Fatwa #263091 August 2013India
Can a person sit for 5 days in I'tikaaf?
Question
when a momin does a niyyat for aetikaf with specific time and period (like last five days of Ramadhan) and than tries to complete the same; is this aetikaf wajib or nifl? pl also reply if this is acceptable if one discontinues in between, like after 2 days one goes out of the mosque for Dawat o tabligh work and comes back to resume the aetikaf. And when he does so wether it is permissible or Qada of 5 day's aetikaf is wajib on him?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
If a person wishes to sit for I’tikaaf in the last five days of Ramadhan, he may do so. That will be a Nafl I’tikaaf. There is flexibility in Nafl I’tikaaf. If one discontinues the Nafl I’tikaaf, there will be no Qadha on him.
And Allah Knows Best.
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.