Be with Allah

The Purpose of Seclusion in the Mosque

Written by Mufti Muhammad Khan Qadiri Translated by Muhammad Muzamil Khan
Jamia Masjid Sharif Al-Firdous Gulhar Sharif

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Translators Introduction
During Ramadan 1999 when I was performing Itikaf in Masjid Sharif Al-Firdous, I was instructed by Hadrat Sahib to translate the Urdu booklet into English. In 2000, a thousand copies of the booklet were printed and distributed free. I am now uploading this booklet for the benefit of the people who wish to perform Itikaf. Muzamil, 6th December 2012

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Preface
From my childhood I have had the opportunity to sit in the company of people doing I'tikaf (seclusion in the mosque); what I saw in the people doing I'tikaf in my childhood is not to be found in the people doing I'tikaf nowadays. For example, in my childhood I saw that the people doing I'tikaf: 1 2 3 4 Never spoke to anybody. Remained in pardah (concealed themselves). When they came out they used to cover their face. During the days of I'tikaf they seemed strange.

But nowadays the people doing I'tikaf, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Have gatherings. The pardah (screen) is abandoned. They have Iftar (breakfast parties). Meetings take place between friends and colleagues. Instead of reciting the Quran and remembering Allah they occupy themselves with pleasantries. I've seen people arrange gatherings whilst they were in I'tikaf. They have question & answer sessions. Reading the newspaper has become a part of I'tikaf. Instead of becoming familiar with Allah, it is considered more important to be kept informed of the affairs of the nation. Even mobile phones are kept.

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Noticing this state of affairs, I felt a need to write something on this important act of worship and request the people doing I'tikaf not to waste their precious time.

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The Purpose of Seclusion in the Mosque

The person doing seclusion (Mutakif) in the mosque must be aware of the purpose and the spirit of performing seclusion, so that he bears this in mind at every moment. We now cite two pious people whose sayings will highlight the essence of seclusion. (1) Shaykh Ibn Rajab writes concerning I'tikaf, The person doing I'tikaf makes it an obligation upon himself to obey Allah and to remember Him. He distances himself from every action that would occupy him other than Allah, and directs his heart and mind towards his Lord and attaining His nearness, until his aim and purpose is nothing but seeking the pleasure of Allah. He further states, The reality and essence of I'tikaf is that a person severs all relations from creation and clings to his Lord and as the person's knowledge and awareness grows, he becomes detached from creation and attaches himself to Allah ta'ala completely.

Then he writes about a saint who stayed alone in his house and occupied himself in the remembrance of Allah. When asked if he ever felt lonely he replied, "How can I feel lonely when He (Allah) says that, 'he who remembers Me, I am with him."

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(2) Imam Ibn Hajar Makki says precisely the same thing: The objective of I'tikaf is to sever all ties from people and connect with God and become totally His. Therefore, the purpose of seclusion in the mosque is that the person doing I'tikaf should consider himself to be in the Presence of Allah at each moment, and sever every tie from people and try to establish a relationship with his generous Lord. Three hundred and fifty days of the year were shared between God and people. At least these ten days should only serve to establish a strong connection with God. In fact in the case of us sinners, it is a matter of reconnecting with God, as we are very selfish and heedless people. If God through his kindness has taken us out of the worldly responsibilities and made us sit at His doorstep, we should at least make every attempt and turn wholeheartedly towards Him.

The Prophet's

Endeavour

At this point bear in mind the endeavour and effort the Prophet made in his worship in the last ten days of (Ramadan). Umm al M'umin Sayyida Aishah Radi Allah anha narrates, When the last days of Ramadan approached, Rasulullah made a resolute intention to stay awake at night and also to awaken his family as well. (Bukhari Sharif) She relates,

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Rasulullah used to excel in his endeavour more in the last ten days than at any other time. (Muslim Sharif) She relates, Rasulullah used to combine prayers with sleep in the first twenty days and when the last ten days came he used to make a greater commitment in his prayers. (Musnad Ahmad) This means that in these ten days Allah's beloved used to make even a greater effort in his worship, and this is the person whose heart is always connected with God. Allah has given him this rank by his grace, yet he never gave up hard work and effort. Imam Ghazali explains about this stage when he writes that, In the beginning the Prophet used to withdraw and isolate himself in Mount Hira until the light of his prophethood was strengthened so that the people did not veil him from God, although he was physically with the people but his heart was always facing God.

