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Explained ḥadīths

Seclusion for Worship in Ramadaan (I‘tikaaf)

5 ḥadīths

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to observe I‘tikāf [spiritual retirement in the mosque] during each Ramadan for ten days. The year in which he died, he observed I‘tikāf for twenty days.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يعتكف في كل رمضان عشرة أيام، فلما كان العام الذي قُبِضَ فيه اعتكف عشرين يوماً.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to observe I‘tikāf during each Ramadan for ten days. The year in which he died, he observed I‘tikāf for twenty days.
Narrated by BukhariGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to confine himself to the mosque to worship Allah for ten days in each Ramadan, particularly the middle ten nights of the month, with the hope that he would observe Laylat al-Qadr [Night of Decree] in those days. When he knew that the Night of Decree was in the last ten nights, he confined himself during those ten nights. The year in which he died, he secluded himself for twenty days to worship Allah Almighty more, and to get even closer to Him.

Reference

- رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير-دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428ه. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة الأولى 1418ه. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. - صحيح البخاري –الجامع الصحيح-؛ للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - شرح رياض الصالحين؛ للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. - فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري- أحمد بن علي بن حجر العسقلاني الشافعي-دار المعرفة- بيروت، رقم كتبه وأبوابه وأحاديثه: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي- قام بإخراجه وصححه وأشرف على طبعه: محب الدين الخطيب- عليه تعليقات العلامة: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

Whoever was in I‘tikāf with me should stay in I‘tikāf the last ten; for I was informed of that night, but I was then made to forget it. I saw myself prostrating in water and mud in its morning. So, seek it in the last ten

عن أبي سعيد الخُدْري رضي الله عنه : «أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يَعْتَكِفُ في العَشْرِ الأَوْسَطِ من رمضان. فاعتكف عامًا، حتى إذا كانت لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ -وهي اللَّيْلَةُ التي يخرج من صَبِيحَتِهَا من اعتكافه- قال: من اعتكف معي فَلْيَعْتَكِفِ العَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ فقد أُرِيتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ ثم أُنْسِيتُهَا، وقد رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ من صَبِيحَتِهَا، فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي العَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ، والتمسوها في كل وِتْرٍ. فَمَطَرَتِ السَّمَاءُ تلك الليلة، وكان المسجد على عَرِيشٍ، فَوَكَفَ المسجد، فَأبْصَرَتْ عَيْنَايَ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلى جَبْهَتِهِ أَثَرُ المَاءِ وَالطِّين من صُبْحِ إحْدَى وَعشْرِيْنَ».
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to observe I‘tikāf during the ten middle days of Ramadan. One year, while he was in I‘tikāf on the night of the twenty-first on the morning of which he would come out of I‘tikāf, he said: "Whoever was in I‘tikāf with me should stay in I‘tikāf the last ten; for I was informed of that night, but I was then made to forget it. I saw myself prostrating in water and mud in its morning. So, seek it in the last ten, and seek it in each of the odd [nights]." That night, it rained, and [the roof of] the mosque dribbled as it was made of leaf stalks of date-palms. I saw with my own eyes the signs of water and mud on the forehead of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the morning of the twenty-first (night).
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform I‘tikāf in the middle ten days of Ramadan, in pursuit of Laylat al-Qadr. One year, he stayed as usual in I‘tikāf up to the night of the twenty-first (of Ramadan). On the morning of that night, he was supposed to end his I‘tikāf. However, he learned that Laylat al-Qadr would be in the last ten nights. So he told his Companions who stayed in I‘tikāf with him the middle ten nights to continue their I‘tikāf the last ten nights. He also told them that Allah, the Almighty, showed him Laylat al-Qadr in his sleep, but later made him forget which night it was. However, in that year he saw in his sleep a sign of that night, which was his prostration in the morning prayer on water and mud. Allah fulfilled the vision of His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and it rained on the night of the twenty-first. The mosque of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was built like a lattice; its pillars were made of palm trunks and its roof made of palm stalks and fronds. Therefore, the roof leaked from rain, and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated on water and mud in prayer on the morning of the twenty-first.

