meridian) or to reach Jame'a mosque at least for such a time in advance that four Rakat of Sunnat can be said before khutba. (3) to come out beyond the area of mosque to say Adhan.

Q. How far one is allowed to go for the call of nature?

A. It is right to go up to his own house at whatever the distance it may be. If one has two houses, it is necessary to do to the nearest one from the place of Aitekaf.

Q. Is it right for Mo'takif to come out for the Janaza prayers?

A. If he did Niyyat at the time of the commencement of Aitekaf that he would go out for Janaza prayers, then it will be allowed, but if he did not do the Niyyat it will not be allowed.

Q. What other things are allowed in Aitekaf ?

A. To eat, drink, sleep in the mosque or to buy a thing of necessity if it is not available in the mosque or to marry, is allowed.

The Makruhat and Mufsidat in Aitekaf

Q. What things are Makrooh in Aitekaf ?

A. (1) to be absolutely silent and to consider it as an 'ibadat. (2) to buy or sell things brought inside the mosque. (3) to quarrel or talk nonsense.

Q what things make Aitekaf Fasid ?

A. (1) coming out of mosque knowingly or unknowingly without an excuse. (2) sexual intercourse during Aitekaf. (3) to go out for certain reason and to stay unnecessarily for a long time, e.g., if one goes for the call of nature but remains at home for some time after answering to the call of nature. (4) coming out of the mosque due to fear or disease. In all these conditions, when it becomes Fasid ?

Q. Is qadr of Aitekaf necessary, when it becomes Fasid ?

A. The qadr of a'itikaf-e-wajib is Wajib but for Sunnat or Nafil there is no qadr Wajib.