Some Miscellaneous Islamic Issues In Question & Answer Format

I'tekaaf is the responsible act of secluding yourself in the Masjid with a special attribute and a special intention for the worship of Allah Subhaanuhu.

Question 2: What are the conditions of I'tekaaf?

Answer: The Conditions for I'tekaaf are: 1. To be a Muslim 2. To be of sane minded (Aaqil) 3. Cleanliness, which is to be pure from impurities resulting from Janaabat, Haidh and Nifaas.

Question 3: What are the virtues of I'tekaaf in the light of Hadith?

Answer: It is mentioned in Sahihain from Ummul Mo'mineen A'isha Siddiqa (Allah is pleased with her) that Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلمperformed I'tekaaf during the last ten nights of Ramadaan. From the Hadith of Baihaqi which has been reported by Imaam Hussain (Allah is pleased with him) said that Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid, 'The one who has performed I'tekaaf for ten days in Ramadaan, it is as if he has performed two Hajj and two Umrah."

Question 4: How many types of I'tekaaf are there?

Answer: There are 3 types of I'tekaaf

1. Waajib This is when one has taken a Man'nat (vow) to perform I'tekaaf, for an example: a person says that if my child recovers then I will observe I'tekaaf for three days, so if the child recovers then three days of I'tekaaf will be compulsory. 2. Sunnat-e-Mu'akkadah This refers to the I'tekaaf for the full last 10 days of Ramadaan. This is to remain in the Masjid with the intention of I'tekaaf at the time of the sunset th th on the 20 of Ramadaan and to exit the Masjid on the 30 after sunset, or th on the 29 after the moon has been sighted. If one makes the intention of th I'tekaaf on the 20 after Maghrib then the Sunnat-e-Mu’akkadah has not been fulfilled. This I'tekaaf is Sunnat-e-Kifaayah, meaning that if omitted by all, then all (the entire community) will be held accountable, and if one person performed it in the town then all are cleared of this responsibility and will not be accountable on the day of Judgement.

Note: For Sunnat I'tekaaf and Mannat I'tekaaf, fasting is a condition (prerequisite). 3. Mustahab (recommended) This type of I'tekaaf is recommended where neither fasting is a condition nor time. The simplest form of this is that whenever a person wants to enter the Masjid, he should enter the Masjid with the intention of I'tekaaf. As long as he stays in the Masjid, he will continue to get reward.(Fataawa Alamgiri, Bahaar e Shariat, Fataawa Faizur-Rasool).

Question 5: How many reasons are there for the Mu'takif to leave the Masjid?

Answer: There are two reasons for which a Mu’takif may leave the Masjid;

1. Haajat-e-Tab’i In other words, that which cannot be fulfilled in the Masjid, such as if he needs to pass urine or stool, cleanse impurities, or perform Wudu or Ghusl. The condition with regards to Ghusl and Wudu is that he should not be able to accomplish this in the Masjid. In other words, if there is no such thing in the Masjid wherein he can gather the water of the Wudu or Ghusl, so that not even a single drop of water falls in the Masjid, as it is impermissible to drop the water of Wudu or Ghusl in the Masjid. However, if there is a basin (or trough etc.) available (in the Masjid) and he is able to perform Wudu in it, in such a manner that a single drop does not spill into the Masjid, then in this case it is impermissible for him to leave the Masjid. If he leaves, the I’tekaaf will be invalidated. Similarly, if there is a place made in the Masjid for Wudu or Ghusl, or if there is a Haudh (pond) present there, he will now not be permitted to leave the Masjid. 2. Haajat-e-Shar’i In other words, to go out for Eid or Jummah (if it is not taking place in the Masjid wherein he is performing I'tekaaf) or to go onto the Minaret to call out the Azaan, in the case when the access to the Minaret is outside. If the access to the Minaret is inside the Masjid, then even a non-Mu’azzin is permitted to go onto the Minaret, and this is not only specific to the Mu’azzin (i.e. if the access to the Minaret is inside the Masjid). [Durr-eMukhtar, Raddul Muhtar, vol.2, pg.181]

Question 6: What should a Mu'takif (a person who sits in I'tekaaf) do if he is habitual of smoking cigarettes? Will the I'tekaaf remain or will it be broken if he comes out of the mosque for the purpose of smoking cigarettes?

Answer: A Mu'takif can go in to the Finaa e Masjid for cigarettes as Hazrat Sadrush-Shariah Alaihir Rahma writes that Finaa e Masjid, which is the place outside the Masjid and is attached to the Masjid for the fulfilling of the needs of the Masjid, for example going to a place where one takes of his shoes or going to the bathroom etc. will not break the I'tekaaf, but after smoking he must clean his mouth then only he should enter the Masjid

because it is not permissible to enter the Masjid as long as the smell of cigarettes remains in his mouth. (Fataawa Amjadiyah, Volume 1, Page 399)

Note: this means that he should avoid to go out specifically for this reason, but should do so when going for some other need, like when going to the bathroom etc.

Question 7: Can Women perform I'tekaaf in the Masjid?

Answer: It is Makruh (disapproved) for a female to perform I’tekaaf in a Masjid, but she should rather perform I’tekaaf in her home. She should perform it in the area which she has set aside for performing her (daily) Namaaz, which is known as the ‘Masjid-e-Bayt.’ (Durr-e-Mukhtar, Raddul Muhtar Volume 2 page 176)

Question 8: Will the I'tekaaf still be valid if the Mu'takif left the Masjid to save someone or to give Shahaadat etc.?

Answer: As it has been mentioned in Bahaar e Shariat and Fataawa Alamgiri that if one left the Masjid to save someone who is drowning or burning, or if he left to give testimony (Shahaadat), or if he went out for Jihaad when everyone was asked to go for Jihaad, or if he went to visit a sick person or to join a Janaazah Namaaz, even though there is no other person to read the Janaazah Namaaz, then in all above situations the I'tekaaf is invalidated.

(Fataawa Faizur Rasool Volume 1page Number 534)

Question 9: Taking intoxicants and drugs etc. is forbidden, but what happens if one does this during I'tekaaf?

Answer: If a Mu'takif ate something which is Haraam or took an intoxicant, i.e. drugs etc. at night, the I'tekaaf will not be invalidated. (Fataawa Alamgiri) However, he is held accountable for the sin of that Haraam action and he must make Taubah (repent sincerely)

Question 10: Can a Mu'takif leave the Masjid to eat or drink?

Answer: The Mu'takif should only eat, drink and sleep in the Masjid. If he goes out of the Masjid for these reasons, the I'tekaaf will be invalidated (Durr-e-Mukhtar) When eating and drinking, it is very important to be careful not to mess the Masjid.

Question 11: Is anyone except the Mu'takif allowed to eat or drink etc. inside the Masjid?

Answer: None other than a Mu'takif is permitted to eat or drink in the Masjid and if one wishes to do any of these he should make the Niyyat of I'tekaaf and enter the Masjid. He should then perform some Namaaz and Zikr e Ilaahi and then partake in it (eating or drinking). (Raddul Muhtar)

Question 12: What are the valuable advices for Mu'takif?

Answer: There are few valuable advices to Mu'takif, for example he should recite Quraan e Majeed, read Hadith Shareef and recite Durood Shareef in abundance. He should teach and learn the knowledge of Deen and he should study the lives and Blessed Manners of Nabi Kareem صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the other Ambia e Kiraam Alaihimus Salaam, and the narratives related to the Awliyah and Saaliheen, and he should write on the issues of Deen (if he is capable of this and has the true knowledge of Deen). (Durr-e-Mukhtar)

Question 13: Upon whom is the payment of Sadqa e Fitr compulsory?

Answer: Sadqa e Fitr is compulsory on every Muslim who is Maalik e Nisaab. Whether he/she fasts or not, whether he is insane or a minor, as it has been mentioned in Durr e Mukhtar:

It has been also mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Hazrat Ibn Umar that "The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمmade Sadqa-e-Fitr compulsory on every slave, free person, man, woman, child, old aged and all Muslims. One can give barley or dates to fulfill Sadqa e Fitr. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمalso ordered that it should be given before attending Eid Salaah.

Question 14: Is Sadqa-e-Fitr compulsory or not upon the person who does not fast?

Answer: Fasting is not a condition for Sadqa-e-Fitr to be compulsory, therefore it is Waajib (compulsory) for a person who has not kept fast due to a valid excuse e.g. travelling, sickness, old age or Mua'zallah without an excuse, to give Sadqa-e-Fitr. (Bahaar e Shariat, Raddul-Muhtaar Volume 2 Page Number 76)

Question 15: What is the Mustahab (recommended) time to give out Sadqae-Fitr?

