Suggested Intentions for the Sunnah I'tikaf

Suggested Intention for the Sunnah I’tikaf
Nawaytu sunnata’l –I’tikafa fi hadha’l-Masjidi ila akhiri Ramadan
“O Allah, I intend to make the sunnah I’tikaf in this masjid until the end of Ramadan”
Oh Allah, with Your help, my expressed intention includes the following aims and objectives. To the best of my ability I intend to :-
To perform the Sunnah I’tikaf of Rasullullah (saw)
To completely avoid all forms of haram and sins
To declare Jihad on my Nafsu’l-Ammarah in order to subdue it
To work on my Akhlaq by giving up my bad attributes and gaining praiseworthy qualities
To spend all of my available time in ‘ibadah while I am here
To the best of my ability, avoid idle worldly talk with others
To be in a state of wudu at all times, including:-
going to sleep with wudu
pray 2 rakaats of Tajdidul wudu salat each time I renew my wudu
to always make fresh wudu and pray 2 rak’ats of salat before going to sleep
To pray salatu’l ishraq, salatu’d duha, salatul awwabin, salatul’ tahajjud and qiyamu’l layl
To be engaged in Dhikrullah continuously
To recite as many juz as possible from the Qur’an (with translation in English)
To make lots of dua for myself, my family, my loved ones and for the Ummah of the Beloved Nabi Muhammad (saw)
To spend a few hours in sleep right after Salatul Isha, Salatul Ishraq and Salatu’z Zuhr in order to provide me with strength that I may perform much ‘ibadah
To not interfere or concern myself with faults of others, but to concentrate on my shortcomings and my ‘ibadah alone.
To be patient if I were to come across unpleasant situations and behaviours from others.
To interpret every situation around me with khayr, to be extremely tolerant with others and to learn a positive lesson from every event.
To be in a state of tafakkur and to become aware and conscious of every breath of mine.
To constantly remember my past sins, to continue to make sincere Tawbah.


I INTEND TO DO ALL OF THE ABOVE, SO HELP ME YA ALLAH! YA ALLAH! YA ALLAH!

Laylatul AlQadr -Its virtues and significance

Virtues of Laylatul AlQadr
 
Allah Ta'ala says in the Quran: "The night of power is better than a thousand months." This means that the reward for engaging in ibaadah in this night is so great that if a person had to engage in ibaadah for a thousand months apart from this night, he will not receive the same reward as that of engaging in ibaadah in this one night. In explaining the reason for the revelation of this verse, Imam Suyuti rahmatullahi alayh mentions in his book "Lubaabun Nuqool" that once Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned a person from among the Banu Isra'eel who had waged jihad in the path of Allah Ta'ala for 1000 months. Upon hearing this, the Sahabah were astonished and at the same time they became very despondent on the basis that how will they ever be able to accomplish such a feat. So Allah Ta'ala revealed the following verses:

"Most certainly, We have revealed it (the Quran) in the night of power. And what will give you an understanding of what the night of power is? The night of power is better than a thousand months."

In other words, this night is better than the thousand months which that person had spent in the path of Allah Ta'ala.

It is mentioned in another Hadith that there was a person from the Banu Isra'eel who used to be engaged in the ibaadah of Allah Ta'ala from the evening till the following morning. And from the morning till the evening he used to wage jihad in the path of Allah Ta'ala. He did this continuously for a thousand months. So Allah Ta'ala revealed this verse: "The night of power is better than a thousand months." That is, this night is better than the thousand months which the person had spent in ibaadah and jihad.

Dear brothers and sisters! Value this night and just imagine the great reward one receives for a little effort. Duas are readily accepted on this night. If you cannot remain awake the entire night, then stay awake for a part of the night. Do not deprive yourself completely through sheer laziness.

1. It is mentioned in a Hadith that this month of Ramadaan has dawned upon you. In it is a night which is better than a thousand months. The person who deprives himself of the blessings, obedience and ibaadah of this night has in fact deprived himself of all good. And no one will deprive himself of the blessings of such a night except an extremely bereft person. In other words, the person who does not receive any blessings from such a blessed night by not engaging in any ibaadah in this night is an extremely deprived person for foregoing such a golden opportunity.

2. It is mentioned in a Hadith that if Allah wanted, he would have informed us as to when this night will fall. But because of some wisdom known only to Him, He did not inform us. So search for this night in the last seven nights of Ramadaan. In other words, there is a high possibility of experiencing this night in one of these seven nights. Searching for this night means that we have to remain awake and engage ourselves in ibaadah in these seven nights, perhaps we will be blessed with this night.

3. It is mentioned in a Hadith that Laylatul qadr occurs every Ramadaan.

4. It is mentioned in a Hadith that Laylatul qadr occurs on the 27th night of Ramadaan.

There are many differences in opinion as to when Laylatul qadr occurs. The popular opinion is that it occurs on the 27th night of Ramadaan. However, if a person has the strength and determination to do so, he should engage in ibaadah in the last ten days of Ramadaan. When searching for Laylatul qadr in these ten nights, it is not necessary that the person has to see or notice something. Whether he sees something or not, he should continue with his ibaadah and thereby gain all the blessings. This is the object of Laylatul qadr, i.e. the person must earn all the blessings and rewards that have been mentioned. To see or notice something is not the aim and objective.


