Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has narrated the following fragrant saying of the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

مَنِ اعۡتَكَفَ اِيۡمَانًا وَّ اِحۡتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنۡ ذَنۡبِه

Translation: Whoever observes I’tikaf having faith with the intention to earn reward, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.

(Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 516, Hadees 8480)

یا خدا ماہِ رمضاں کے صدقے                سچّی توبہ کی توفیق دیدے

نیک بن جاؤں جی چاہتا ہے                 یا خدا تجھ سے میری دُعا ہے

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب       صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! If possible, observe I’tikaf every year. If not possible, then observe I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan at least once in your life.

The Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of the Ummah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would worship abundantly especially in Ramadan. As Layla-tul-Qadr is hidden in Ramadan, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once observed I’tikaf for the entire month in order to search for this blessed night. Staying in the Masjid is a great blessing, a Mu’takif is so fortunate that he stays in the Masjid leaving all his activities in order to gain the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

It is stated in Fatawa ‘Aalamgiri: The benefits of I’tikaf are obvious, when a person observes I’tikaf, he completely devotes himself in worshipping for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, giving up all worldly affairs and activities that obstruct him in earning the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. All of his time is spent in Salah, either physically or spiritually, because the primary purpose of performing I’tikaf is to wait for Salah with Jama’at and the reward of waiting for Salah is like that of offering Salah. A Mu’takif resembles the angels who do not disobey