Answer
Wa `alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Yes, Islamic teachings confirm that women can perform Itikaf just like men. The practice is rooted in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and historical evidence shows that his wives observed Itikaf even after his passing.
In his response to your question, Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah, former president of ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) and member of the Fiqh Council of North America, states:
The Significance of the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan
The last 10 days of Ramadan are an opportunity for every Muslim to have his or her sins forgiven and to gain Allahโs mercy and great rewards. One of these days is Laylat Al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months.
The Sunnah of Itikaf in Ramadan
It is a sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to perform itikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) during the last third of Ramadan.
Itikaf is a spiritual retreat in the mosque where the Muslim secludes for the purpose of purifying his or her heart and getting close to Allah by performing extra acts of worship, especially tahajjud (optional night prayers) and reciting Quran.
Itikaf can only be done in the mosque according to the view of most scholars. Allah specifies the place for itikaf by saying, {but do not associate with your wives while you are in retreat (i`tikaf) in the mosques.} (Al-Baqarah 2:187)
Can Women Perform Itikaf? Islamic Evidence
Women can make itikaf just as men can. It is reported that the Prophetโs wives (may Allah be pleased with them) performed itikaf even after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had passed away. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editorโs note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholarโs archive and was originally published at an earlier date.
