Sayyiduna Abu Sa’eed Khudri رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ has narrated, ‘Once after observing I’tikaf from the 1^st of Ramadan to the 20^th the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘In search of Layla-tul-Qadr, I observed the I’tikaf of the first ten days of the blessed month of Ramadan, then observed the I’tikaf of the middle ten days, then I was told that Layla-tul-Qadr is in the last ten days. Therefore, whoever amongst you wants to observe I’tikaf with me should do so.’

(Sahih Muslim, pp. 594, Hadees 1167)

Dear Islamic brothers! If not possible every year, we should observe I’tikaf for the entire month of Ramadan at least once in our life following this Sunnah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

Staying in the Masjid is a very great privilege and an I’tikaf-observing person 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 virtues of I’tikaf are absolutely obvious, as in it a person completely devotes himself to worshipping Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for attaining His pleasure and gives up all the worldly affairs and activities that are obstacles to the closeness to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. All of his time is spent in Salah or similar to the acts of Salah (because to wait for Salah also brings the reward like Salah.) The real purpose of observing I’tikaf is to wait for Salah with Jama’at and an I’tikaf-observing person resembles the angels who do not disobey Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and obey whatever command they are given; he resembles those who glorify Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ day and night and never gets tired of it. (Fatawa ‘Aalamgiri, vol. 1, pp. 212)

Sayyiduna ‘Ata Khurasani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: An I’tikaf-observing person is like the one who has reached the blessed court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and says, ‘O my glorious Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ! I will not leave until You forgive me.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 426, Hadees 3970)

ہم سے فقیر بھی اب پھیری کو اُٹھتے ہوں گے            اب تو غنی کے در پر بستر جما دِیے ہیں

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب              صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد