Can a woman observe I’tekaaf at home?

By Asma Bint Shameem

ANSWER

I’tekaaf is isolating oneself to worship Allaah in seclusion.

It is only valid in the MASJID and it’s not valid at home.

And that goes for both men AND women. 

🔺 Proof #1:

Allaah says: 

“And do not approach your wives while you are in I‘tekaaf in the masaajid.”

(Surah al-Baqarah:187)

Here Allaah is specifically telling us that I'tekaaf is done only in the MASJID. 

🔺 Proof #2:

The wives of the Prophet ﷺ observed I’tekaaf in the MASJID WITH the Prophet ﷺ and NOT at home.

🍃 Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“The Prophet ﷺ used to observe i'tekaaf in the MASJID during the last ten days of Ramadhaan till Allaah took him, and then his wives observed i’tekaaf in the MASJID after his death.”

(Abu Dawood 2462; saheeh by al-Albaani)

🍃And Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

"One of the wives of Allaah's Messenger ﷺ joined him in I’tekaaf and she noticed blood and yellowish discharge (Istihaadhah) and put a dish under her when she prayed."

(al-Bukhaari 310)

🔺 Proof #3:

The Prophet ﷺ GAVE PERMISSION to his wives to observe i’tekaaf in the masjid with him.

🍃Amra narrated that Aaishah Radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ mentioned that he would practice I’tekaaf in the last ten days of Ramadhaan. ‘Aa’ishah asked his permission to perform I’tekaaf and he PERMITTED her.

Hafsah asked ‘Aa’ishah to take his permission for her, and she did so.

When Zainab bint Jahsh saw that, she ordered a tent to be pitched for her and it was pitched for her. Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ used to proceed to his tent after the prayer. So, he saw the tents and asked, “What is this?”

He was told that those were the tents of ‘Aa’ishah, Hafsah and Zainab.

Allaah’s Messenger said:

“Is it righteousness which they intended by doing so?

I am not going to perform I’tekaaf.”

So he returned home.

When the fasting month was over, he performed I’tekaaf for ten days in the month of Shawwaal.”

(al-Bukhaari vol 3, book 33/261)

🔺Proof #4:

The Sahaabah did NOT approve of women observing I’tekaaf at home.

In fact they considered it BID’AH.

🍃 Ibn 'Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu was asked about a woman who vowed to observe “i’tekaaf” in the “masjid” of her HOUSE.

He said: “(This is) an INNOVATION , and the most HATEFUL of actions to Allaah are innovations (bid’ah).”

All the above texts PROVE beyond doubt that I’tekaaf is only valid in a MASJID. 

That’s because:

1- Allaah says so.

2- The wives of the Prophet ﷺ did i’tekaaf in the masjid with the Prophet ﷺ.

3- The Prophet ﷺ himself ALLOWED his wives to put up tents in the MASJID for I’tekaaf.

4- Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu called I’tekaaf at home a bid’ah.

If I’tekaaf for women was done “at home”, why would Ibn Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu get upset and call it bid’ah?

If it was “not allowed” for women to do i’tekaaf in the masjid OR if it was BETTER for them to do it at home, then why would the wives of the Prophet ﷺ put up tents in the masjid?

And why would the Prophet ﷺ give permission to do so?

And why did they stop observing I'tekaaf once he sent them back home?

If I’tekaaf was valid at home, the wives of the Prophet ﷺ would have continued to observe i’tekaaf there.

But they didn’t.

The houses of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ were right there, next to the masjid. 

YET, in spite of that, we see that they didn’t observe I'tekaaf at their homes. 

Rather they would move to the masjid in a secluded area and observe I’tekaaf. 

🔺QUESTION?

If the Prophet ﷺ sent his wives back, does that mean that he did not “approve” of them being in the masjid for i’tekaaf?

No it does not mean that.

When the Prophet ﷺ said:

"Do you think that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?"

He ﷺ disapproved of their staying in the masjid, NOT because “I’tekaaf should be done at home” but because he feared that the wives were jealous for him and they put up the tents to be close to him ﷺ.

He also feared that he will be distracted by the wives being there and for other various reasons.

🍃 Ibn Hajar explains the reasons for the Prophet ﷺ sending back the wives and said:

(1) The Prophet ﷺ feared for his wives competition and boasting which resulted from JEALOUSY, to be the reason behind their action; accordingly, this would affect the intention for I’tekaaf.

(2) The other reason could be when he gave the permission to ‘Aa’ishah and Hafsah Radhi Allaahu ‘anhun, it was “light” compared to the presence of the rest of the wives in the Masjid which may have caused crowding and there would have been not enough room for the praying people.

(3) The third reason could be because gathering all the wives with him ﷺ in the Masjid may have turned the place into a home , and may have occupied him from seclusion, which is the intention behind I’tekaaf, so the meaning of I’tekaaf would have been lost.”

(Fath’ al-Baari)

🍃 Imaam an-Nawawi said: 

“It is not valid for men or women to observe anywhere but in the masjid;

it is not valid in the masjid of a woman’s house or the masjid of a man’s house, which is a space that is set aside for prayer.” 

(al-Majmu’ 6/505)

🍃Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“If a woman wants to observe i’tikaaf, she should observe i’tikaaf in the masjid so long as that does not involve anything that is forbidden according to sharee’ah. If that does involve anything that is forbidden then she should not do i’tikaaf.” (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa 20/264)

🍃 The scholars said:

“The majority are of the view that women are like men, and their i’tekaaf is not valid unless observed in the masjid.

Based on this it is not valid for a woman to observe i'tikaaf in the masjid of her house.

So there can be no i’tekaaf except in a (actual) masjid in which prayers are established.

And the masjid of a house is not a masjid in the REAL sense of the word and does not come under the same rulings; it is permissible to change it, and for a person who is junub to sleep in it.

Moreover if it were permissible (to observe i’tekaaf at home), the Prophet’s wives (may Allah be pleased with them) would have done that at least once to show that it is permissible.”

(al-Mawsu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah 5/212)

🔺What about women who’ve been observing I’tekaaf at home all these years? 

If a woman has been observing I'tekaaf at home, her seclusion in her room making Duaa, praying, reading Qur’aan etc is still worship. 

And is a wonderful means to achieve nearness to Allaah. 

But just keep in mind that it won’t count as that ‘proper’ ‘I’tekaaf’ that’s proven from the Sunnah. 

That will only be valid if she does it in the masjid. 

However, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala will not let her ibaadah go to waste and will still reward her if she was sincere.  

He is al-Ghafoor, ar-Raheem and ash-Shakoor. 

He rewards us out of His Generosity and accepts from us out of His Mercy. 

And since this ‘seclusion’ for worship is not the REAL ‘I'tekaaf’, the rulings of I'tekaaf will also not apply to her if she does it at home.

So she can come out of her “room”, move about, go out, do her chores, cook, clean, sleep with her husband, and do all other ‘normal’ life activities that a person in ‘TRUE’ I'tekaaf CAN NOT do. 

🔺So what is a VALID I'tekaaf for women?

If a woman wants to observe I’tekaaf, she has to do the following:

1- Make sure it’s done in the masjid

2- Ask permission from her Wali, or guardian such as father, husband etc. 

3- The masjid should have a proper place for women that’s separate from the men which is safe, and is able to accommodate women staying overnight. 

And Allaah knows best