Assalamualaikum, I am thinking about in Itikaaf for the last ten days of Ramadan InshaAllah but I am a bit confused about a few things. This will be my first time doing this.
wa'alaikum as'salaam.
1) Is it necessary to be in the mosque as a woman? The nearest mosque to me is 30 miles from home. Would it not be valid if I was to stay in one room at home?
No, women are not obligated to go to the mosque. In fact, the best place for her is the most inner room of her house that offers most privacy.
Whenever a woman prays in a place that is more private and more hidden, that is better for her, as the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said: "A woman’s prayer in her house is better than her prayer in her courtyard, and her prayer in her bedroom is better than her prayer in her house." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Baab maa jaa’a fee khurooj al-nisaa’ ilaa’l-masjid. See also Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 3833).
2) If being at the mosque is necessary, I read that you cannot do ghusl during Itikaaf. Is it okay to be so dirty for 10 days in the mosque? I don’t understand how this would work.
The basic principle concerning i‘tikaaf is that it is Sunnah, not obligatory, and that it is not obligatory unless it is in fulfilment of a vow. If a person has made a vow to observe i‘tikaaf, then it is obligatory to fulfil it, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever vows to do an act of obedience to Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to do an act of disobedience to Allah, let him not disobey Him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6696).
more here :
https://islamqa.info/en/222426
He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made sure he remained clean. He would lean his head out of the mosque into ‘Aa’ishah’s apartment so that she should wash his head and comb his hair.
This hadeeth indicates that it is permissible to clean oneself, put on perfume, wash oneself, comb one’s hair etc (when in i’tikaaf). The majority of scholars are of the view that nothing is makrooh except that which it is makrooh to do in the mosque.
‘Aa’ishah said: The Sunnah is for the person in i'tikaaf not to visit the sick or attend funerals, or to be intimate with his wife. But there is nothing wrong with his going out for essential needs. Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2473; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh Abi Dawood.
more here :
https://islamqa.info/en/12658/i tikaaf
3) I am planning on continuing my in depth tafseer of Quran InshaAllah - I do this with a variety of books, internet sources and my own notes are typed on my laptop. Would it be okay for me to take and use my laptop for this reason to the mosque in Itikaaf? Obviously not using it for anything else.
Inshallah it should be ok so long as it does not distract you or tempt you (into distractions).
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I‘tikaaf means staying in the mosque to worship Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.
The purpose of i‘tikaaf is for the individual to devote his time to worshipping Allah, may He be exalted, far removed from everything that may distract him.
This is what the person who is observing i‘tikaaf should be keen to do, but if he speaks briefly to some of the people, or someone comes to visit him and he talks to him, there is nothing wrong with that.
But this conversation should be in a low voice, so as not to distract any of those who are remembering Allah, may He be exalted, reading Qur’an or praying in the mosque.
And this talk should be brief and should not distract him from the purpose of i‘tikaaf.
https://islamqa.info/en/221445
