Definition

I’tikaafmeans staying in the mosque for a specific purpose, which is to worshipAllah, may He be glorified. It is prescribed in Islam and is mustahabbaccording to the consensus of the scholars. Imam Ahmad said, as wasnarrated from him by Abu Dawood: “I have not heard from any of thescholars that it is anything other than Sunnah.”

Al-Zuhri, May Allahhave mercy on him, said: “How strange the Muslims are! They havegiven up I’tikaaf, despite the fact that the Prophet, Peace andBlessings of Allah be upon him, never abandoned this practice fromthe time he came to Madeenah until his death.”