Things which areforbidden in I’tikaaf

Going out of the mosque. I’tikaaf becomesinvalid if a person goes out of the mosque for no reason, because theMessenger, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him,  didnot go out of the mosque except in the case of “human need” i.e., toeat, if it was not possible to have food brought to him. Food used tobe brought to him in the mosque, because Saalim says: “As for his foodand drink, it was brought to him where he was in his place of I’tikaaf.”

Healso used to go out to purify himself from minor impurities and to dowudoo’, as ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “TheMessenger of Allah, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him,  usedto put his head into my room whilst he was in the mosque, and I wouldcomb his hair. He would not enter the house except in the case of needwhen he was in I’tikaaf.” (Fath al-Baari, 4/808).

Touching women –including intercourse.This is something which invalidates I’tikaaf, because it is clearlystated that this is not permitted, in the aayah (interpretation of themeaning): “And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives)while you are in I‘tikaaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque forprayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques”[al-Baqarah 2:187].

Menstruation andpost-natal bleeding.If a woman who is in I’tikaaf starts to menstruate or experiencespost-natal bleeding, she has to leave the mosque, so as to preserve thepurity of the mosque. The same applies to anyone who is in a state ofjunub (impurity following sexual discharge) – until he does ghusl.

To complete ‘iddah.If the husband of a woman who is in I’tikaaf dies and she is in themosque, she has to leave the mosque so that she can do her ‘iddah inher house.

Apostasyor leaving Islam. One of the conditions of I’tikaaf is Islam, so theI’tikaaf of an apostate (a person who has left Islam) does not count.