Fatwa No : 7314
to remain in Masjid with the intention of I'thikaf little before the sunset

to remain in Masjid with the intention of I'thikaf little before the sunset

محترم مفتي صاحب اسلام و عليکم براہ کرم بتائں کہ اعتکاف دس کے علاوہ اور کتنے دن بيٹھ سکتے ھيں اور کيا بيسويں دن رات کو بيٹھنا ہوتا ھے يا دوسر ے تيسر ے دن بھي بيٹھ سکتے ھيں اور اءتکاف ميں عور ت کيلئے کيا کيا احتياتيں ھيں براہ مھرباني قرآن وسنت کي روشني ميں جواب ديں

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

According to the Sharia it is Sunnah to remain in Masjid with the intention of I'thikaf little before the sunset of the beginning of the last ten days of Ramadhan, i.e. before the sunset of the 20th date of Ramadhan up to the sight of Shawwal's crescent moon. It is possible for a person to sit in I'thikaf who did not sit prior to the 20th date of Ramadhan but remembered it later, however the I'thikaf of such a person will not be the Sunnath, rather it will be a Nafl I'thikaf. Likewise if anybody whishes to sit in Ithikaf during the full month of Ramadhan or in any other manner apart from this, he may sit and his such Ilthikaf will be called a Nafl I'thikaf. As for females, I'thikaf for them is, sitting in their houses instead of Masjids. Their I'thikaf will be nullified by leaving the room so reserved for performance of Salath and I'thikaf in the like manner the I'tikaf of males are nullified by leaving the Masjid. Further it is necessary that the females are free from Haid and Nifas during I'thikaf. The remaining A'amals are same as that of Males.
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