I'tikaaf

Q: Can a woman cook while she is in itikaaf?

Q: When one is sitting in itikaaf can one go for ghusal to cool of or the Friday sunnah gusl? If yes for Sunnah gusl than what if the gusl khana is not near the wudu khana; its upstairs. Can one go for ghsal upstairs?

Q: Here in Bokaap (Cape Town) in an area of about 2km there are 11 masaajid. So now will it suffice if someone sits for sunnat itikaaf in one of the 11 masajid, or is it necessary for someone to sit in each of the 11 masaajids?

Q: I have a question about i'tikaf. If we start itikaf on the night of the 21st there is a risk that we only complete nine nights (if Ramadan turns out to be 29 days). Will the sunnah still be fulfilled in this case? Or should we start the itikaf at the night of the 20th in order to make sure that we do at least 10 nights?

Q: My friend will be doing itikaaf in Musjid-e-Nabawi. He will be totally alone, nobody will be there to bring him food. Can he eat his food at the hotel which will be right opposite Musjid-e-Nabawi and use the toilet there?

Q: I understand that one is allowed to change his clothes during Itikaf. In the Haram Shareef at Makkah and Madinah since there is no privacy, is it ok if one changes his clothes in the toilet when one goes to attend nature's call? Of course care is taken that one does not leave the Haram only for changing the clothes but does it when it is unavoidable to leave to fulfil the need to go to the toilet to relieve oneself.

Q: Can a person sitting for Sunnat i'tikaaf come out of the musjid to perform? Someone quoted the sayings of Saahibain i.e. that a person does not have to spend the entire day in the musjid rather he must spend most amount of the day in the musjid.

Q: I need to know the period of I’tikaaf (the last 10 nights of Ramadhaan spent in the Masjid)

1) For how many days we can do I’tikaaf? I heard for 10 days only.

Q: I made intention for sunnah Itikaaf, but while coming to the musjid, I got stuck in traffic. Thus, I entered the musjid two to five minutes late. Is my Itikaaf valid? Is it compulsory upon me to make it up the next year?

Q: Can a person in i’tikaaf have a Friday bath with the intention that it is sunnah? Is it better for him not to have the Friday bath?