Itikaf FAQs (4/50)

Ie’tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadan is sunnah e muakadah alal kifayah. Ie’tikaaf throughout the whole month of Ramadhan in search of laylatul Qadar was also the practice of Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam. Even 20 days is an established sunnah of Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam. It is not an innovation.

Aisha Radiyallahu Anha narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam would perform ie’tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan until Allah Taala took him away, then his wives performed ie’tikaaf after him.

Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu narrates that the Quraan would be presented to Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam once every year. It was presented to him twice the year he passed away and he would perform perform ietikaaf for ten days every year and he performed ie’tikaaf for twenty days the year he passed away.

Abu Saeed Khudri Radiallahu Anhu Narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam would perform ie’tikaaf of the first ten days of Ramadhan, then he would perform ie’ttikaaf of the second ten days in a Turkish tent, then he would take his head out and say “I performed ie’tikaaf of the first ten days loking for this night (night of power), then I performed ie’tikaaf of the second ten nights, then I was told that it is in the last ten nights.”