There is no doubt that I'tikaf is a great Sunnah and the reward for it is amazing Subhanallah! I'tikaaf means to seclude oneself completely from worldly matters and remain in the masjid with prayer, worship and devotion to Allah. Az-Zuhri said: "How strange the Muslims are! They have given up I'tikaf, despite the fact that the Prophet (ﷺ), never abandoned this practice from the time he came to Madinah until his death."
What corrupts the heart more is distraction so Allah has prescribes for us certain acts of worship one such as I'tikaak during the last 10 days of Ramadan to gain His endless love and Mercy and to seek forgiveness from Him from the Adhaab of Jahannam and which helps a person to gain more strength to seek Allah and free himself from all chains of distractions which take a person from thinking of the Hereafter by occupying him with worldly concerns.
When one completely avoids himself from all worldly matters and anything that can distract the worship between him and his creator it will be more effective on him to draw himself closer to Allah and earn His soothing mercy, If a person cannot sit I'tikaf for the full ten days & nights then they should try & stay on I'tikaf on as many days & nights as they possibly can.
THE VIRTUE OF I'TIKAAF.
The benefits & rewards for sitting I'tikaf are immense:
Ali Ibn Hussain (RA) narrates from his father that Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“He who observes the ten days I’tikaf during Ramadan will obtain the reward of two Hajj & two Umrah.” - [Bayhaqi]
Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) reported that Prophet (ﷺ) said:
Annas (RA) reports Rasulullah (ﷺ) advised, “Whoever cherishes my Sunnah, indeed he cherishes me & whoever loves me will be with me in Jannah.” (Tirmidhi: 2678: Ibid)
EVERYTHING we do whilst in I'tikaf will become worship & reward. Doing voluntary good deeds in Ramadan carries the reward of FARD! Subhanallah!
Reviving the Sunnah:
Rasulallah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” (Tirmidhi)
What corrupts the heart more is distraction so Allah has prescribes for us certain acts of worship one such as I'tikaak during the last 10 days of Ramadan to gain His endless love and Mercy and to seek forgiveness from Him from the Adhaab of Jahannam and which helps a person to gain more strength to seek Allah and free himself from all chains of distractions which take a person from thinking of the Hereafter by occupying him with worldly concerns.
When one completely avoids himself from all worldly matters and anything that can distract the worship between him and his creator it will be more effective on him to draw himself closer to Allah and earn His soothing mercy, If a person cannot sit I'tikaf for the full ten days & nights then they should try & stay on I'tikaf on as many days & nights as they possibly can.
THE VIRTUE OF I'TIKAAF.
The benefits & rewards for sitting I'tikaf are immense:
Ali Ibn Hussain (RA) narrates from his father that Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“He who observes the ten days I’tikaf during Ramadan will obtain the reward of two Hajj & two Umrah.” - [Bayhaqi]
Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) reported that Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Whosoever for Allah’s sake did even one days I’tikaf, Allah would keep him away from Jahannam by trenches.”- [Tabarani]
Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, about him who engages in I’tikaf,
“that he is safe from sin & he also gets that reward which everyone (outside I’tikaf) gets for pious deeds.” -[Ibn Majah]
What an amazing opportunity for us to gain such immense & abundant rewards and nearness towards our Rabb!. We can also take this opportunity to strengthen & boost our Imaan (faith) for the rest of the year.
Excessive Remembrance of Allah
What an amazing opportunity for us to gain such immense & abundant rewards and nearness towards our Rabb!. We can also take this opportunity to strengthen & boost our Imaan (faith) for the rest of the year.
Excessive Remembrance of Allah
Whilst in I'tikaf we should spend as much time as possible in the remembrance of Allah, keeping our lips moist in his glorification & praises. Surely we will have great regret in the hereafter for each second wasted without remembering Allah:Mu`adh Ibn Jabal (RA) said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"The People of Paradise will not regret anything except one thing alone: the hour that passed them by in which they made no remembrance of Allah." -[Baihaqi]
The highest rank in Jannah are for those who remembered Allah the most:
Abu Sa`id (RA) narrates the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked,
"Which of the servants of Allah is best in rank before Allah on the Day of resurrection?" He said: "The ones who remember him much."I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the fighter in the way of Allah?" He answered: "Even if he strikes the unbelievers & mushrikin with his sword until it broke, & becomes red with their blood, truly those who do Dhikr are better than him in rank." -[Ahmad, Tirmidhi, & Bayhaqi]
Therefore we should remember Allah as much as we can & glorify him night & day, not just in Ramadan or in I'tikaf but until our very last breath. What better time to start remembering Allah more than during I'tikaf when we can sit in seclusion remembering Allah:
The following are 11 Dhikr, supported by Hadith that we can recite throughout the duration of I'tikaf:
"The People of Paradise will not regret anything except one thing alone: the hour that passed them by in which they made no remembrance of Allah." -[Baihaqi]
The highest rank in Jannah are for those who remembered Allah the most:
Abu Sa`id (RA) narrates the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked,
"Which of the servants of Allah is best in rank before Allah on the Day of resurrection?" He said: "The ones who remember him much."I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the fighter in the way of Allah?" He answered: "Even if he strikes the unbelievers & mushrikin with his sword until it broke, & becomes red with their blood, truly those who do Dhikr are better than him in rank." -[Ahmad, Tirmidhi, & Bayhaqi]
Therefore we should remember Allah as much as we can & glorify him night & day, not just in Ramadan or in I'tikaf but until our very last breath. What better time to start remembering Allah more than during I'tikaf when we can sit in seclusion remembering Allah:
The following are 11 Dhikr, supported by Hadith that we can recite throughout the duration of I'tikaf:
1. Allahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun Tuhibbul 'Afwa Fa'fu 'Annee - Recite this abundantly during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
2. Subhānallāh
3. Alhamdulillāh
4. Allāhu Akbar
5. Lā ilāha illallāh
6. Lā hawla wala quwwata illā billā-hil aliyyil adheem
7. Asthaghfirullāhilladhee Lā ilāha illa-huwal Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay
8. Subhānallāhi wa bihamdihi
9. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm
10. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīrMaking Excessive Dua & Repentance
Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an:"When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186]
2. Subhānallāh
3. Alhamdulillāh
4. Allāhu Akbar
5. Lā ilāha illallāh
6. Lā hawla wala quwwata illā billā-hil aliyyil adheem
7. Asthaghfirullāhilladhee Lā ilāha illa-huwal Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay
8. Subhānallāhi wa bihamdihi
9. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm
10. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīrMaking Excessive Dua & Repentance
Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an:"When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186]
The place of Dua is so high in front of Allah, that the Prophet (ﷺ) has said:"Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than Dua." [Sahih al-Jami` no.5268].