Answer: It is Mustahab (recommended) to give Sadqa-e-Fitr on the day of Eid ul Fitr after the time of Fajr and before going for Eid Salaah. It can also be given during the month of Ramadaan or even before. (Fataawa Alamgiri, Durr-e-Mukhtar, Bahaar e Shariat, Fataawa Faizur-Rasool)

Question 16: Why is it Shab e Qadr called Shab-e-Qadr?

Answer: Shab-e-Qadr is called this because on this night, the rules of the year are enforced and the Angels are entrusted with duties and services for the year. It is also called Shab-e-Qadr because of the nobility and value of this night. It has also been narrated that since good deeds are done on this night and these good deeds are appreciated in the Sight of Allah and because of this, it is called Shab-e-Qadr.

Question 17: What are the virtues of Shab-e-Qadr?

Answer: Many virtues of Shab-e-Qadr have been mentioned in the Ahadith. The Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim states that, whosoever wakes up on the night of Qadr with faith and sincerity, and worships Allah Almighty, Allah Subhanuhu forgives his sins throughout the year. Doing good deeds in this single night is better than doing good deeds in a thousand months. It is narrated in the Hadith that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned a man from the previous Ummah who used to worship the entire night and engage in Jihaad for the day and in this way he spent a thousand months, the companions were amazed at this, so Allah Subhanuhu granted the Beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمShab-e-Qadr and revealed the verse that Shab-eQadr is better than a thousand months. One night of worship on Shab-eQadr is better than more than 83 years of worship.

Question 18: What are the golden advices for Shab-e-Qadr?

Answer: It is the Grace of Allah Almighty on His Beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمthat, if his Ummah worships on this night of Shab-e-Qadr then the reward will be greater than that of those who worshipped for 1000 months in the previous Ummahs. Understanding the importance of each and every moment one should make special arrangements for remembrance of Allah by reciting the Holy Quraan, engaging oneself in abundance of Istighfaar, giving Sadqa and charity, performing Tahajjud and Nawafil, especially Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh and sincere supplications on this night.

Question 19: What is the excellence of Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh?

Answer: Shaykh Abu Nasr Alaihir Rahma has stated on the authority of Hazrat Abdullah Bin Abbas that Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلمsaid to his uncle Hazrat Abbas (Allah is pleased with him): O uncle, should I tell you ten such things that when you do it, then Allah Subhanuhu will forgive your sins of 1 & 2. Past and future 3 & 4. New and old 5. Those that you have forgotten and 6. Those that you did knowingly 7 & 8. Big and small 9 & 10. Hidden and Apparent Then He (Rasoolullah )صلى الله عليه وسلمtaught him, (His uncle) the method of performing Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh.

Question 20: What is the method of performing of Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh (prayer of forgiveness)?

Answer: THE METHOD SALAAT-UT-TASBEEH Tasbeeh in Arabic

Translation: Glory be to Allah, All praise is due to Allah, There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Allah is the Greatest. Transliteration: Subhaanallaahi Walhamdu lillaahi Walaa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu akbar

• Step 1: Make the intention for four Raka’ats of Nafil or Salaat-ut-Tasbeeh to please Allah and then start your Salaah in the normal way. • Step 2: After reading Thana, recite the above Tasbeeh 15 times. • Step 3: Then recite Ta'awwuz and Tasmiyah then Surah Faateha and any Surah and after this recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times. • Step 4: Then go in to Ruku and after the Tasbeeh (Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem) recite the above Tasbeeh ten times. • Step 5: Go to Qauwmah (standing position after Ruku) and after saying (Samee Allahu Liman Hamidah, Rabbaana Lakal Hamd) then recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times • Step 6: Go in to the first Sajdah and after the Tasbeeh (Subhaana Rabbiyal A'laa) recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times. • Step 7: Now sit up for the first Sajdah in Jalsa position (sitting position between two Sajdah) and then recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times. • Step 8: Then go into the second Sajdah and after the Tasbeeh (Subhaan Rabbiyal A'laa) recite the above Tasbeeh 10 times. Once one completes the first Raka’at with the Tasbeeh being read 75 times, the remaining three Raka’ats will be prayed in the same manner and in this way the total of 300 Tasbeeh will be accomplished in the four Raka’ats. (Ref: Ghuniyatut Taalibeen)