Special dua of Laylatul al-qadr

"ALLAH HUMMA INNAKA A’FUVUN TOHIB BUL AFVA FA’AFU ANNI" (Tirmidhi)
"O Allah! You are the Forgiver and You like forgiving so forgive me”

The Spiritual Retreat (I'tikaf)

The Spiritual Retreat (i`tikaf) - Sheikh Faraz Rabbani
August 15, 2009 by Faraz Rabbani

The Spiritual Retreat (i`tikaf) - SeekersGuidance Answers - Faraz Rabbani

Question: Could you please give some details regarding the rulings of i`tikaf?

Answer: The Spiritual Retreat (i`tikaf)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful The Fiqh of I`tikaf (spiritual retreat)

Based on Shurunbulali's Imdad al-Fattah, and other Hanafi texts

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate. May His abundant blessing and most perfect of peace be on His Beloved Prophet, the best of creation, and his family, companions and followers.

I`tikaf means 'remaining' somewhere.

The technical usage of the term is:

a) for men: to remain in the mosque, with an intention,

b) for women: to remain in their designated prayer area (musalla) at home, with intention, or at the mosque (though it is normally somewhat disliked for them to do so).

I`tikaf is a means of great reward. It says in the Fatawa Hindiyya,

"Its excellence is obvious, for the one make such a spiritual retreat:

- Has submitted their entire person to the worship of Allah Most High;
- seeks closeness;
- distances themselves from the worldly distractions that prevent one from proximity;
- drowning their entire time in actual or effective worship, for the basis of its legislation is to wait from one prayer time to the next prayer in congregation;
- it also makes the one is retreat resemble the angels who do not disobey the command of Allah and do what they are commanded, while glorifying Allah by night and day without tiring…" [1.212]

Legal Status

1. Recommendation

I`tikaf is generally recommended at all times, for both men and women, as defined above for each. It is especially recommended in Ramadan, and even more so in the last ten nights, especially the odd ones.

2. Communal Sunna

It is a strongly emphasized communal sunna for at least some people in each community to make i`tikaf for the entire last 10 days of Ramadan, as this was from the communal guidance and practice of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). It is blameworthy upon the community as a whole not to arrange and implement this.

3. Necessary

This is when one vows to make i`tikaf. Its minimum is an entire day (and night), and one must fast with it.

Two Important Conditions

Two important conditions for i`tikaf are:

a) that one intend it (and one should intend the general i`tikaf [spiritual retreat] every time one enters a mosque);

b) that one not be in a state of major ritual impurity (i.e. anything necessitating ghusl).

Things permitted during I`tikaf

Everything normally permissible, besides sexual relations, is permitted during i`tikaf, such as eating, drinking, and talk.
What to do during i`tikaf

One should busy oneself with the beneficial as much as one meaningfully can, such as:

1. Voluntary prayer,

2. Reciting the Book of Allah, with reflection, contemplation, and passion,

3. Remembrance of Allah, in all its forms,

4. Gaining beneficial knowledge, and listening to inspiring religious discourses (which is why it is wise to make i`tikaf in a mosque with people of learning, and good company to inspire one towards the good).

One should avoid simply wasting time in things bereft of benefit, let alone the haram, though there is nothing wrong in taking 'breaks' in which one relaxes with others, as a means of being able to return to one's worship with vigor and devotion.

How does one's i`tikaf end?

When one leaves the mosque or (for women) place of prayer, one's i`tikaf ends.

During an extended i`tikaf (such as the communal sunna one), one may leave the mosque:

1. For a necessary ghusl.

2. To perform wudu (if such facilities are not found within the mosque),

3. To use the toilet.

Leaving for other reasons will end the i`tikaf.

I`tikaf for Women at Home

It is recommended for women to do i`tikaf (spiritual retreat) in a specific place in their house, a quiet room, for example, whenever they have the time and are able to do so without neglecting their family duties and other responsibilities.

Even when in one's monthly period, it is recommended in the Hanafi school to sit in a designated place of prayer (musalla) at home, after having made wudu, and make dhikr for the time it takes to pray.

It is recommended for women to designate a place in their houses as their 'masjid'. They can do i`tikaf there at any time, even for a brief period of time, [Radd al-Muhtar] and attain the great rewards mentioned in the hadiths for i`tikaf (as long as they fulfill their other worldly and religious duties, as is the case for men).

The full communal sunna i`tikaf is for the entire ten days (in the mosque, for men). This is not expected of those working or housewives, for that matter. If one is able to arrange things, and one's husband agrees, one may perform i`tikaf for the entire 10 days.

However, the fiqh principle is that, "If something cannot be done completely, it should not be left completely."

Thus, whenever free of pressing responsibilities, women should go to their place of worship, intending i`tikaf (spiritual retreat), even if only for a short amount of time, and keep themselves busy as much as possible in worship.

When she has to do something important, such as go to the kitchen or go shopping or visit a sick neighbor, she can leave her i`tikaf and return when able.

Such an i`tikaf is valid (and recommended) even outside Ramadan for women. In fact, it is best for them to intend i`tikaf every time they enter their place of worship (musalla) even for their daily prayers.

It is not valid for men to do i`tikaf in other than a mosque. [Durr]

The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, "Whoever stands the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and seeking reward shall have their previous sins forgiven." [Bukhari & Muslim]

May Allah give us success to follow the guidance of His Beloved (Allah bless him & give him peace).

Walaikum assalam,

Faraz Rabbani