Reference

عمدة الأحكام، تأليف: عبد الغني بن عبد الواحد المقدسي، تحقيق: محمود الأرناؤوط، دار الثقافة العربية ومؤسسة قرطبة، الطبعة الثانية، 1408هـ. تيسير العلام، تأليف: عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، تحقيق محمد صبحي بن حسن حلاق، مكتبة الصحابة ومكتبة التابعين، الطبعة العاشرة، 1426 هـ. تأسيس الأحكام شرح عمدة الأحكام، تأليف: أحمد بن يحي النجمي: نسخة إلكترونية لا يوجد بها بيانات نشر. تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الإحكام، تأليف: محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مكتبة الصحابة ومكتبة التابعين، الطبعة الأولى: 1426هـ. الإفهام في شرح عمدة الأحكام، للشيخ عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز، تحقيق: سعيد بن علي بن وهف القحطاني، الطبعة الأولى، 1435 هـ خلاصة الكلام على عمدة الأحكام، تأليف: فيصل بن عبد العزيز آل مبارك، الطبعة الثانية، 1412 هـ صحيح البخاري ، تأليف: محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري ، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ صحيح مسلم ، تأليف: مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to practice I‘tikāf (seclusion for worship) during the last ten of Ramadan until he died. Then his wives observed I‘tikāf after him

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ المُؤْمنينَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ العَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ أَزْوَاجُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ.
‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her) and wife of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to practice I‘tikāf (seclusion for worship) during the last ten of Ramadan until he died. Then his wives observed I‘tikāf after him.
Agreed uponGradeAuthentic
Explanation

‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), informed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) adhered to I‘tikāf during the last ten days of Ramadan in the pursuit of the Night of Decree. He continued doing so until he died. After his death, his wives (may Allah be pleased with them) adhered to I‘tikāf as well.

Benefits
  1. The permissibility of practicing I‘tikāf in mosques, even for women provided that they adhere to the Shariah regulations and on condition of safety from temptation.
  2. I‘tikāf is more confirmed in the last ten days of Ramadan given that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did it regularly.
  3. I‘tikāf is an ongoing Sunnah that has not been abrogated, as the wives of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) observed I‘tikāf after his death.
Reference

صحيح البخاري (3/ 47) (2026). صحيح مسلم (2/ 831) (1172). تيسير العلام، لعبد الله البسام (ص351). تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الإحكام، لابن عثيمين (3/ 474).

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

The devil circulates in the son of Adam like blood. I feared lest he should cast evil thoughts in your hearts

