Therefore, buy these books today from Maktaba-tul-Madinah and make intention to study them. These books can also be read online: www.dawateislami.net, or can be downloaded and printed free.

Persuasion of I’tikaf

اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ! The blessed month of Ramadan is just near and the blessings and favours of this sacred month are beyond one’s imagination as the opportunities of carrying out virtuous deeds are multiplied. Observing the 10- day I’tikaf or the whole-month I’tikaf is a great source of refraining from sins and gaining more and more knowledge. The excellence of I’tikaf can be judged from the blessed Hadees: The mother of the believers, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has narrated that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

مَنِ اعۡتَكَفَ اِيۡمَانًا وَّ اِحۡتِسَابًا غُفِرَلَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنۡ ذَنۡبِهٖ

Translation: Whoever observes I’tikaf with faith in order to earn reward, all of his previous sins will be forgiven. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 516, Hadees 8480)

Dear Islamic brothers! Have you noticed how many opportunities one gets to perform good deeds during the I’tikaf? O lovers of the Sunan of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! If possible, observe I’tikaf every year, otherwise at least observe the whole-month I’tikaf once in your life.

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would always be ready to please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would worship abundantly especially in Ramadan. Layla-tul-Qadr is concealed in the sacred month of Ramadan, therefore Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once observed I’tikaf for the entire month in order to look 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 please 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 to worship for pleasing 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