Itika'af

[soulja_sis]

Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

Is anyone planning to sit itikaaf this year? insha'Allah, I will be sitting this year aswell, like I have been for the past few years.

Just wondering, any specific duas that we can pray whilst sitting itikaaf?

Jazak'Allah khair

Wassalam

Your sister in Islam

[Saeed M]

It's a sunnah oft-neglected by sisters. May Allah give us all tawfeeq.

One du'aa to remember is:

اللهم انك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني

O' Allah verily you are forgiving, you love to forgive, forgive me.

[Aamir]

I know this is a long shot but can someone do soem working out and give me dates for uk when itikaf might start?? I need to book some time off work and hence need this info. I know it depends upon when the 1st ramadhan is but still some idea would be appreciated.


Jazakallah

[Saeed M]

I know this is a long shot but can someone do soem working out and give me dates for uk when itikaf might start?? I need to book some time off work and hence need this info. I know it depends upon when the 1st ramadhan is but still some idea would be appreciated.


Jazakallah

Can you let us know where you reside and which is the masjid you attend?

[Aamir]

Sure,

I reside in the UK, North England and attend a deobandi masjid affliated with Jamiat Ulama e britannia (pro saudi moonsighting)

[Abd'al-Malik]

I know this is a long shot but can someone do soem working out and give me dates for uk when itikaf might start?? I need to book some time off work and hence need this info. I know it depends upon when the 1st ramadhan is but still some idea would be appreciated.


Jazakallah

:Salam:

According to this (http://www.moonsighting.com/1429rmd.html), the Saudi Ummul Qura calender has Ramadan starting September 1. So the 20th should be September 20 and the 30th should be September 30. You can give or take 1 or 2 days for those following calculations.

[George]

Salaam Alakium,

I am a revert, i have taken part in Ramadan twice before, but hope to attend the mosque during this coming Ramadan insha'Allah, something which i have not done before.

Can someone explain Itika'af, what exactly it involves, what prayers, du'a etc are offered, and whether it is alright for me to read the Qur'an in English during this time as i cannot read/ speak Arabic.

Also i understand that Muslims sleep in the mosque for the last ten nights of Ramadan , this is probably a very stupid question, but i will ask it anyway, i heard people pitch tents inside the mosque is this true? and also do i need to take food/water for the evening?

Please forgive my ignorance, Subhan'Allah

wa salaam

George

[Abd'al-Malik]

As far as I know, there is no special dua for itikaf. One just secludes oneself in the masjid, away from the world for a period of time. Rasul would do itikaf in the cave of Hira prior to wahy and revalation. One should spend the time in the masjid in solely the worship of Allah :swt:, so yes, reading the translation of the Quran and reflection upon the ayats of Allah :swt: is a great act. While in the masjid, one should be sure that he performs Qiyam al-lail (tahajjud) every night, while it won't be mandatory, in the blessed month of Ramadan, while sleeping in the masjid, during the last 10 nights, only a fool would miss such an oppurtunity.

There are different types of Itikaf, whereas one who secludes himself during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, is the Sunna Itikaf. There is also a fard/wajib itikaf and a nafl itikaf. Some people may pitch tents; I know in my area, people just bring sleeping bags and like a curtain and just curtain off the area in the back of the masjid. Arrangements for food should be met somehow. In our masjid, we have iftar nightly, so it's not a problem, and usually local brothers bring suhoor/sehri. But if your in a place where that is not available, food preperations should be made.