Fatwa

Rules of I’itikaaf for women

Question

Assalamualaikum
May you please share guidelines for women itikaaf
Jazakallahukhairan

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

1. A woman shall perform i’tikaaf in the room which is usually designated for her salah throughout the year. If no such room exists, she must specify one, intending to make that place her ‘musallah’ from now on, and perform i’tikaaf there.
2. This room for her will now be like a masjid for a man. She cannot exit it except for necessities such as relieving oneself, performing wudhu, and fardh ghusl. If she leaves for any other reason besides this, her i’tikaaf will break.
3. If a woman expects her haidh to come during the ten days, then it is better for her to not sit for i’tikaaf. If she sat for i’tikaaf and her haidh comes, the i’tikaaf will break. She may instead sit for nafl itikaaf which will end when her haidh comes.
4. Istihaadha will not prohibit her from sitting for i’tikaaf.
5. A wife requires the permission of her husband in order to sit for i’tikaaf.
6. If food for herself and the family can be easily arranged from elsewhere, she cannot exit the place of i’tikaaf to cook. If there is no one else to prepare the food, then she may exit.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Bilal Pandor

Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel

Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia

www.daruliftaazambia.com