Allah loves repentance & loves those who turn to him in sincere repentance, so repent unto him sincerely as much as possible:
Allah loves repentance & loves those who turn to him in sincere repentance, so repent unto him sincerely as much as possible:
Truly Allah loves those who turn [to Him] in repentance... (Qur'an 2:222)
Many of us rush our Dua’s & quite often our hearts are not present whilst we are making dua to Allah. That is why we lose out on much of the benefits & blessings of Dua. Therefore we should not let our minds wonder whilst in Dua & we should concentrate more, making sure our hearts are present whilst asking of Allah. Whilst we are in dua we should imagine Almighty Allah in front of us & so we should humble ourselves in front of him in a state of meekness & humility.
Let us not be of those who pass by Ramadan without gaining any forgiveness:
Rasullullah (ﷺ) said: ...the angel Jibra’il appeared before me & said: Destruction to him who found the blessed month of Ramadan & let it pass by without gaining forgiveness...’ Upon that I said: ‘Amin.’ (Al-Bukhari, Al-Tabrani)
We should ask of Allah whilst in I'tikaf to accept all of our good deeds & efforts throughout Ramadan & be hopeful that Allah will accept it from us. We should also have FULL hope that Allah will accept our Dua’s if not in this world then in the hereafter. We should accept his decree for he knows best in all matters.Practicing the Sunnah
Following the Sunnah is a command from Allah:
"Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Quran & the Sunnah), Allah will love you & forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran: 3:31)
Almighty Allah says: “There certainly is an excellent example in Allah's messenger for he who fears Allah & the last day & remembers Allah abundantly” (al-Ahzaab 21)
By following the Sunnah in every aspect of our daily lives, everything we do will become worship, even going to the toilet, having a bath, dressing & undressing etc.
Many of us rush our Dua’s & quite often our hearts are not present whilst we are making dua to Allah. That is why we lose out on much of the benefits & blessings of Dua. Therefore we should not let our minds wonder whilst in Dua & we should concentrate more, making sure our hearts are present whilst asking of Allah. Whilst we are in dua we should imagine Almighty Allah in front of us & so we should humble ourselves in front of him in a state of meekness & humility.
Let us not be of those who pass by Ramadan without gaining any forgiveness:
Rasullullah (ﷺ) said: ...the angel Jibra’il appeared before me & said: Destruction to him who found the blessed month of Ramadan & let it pass by without gaining forgiveness...’ Upon that I said: ‘Amin.’ (Al-Bukhari, Al-Tabrani)
We should ask of Allah whilst in I'tikaf to accept all of our good deeds & efforts throughout Ramadan & be hopeful that Allah will accept it from us. We should also have FULL hope that Allah will accept our Dua’s if not in this world then in the hereafter. We should accept his decree for he knows best in all matters.Practicing the Sunnah
Following the Sunnah is a command from Allah:
"Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Quran & the Sunnah), Allah will love you & forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran: 3:31)
Almighty Allah says: “There certainly is an excellent example in Allah's messenger for he who fears Allah & the last day & remembers Allah abundantly” (al-Ahzaab 21)
By following the Sunnah in every aspect of our daily lives, everything we do will become worship, even going to the toilet, having a bath, dressing & undressing etc.
Annas (RA) reports Rasulullah (ﷺ) advised, “Whoever cherishes my Sunnah, indeed he cherishes me & whoever loves me will be with me in Jannah.” (Tirmidhi: 2678: Ibid)
EVERYTHING we do whilst in I'tikaf will become worship & reward. Doing voluntary good deeds in Ramadan carries the reward of FARD! Subhanallah!
Reviving the Sunnah:
Rasulallah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” (Tirmidhi)
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