I know that itikaaf is usually done during the last ten days of Ramzan. But, can it be done prior to those 10 days…considering that women may not be able fast during the last 10 due to menstruation…and fasting is a requirement for itikaaf. Any idea about this? Googled it and haven’t found anything.
Re: Itikaf
no...the time is fixed...the last ash'ra of the month ... ashra = 10
it's a farz-e-kifaaya meaning if just ONE person sits in the aitakaaf, the whole community is absolved from sitting in the aitakaaf...if NO one observes aitakaaf, the whole community will be held accountable...this doesn't eman others can't observe...the more the better...
one more important point:
men must sit in masjid for ai'takaaf but for women, it's NOT even mandatory for them. if they opt for ai'takaaf, they must sit in a corner of the house and put curtains around then in order to be secluded...chose a corner which sees less traffic in the house...your own bedroom can be a good spot.
Re: Itikaf
I've also heard that you have to start it from the 20th roza......but let's say one misses that. Can't they start it on the 21st or the 23rd or 25th. Is it mandatory to start from the 20th?
Also, does it have to be for 10 days? Or can one do it for less than that...as in 1 day or 3 days?
Re: Itikaf
I've also heard that you have to start it from the 20th roza......but let's say one misses that. Can't they start it on the 21st or the 23rd or 25th. Is it mandatory to start from the 20th?
Also, does it have to be for 10 days? Or can one do it for less than that...as in 1 day or 3 days?
no...from asr on the 20th Ramadhan till the Eid moon-sighting. doesn't have to be 10 days...it's either 10 days or 9 days depending on the moon-sighting.
ideally, to qualify for ai'takaaf to be valid, you have to start at asr on the 20th Ramadhan...but if you start on the 21st, Allah is great and he might just accept it.
yes, some people do it on the weekend but that's NOT the norm...ai'takaaf a form of ibaadat so do as much as you can but at least ONE person in the community MUST do it during the specified duration or else all will be held accountable.
Re: Itikaf
Thank you, KKF for the info. I was curious about it as well. 
Re: Itikaf
welcome bro 
As far as I know you can do an Aetiqaaf of 3 days as well.
Re: Itikaf
Thank you guys. I'm gonna read up on it some more.
Re: Itikaf
As far as I know you can do an Aetiqaaf of 3 days as well.
yes, as long as at least ONE person in the community is doing the ai'takaaf for the prescribed period. the partial ai'takaaf will be counted towards nawaafil but NOT towards the fard e kifaaya.
Re: Itikaf
As far as I know you can do an Aetiqaaf of 3 days as well.
Is 3 the minimum? Or can be done for less than 3 days as well?
Is 3 the minimum? Or can be done for less than 3 days as well?
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I think it can even be for one night or couple of hours. Will confirm & let you know.
Posting from the android app so bear with the double quotes.
Re: Itikaf
Peace All,
As per many hadiths Lailatul Qadir falls in last ten days of Ramadhan. However our beloved Prophet Muhammad 
observed I’tikaf in the whole month of ramadhan (see next hadith). So i’tikaf can be observed at any night in the month of ramadhan or in any other month to but to seek benefit of “Lailatul Qadir” can be only found in last days of Ramadhan.
Accoding to the Hadith of Sunan Abu-Dawud; “Narrated Ubayy ibn Ka’b: The Prophet used to observe i’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan. One year he did not observe i’tikaf. When the next year came, he observed i’tikaf for twenty nights (i.e. days)”. Book ‘Fasting (Kitab Al-Siyam)’ Hadith No. 2457]
What I think if one missin I’tikaf due to any (genuine) reason may observed twenty nights as i’tikaf next year in the month of Ramadhan with hope from Almighty Allah to accepts and give ajars.
According to Hadith from Sahih Bukhari; “Narrated Abu Salama: Once I went to Abu- Sa’id Al-Khudri and asked him, “Won’t you come with us to the date-palm trees to have a talk?” So Abu Said went out and I asked him, “Tell me what you heard from the Prophet about the Night of Qadr.” Abu Said replied, "Once Allah’s Apostle performed I’tikaf (seclusion) on the first ten days of the month of Ramadan and we did the same with him. Gabriel came to him and said, ‘The night you are looking for is ahead of you.’ So the Prophet performed the I’tikaf in the middle (second) ten days of the month of Ramadan and we too performed I’tikaf with him. Gabriel came to him and said, ‘The night which you are looking for is ahead of you.’ In the morning of the 20th of Ramadan the Prophet delivered a sermon saying, ‘Whoever has performed I’tikaf with me should continue it. I have been shown the Night of “Qadr”, but have forgotten its date, but it is in the odd nights of the last ten nights. I saw in my dream that I was prostrating in mud and water.’ In those days the roof of the mosque was made of branches of date-palm trees. At that time the sky was clear and no cloud was visible, but suddenly a cloud came and it rained. The Prophet led us in the prayer and I saw the traces of mud on the forehead and on the nose of Allah’s Apostle. So it was the confirmation of that dream.” Book ‘Characteristics of Prayer’, Hadith No. 777].
In this hadith it is clearly stated that Prophet Muhammad done I’tikaf in the whole month of Ramadhan but for “Lailatul Qadr”, than can only be found in the last ten days starting from 20th Ramadhan.
Almighty Allah knows best.
Re: Itikaf
Jazak Allah Khair for sharing this LK.
RV my brother has been sitting in Aiteqaaf for couple of years now (always last Ashrah) I know last year he couldn't get off from work for 10 days straight & he had consulted Mufti Kamani in Chicago. I remember he had mentioned how it can be done for 10 days as well as in odd numbers less then 10 like 7,5,3 & 1
I have been trying to get in touch with him to confirm since I might not remember correctly. Too bad Mr. is too busy to return my calls.
I also vaguely remember that as long as you sit in seclusion not thinking about any worldly matter & make "neeyat" of Aiteqaaf you can even do couple couple of nafils, like half night. Obviously its better to do the 10 days. More sawab.
Re: Itikaf
Check this thread out as well http://www.paklinks.com/gs/religion-and-scripture/515431-12-ways-to-maximize-itikaf.html