Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Muslim Woman and I'tikaaf !

The basic general rule for a Muslim woman in which there is no difference of opinion amongst the Scholars of Islam is that they can sit for I'tikaaf at the Masjid with their Mahram's permission. However yes, there is a difference of opinion whether she can sit for I'tikaaf at home or not, some of the 'Ulema approve while others disapprove. Amongst those who approve are as well recent time Scholars and jurists who judging upon the situation of the Muslims in their surrounding area, especially in regards to the safety of the Muslim Woman and the continuous Fitna, they follow the opinion of our Salaf amongst the Tabi'een generation, namely Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahUllah) (Hanafi Madhab allows it), and also later time 'Ulema from within the Shaafi’i Madhab and Imaam Maalik's Madhab – i.e. some Scholars from within these two Madhhahib are of the opinion that it is permissible for a Muslim woman to perform the worship of I'tikaaf in a designated place in their own homes, as praying the 5 Salawaat in congregation and the Jummah Salaah itself are NOT obligatory on a Muslimah and the best of prayers and worship for her is in the most inner corner of her own home.

Below mentioned are some of the evidences:

Aa’ishah (ra) reported that when the Messenger of Allah (saws) decided to observe i'tikaaf, he prayed in the morning and then went to the place of his i'tikaaf, and he commanded that a tent should be pitched for him, and it was pitched. He (once) decided to observe i'tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadaan. Zainab (the wife of the Prophet (saws)) commanded that a tent should be pitched for her. It was pitched accordingly. And some other wives of Allah's Apostle (saws) commanded that tents should be pitched for them too. And they were pitched. When the Messenger of Allah (saws) offered the morning prayer, he looked and found (so many) tents. Thereupon he said: What is this virtue that these (ladies) have decided to acquire? He commanded his tent to be struck and abandoned i'tikaaf in the month of Ramadaan and postponed it to the first ten days of Shawwal.
[Sahih Muslim: Book 6: Hadith 2641]

Al-Imaam Al-Iraqi stated in his book "Imaam Al-Shaafi'ie commented on this Hadith by saying: “Based on this Hadith I dislike for women to do I'tikaaf at any masjid except the masjid of her house because if she does I'tikaaf at the Masjid which is normally visited day and night, the chances of her to be seen and see others i.e. males are big.” 
[Tarh Al-Tathrib Fi Sharh Al-Taqreeb: 4/170]

Abu Hanifa said that let women only do I'tikaaf at their house Masjid. Imaam Sufyan Al-Thawri said: “It is better for women to do I'tikaaf at their house Masjid than having it at the normal Masjid.” 
[Al-Istithkaar Al-Jami'e Li-madhahib Al-Amsaar: 3/399]

Imaam Abu Hanifa said: “It's a conflict with analogy of Prayer. As the prayer of a woman in her residence (or house) is better than her prayer in the Masjid, as is laid down in a report, it is necessary that her I'tikaaf be preferable in her room.” 
[The book of I'tikaf-1(pg:367)]

Ibn Qudamah states in Al-Mughni: "A woman has the right to observe i'tikaaf in any Masjid, and that is not subject to the condition that it be a Masjid where prayers are performed in congregation, because that is not obligatory upon her."

It was narrated that Umm Humayd the wife of Abu Humayd al-Saa’idi came to the Prophet (saws) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I like to pray with you.” He said, “I know that you like to pray with me, but your prayer in your room is better for you than your prayer in your courtyard and your prayer in your courtyard is better for you than your praying in your house, and your prayer in your house is better for you than your prayer in the mosque of your people, and your prayer in the mosque of your people is better for you than your prayer in my mosque.” So she issued orders that a prayer-place be prepared for her in the furthest and darkest part of her house, and she used to pray there until she met Allah (i.e. died).” 
[Musnad Ahmad, 26550]

Aa’ishah (ra) said: “If the Messenger of Allah (saws) had lived to see how women have started to behave, he would have prevented them (from going to the Masjid) as the women of the Children of Israel were prevented.” I (Yahya the narrator) said: “To ‘Umrah, were they prevented?” She said: “Yes.” 
[Bukhari, 831; Muslim, 445] 
‘Abd al-‘Azeem Abaadi said: "The reason why their praying in their homes is better is because it is safer from fitnah or temptation. This was later borne out by the way in which women began to make a wanton display of their adornments, hence Aa’ishah said what she said." 
[‘Awn al-Ma’bood, 2/193]


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