What should the Mutakif Do?

In the light of the Quran and Sunnah, we now highlight those actions that can help us achieve our purpose in I'tikaf.

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Seclusion and Solitude

You have read previously that whilst in I'tikaf a person severs ties from all else and comes to mosque and thus to the door of Allah. It is imperative for him to be in seclusion and solitude so that he can wholeheartedly devote his attention to Allah. If after all this he leaves the company of His Lord for the people, than what benefit is there for him being in I'tikaf? It is for this reason that Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal have given a fatwa (religious ruling) stating that a person should stop teaching whilst in I'tikaf as it might distract him from Allah.

Shaykh Ibn Rajab writes, It is inappropriate to socialise with people, even to teach the knowledge of the Quran, but it is preferable that one should isolate himself for the sole purpose of supplication, Dhikr and prayers. Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq writes, There are some fuqha (jurists) that consider it undesirable to teach the Quran, hadith and fiqh during I'tikaf. The reason being that it means meeting people. Consequently one is occupied with these activities and hence moves away from the worship of Allah. This is according to the famous verdict of Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad as reported by Ibn Qudama.

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Shaykh Ibn Bahira explains, The wisdom behind this verdict is that whilst teaching the Quran, the teacher's attention will turn towards the student and he will be unable to reflect on the inner meanings during the study of the Quran, and thus his attention towards Allah will also decrease. If you read about the I'tikaf of the Holy Prophet you will realise that he did not socialise with people, he used to isolate himself as not to be distracted by others.

The Way of the Pious

In this respect it is well worth considering the practice of these two pious people. Imam Malik: Shaykh Ibn Hikam describes the practice of Imam Malik during Ramadan: When the month of Ramadan approached, Imam Malik used to leave the teaching of hadith and the gathering of people of knowledge and concentrate on reciting the Holy Quran. The 'people of knowledge' from whom he isolated himself, were men of Allah. But during this time he preferred to be with His Lord. Do such learned people exist amongst us nowadays?

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Imam Sufyan al-Thawri: Imam Abd al-Razzaq describes the practice of the Imam Sufyan al-Thawri: When Ramadan used to approach he used to leave every other worship (nafl) and recite the Holy Quran. It should be remembered that this is the practice of the pious people during the month of the Ramadan. Just imagine how greater their worship would be during I'tikaf.

Sayings of the Pious

Concerning seclusion, here are some sayings of the pious. Hadhrat Awais al-Qarni was visited by Haram bin Hayyan. He asked him why he had come. He replied, '' In order to be intimate with you'' He said, ''It is beyond me why someone who knows God, should seek intimacy with others.'' Shaykh Dhu al-Nun al- Misri said, The joy of a true believer is in seclusion and supplication to Allah. Shaykh Malik bin al-Dinar said,

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Anyone who finds more pleasure in the company of people than making supplication to Allah is ignorant, his heart is blind and he has wasted his life. Shaykh Fudayl bin Ayadh said, When the night comes I happily say I will be alone with my Lord, but as the morning approaches I read "Inna lillahi" (expression used at times of calamity) because now I will have to meet people who will distract me from Allah.

You people will not find a better time to be alone with your Lord and make supplications that take place during I'tikaf, so consider these moments as precious and re-establish your connection with the Creator.

Sitting Alone Behind a Screen

Islam has instructed the Mutakif to have a screen/tent in the mosque so that apart from Salah with congregation (jamaat), he has fewer dealings with people. It is proven in authentic tradition about the Prophet himself that, When he used to do I'tikaf a tent would be erected for him. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri relates that, Once Rasulullah sat I'tikaf in a Turkish tent during the first ten days and continued to the twentieth, he lifted his noble head outside the tent and said, ''

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'Those people who are doing I'tikaf with me should continue in the last ten days as well.'' In this tradition there is a mention of a tent and also the fact that Rasulullah put his blessed head out of it, which indicates how much he avoided meeting people. When the pardah (screen) is a tool in achieving seclusion then the Mutakif should spend his time inside it and avoid socialising with people. As soon as he comes out of the pardah his attention will be distracted from Allah. If however he comes to listen to the shabina of the Quran, he should go back as soon as it finishes.