عن صَفِيَّةُ بِنْتُ حُيَيٍّ رضي الله عنها قالت: «كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم مُعْتَكِفًا، فَأَتَيْتُهُ أَزُورُهُ ليلا، فَحَدَّثْتُهُ، ثمَّ قُمْتُ لِأَنْقَلِبَ، فقام معي لِيَقْلِبَنِي -وكان مسكنها في دار أُسَامَةَ بن زَيْدٍ-، فَمَرَّ رَجُلاَنِ من الأنصار، فلما رأيا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أسرعا، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : على رِسْلِكُمَا، إنها صَفِيَّةَ بِنْتُ حُيَيٍّ، فقالا: سبحان الله يا رسول الله، فقال: إن الشَّيْطَانَ يَجْرِي من ابن آدم مَجْرَى الدَّمِ، وإني خَشِيتُ أن يَقْذِفَ في قُلُوبِكُمَا شرا -أو قال شيئا-». وفي رواية: «أنها جاءَت تَزُورُهُ في اعْتِكَافِهِ في الْمَسْجِدِ، فِي العَشْرِ الأوَاخِرِ من رمضان، فتَحدَّثَتْ عنده ساعة، ثم قامت تَنقَلِبُ، فقام النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم معها يَقْلِبُهَا ، حتى إذا بَلَغَتْ باب المسجد عند باب أم سلمة...» ثم ذكره بمعناه.
Safiyyah bint Huyai (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was once observing I‘tikāf, so I went to visit him at night. We talked for a while then I got up to leave. He got up with me to escort me - her dwelling was in the house of Usāmah ibn Zayd. Two men from the Ansār passed by. When they saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) they quickened their pace, so he said to them: "Slow down. This is Safiyyah bint Huyai (my wife)." They said: "Subhān Allah! O Messenger of Allah," meaning: You are far above any suspicion. He said: "The devil circulates in the son of Adam like blood. I feared lest he should cast evil thoughts in your hearts (or he said: would cast something in your hearts)." Another narration reads: "Safiyyah came to visit him while he was observing I‘tikāf in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan. So she stayed to talk to him for some time then got up to leave. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up to escort her until she reached the door of the mosque near Umm Salāmah's door..." Then the rest of the narration was reported with the same meaning.
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was observing I‘tikāf during the last ten nights of Ramadan. His wife, Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) visited him one of those nights and talked to him for some time. Then she got up to go back home, so the Prophet got up with her to escort her and keep her company. Two men from the Ansār walked by, and when they saw the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) they sped up out of shyness when they saw his wife with him. So the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: Slow down for this is only my wife Safiyyah. The two men said in embarrassment: Subhān Allah! Is it even conceivable that someone might have suspicions about you (i.e. suspecting that the woman with him was not his wife)? In reply, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed them that the devil is keen on luring the sons of Adam, and that he is highly capable of doing so, for he runs through their veins just like blood given the subtle ways he sneaks into their hearts and minds. Therefore, he feared that the devil might cast suspicions in their hearts.

Reference

عمدة الأحكام، تأليف: عبد الغني بن عبد الواحد المقدسي، تحقيق: محمود الأرناؤوط، دار الثقافة العربية ومؤسسة قرطبة، الطبعة الثانية، 1408هـ. تيسير العلام، تأليف: عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، تحقيق محمد صبحي بن حسن حلاق، مكتبة الصحابة ومكتبة التابعين، الطبعة العاشرة، 1426 هـ. تأسيس الأحكام شرح عمدة الأحكام، تأليف: أحمد بن يحي النجمي: نسخة إلكترونية لا يوجد بها بيانات نشر. تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الإحكام، تأليف: محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مكتبة الصحابة ومكتبة التابعين، الطبعة الأولى: 1426هـ. صحيح البخاري ، تأليف: محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري ، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ صحيح مسلم ، تأليف: مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي - الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

O Messenger of Allah, I had vowed, before embracing Islam, to make I‘tikāf for one night – another narration reads: for one day – the Sacred Mosque. He said: Then fulfill your vow.

عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه قال: قلت: يا رسول الله، إني كنت نَذَرْتُ في الجَاهلية أن أعتكف ليلة -وفي رواية: يومًا- في المسجد الحرام ؟ قال: «فَأَوْفِ بِنَذْرِكَ».
‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I had vowed, before embracing Islam, to make I‘tikāf for one night – another narration reads: for one day – the Sacred Mosque." He said: "Then fulfill your vow."
Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation

‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) vowed in the pre-Islamic era that he would seclude himself for worship one night in the Sacred Mosque. So he asked the Prophet about the ruling regarding his vow, which he had made before embracing Islam. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to fulfill his vow.

Reference

- صحيح البخاري –الجامع الصحيح-؛ للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - صحيح مسلم؛ للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الأحكام/محمد بن صالح العثيمين - مكتبة الصحابة-الشارقة -الإمارات العربية المتحدة -الطبعة الأولى 1426ه. - تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام-عبد الله البسام-تحقيق محمد صبحي حسن حلاق- مكتبة الصحابة- الشارقة- الطبعة العاشرة- 1426ه.

This ḥadīth at HadeethEnc.com

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