Offering Salah Abundantly

Of all the forms of worship, Salah is the most superior. This is the pillar of faith; through it a person establishes a special link with his Lord. Therefore the Mutakif apart from his fard (obligatory) Salah, should read nafl abundantly. For example Ishraq, Chast, Awwabin, Tahajjud, Tasbih and especially read his missed (qada) prayers. Pray to Allah in ruku and sajda. Allah says Oh servant prostrate yourself and come near Me.Allah loves people in sajda. The prostration is a means of achieving nearness to Allah, thus pray abundantly in it.

Reciting the Quran abundantly

An important worship is the recitation of the Quran due to which a person enters the presence of Allah. Therefore the Mutakif should try to spend the rest of his time in listening to the Quran. If there are arrangements for shabina at night he should join in nafl wholeheartedly so that apart from reading himself he can listen to the words of the Beloved from someone else. Rasulullah said to Abd Allah bin Masud,
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" Recite the Quran for me.'' He asked, "How can I recite in your presence? " He replied, "I love to listen to someone else."

In these days one should learn some more parts of the Quran that can be recited in the Salah throughout the year. The Practice of Imam al-Aswad During Ramadan he would finish the Quran within two nights. The Practice of Imam Ibrahim al-Nakhi He would finish the Quran every two nights in the last ten days and one every three nights during the rest of Ramadan. The Practice of Imam al-Qatada He would finish one Quran every week but in Ramadan he would finish one every three night and in the last days he would finish one every night. The Practice of Imam al-Azam and Imam al-Shafi Both of these Imams used to finish reciting Quran sixty times apart from Salah. Saying of Imam al-Zuhri, when the moon of the Ramadan appeared he used to say:
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"Now it will be recitation of the Quran and feeding the people (iftar)." If these people had meetings like ours then how is it possible to accomplish this?

Reciting salat and salam upon the Prophet abundantly

To offer salat and salam upon the Holy Prophet is a source of great blessing for the followers of the Messenger . Allah says, Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet, O you who believe you should also ask and send blessings and peace upon him. Rasulullah said. He who recites one salat upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him. At an another time he said, The person nearest to me on the Day of Judgement will be the one who has the read the most salat upon me. In seclusion, sit with your head lowered and think of sitting in the blessed feet of Rasulullah and read abundant salam.

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Dhikr of Kalima Tayyiba and La hawl

Rasulullah gave five wazaif to the Umma in Ramadan Mubarak. They are as follows: 1. The dhikr (remembrance) of Kalima Tayyiba: There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. 2. The dhikr of la haw la wa la quwata: There is no power to good or refrain from evil except from Allah most high. 3. To seek jannat (Paradise). 4. To seek salvation from Hell. 5. Often pray the following dua: O Allah You are forgiving and You love to forgive, forgive me.

Concern for the Hereafter

In these days the Mutakif has the opportunity to be alone during which he reminds himself of his grave, judgement day, the bridge, accountability to Allah and read those verses of the Quran that describe the scenes of Heaven and Hell, so that his longing (for God) and fear increase. If the Mutakif instils the image of the Hereafter, he might gain the ability to follow the Shari'ah throughout the whole year. And this is the purpose of I'tikaf and this is muraqabah contemplation.

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Refrain from these Actions

Avoid these actions: 1. Gatherings - during I'tikaf avoid socialising with people in I'tikaf as you have stopped socialising with people outside I'tikaf. 2. Talking too much-a person should always speak less because Rasulullah said, "He who remains silent is successful." In I'tikaf one should try even harder to avoid speaking and inform your friends to speak to you only after you have finished I'tikaf. 3. Eating too much - eat less during these days so the light of marifa would appear. Eating too much means sleeping too much, eat simple foods and don't make a reason for feasting. 4. Sleeping too much - If you want to rest, do it during the day so you can spend most of the time at night and make lailat al qadr the 'night of power' your aim 5. Reading newspapers etc. - try not to read anything apart from Quran and hadith especially newspapers because your mind gets entangled in national politics.
An English Translation of the Urdu booklet Maqsad-e Itikaf (The Purpose of Seclusion in the Mosque, 2000) by Mufti Muhammad Khan Qadiri and translated by Muhammad Muzamil Khan, first print 2000 and revised print in 2012

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