Itikaf is a highly recommended act of worship in Islam that involves secluding oneself in a mosque for a specific period of time to focus on devotion and worship. It is a spiritual practice that can help Muslims deepen their connection with Allah and purify their hearts and souls.

The Kalimah Center provides a comprehensive guide on how to perform Itikaf, including the conditions, etiquettes, and recommended supplications. By following the guidance provided by the Kalimah Center, Muslims can perform Itikaf with the correct intention and achieve the spiritual benefits of this powerful act of worship during the holy month of Ramadan.

Here are the steps of how to do Itikaf. Firstly, if you are going to do  Itikaf, you have to read and know the following procedures, activities, and steps, they are the rulings of  Itikaf. 

How to Perform Itikaf?

Here are the righteous deeds and worshipping acts that a Moatiqik can do during his or her duration of  Itikaf:

1. Maintain The daily prayers (mandatory Salah): 

It is imposed for each Muslim and Muslimah to fulfill five prayers daily (obligatory, so it is unexpected for the Moatiqik to forget to do them. It is also recommended for them to pray the sunnah prayer after each imposed prayer.

You can perform Qiyam al-Layl prayer in the mosque or at home, which is a Sunnah of the Prophet. Similarly, you can pray Qiyam al-Layl and Tahajjud on the same night, especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

2. Maintain The Voluntary Prayers (Nawafl): 

The time of  Itikaf is long, so Muslims can spend their time praying many rak’ahs, two by two. It is a good time to pray for the missed prayer that you didn’t fulfill in your life.

3. Maintain Reciting and Memorizing the Holy Qur’an: 

An act of worship is to read the holy words of Allah the Almighty. It is said that if you want Allan talks to you, then read the Holy Qur’an.

4. Reading the Holy Qur’an Explanation (Tafsir)

To have a deep understanding of the Qur’an, you must know the explanation and interpretation of the holy verses (Tafseer). Itikaf is the time to memorize and understand the spiritual meanings of the holy Qur’an. 

5. Studying the Prophet’s hadiths: 

Learning the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is an act that helps Muslims to have their true religion. It is a good chance for Moitiqif to read Sahih al-Bukhāri which contains all authentic hadiths.

6. Maintain The Remembrance of Allah

Allah mentioned his servants who remember Him frequently, He said in the Holy Qur’an, 

“Men who remember God frequently and women who remember—God has prepared for them a pardon, and an immense reward”

Surah Al- Ahzab verse 35.

7. Practice Halal Meditation & Contemplation

Mediation guides you through thinking and reflection on the creation of heaven and other things, to know to release your tensions and feel the sweet happiness of faith.

8. Repentance and Crying 

When you are in your  Itikaf, always remember your sins and faults, and k Allah, the most Merciful, with tears of Repentance to forgive you and erase all your past sins you have done. 

9. Making Supplications and Du’as: 

Try to make as many duas as you can. Compile a list of supplications and du’as that you can recite during the duration of I’tikaf.

10. Teaching if you are qualified: 

 Teaching others Qur’an, hadiths or tafseer is a good way of worship. Try to help anyone who is in need-to-know acts of worship or any Islamic knowledge.

Can Itikaf be Done at Home?

Itikaf can’t be done at home, this is the direct answer to this question is No. Because Allah said,

“But do not approach them while you are in retreat at the mosques. These are the limits of God, so do not come near them.”

Surah Al Baqarah, verse 187.

A woman is said to be retreated (Itikaf) in the chapel of her home (a special place for praying and remembering Allah at her home).

Our beloved mother Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) said,

“The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would always perform ‘I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah Most High took his soul” Bukhari. After the death of the Prophet, his wives continued this sunnah.

Sahih al-Bukhari 2026

The method of i’tikaf for a woman is to stay at her spiritual chapel at her home (Masallah), with the intent to perform i’tikaf for the sake of her Creator. Some scholars said that a woman can perform I’tikaf in a masjid, but it is normally preferable for her to do it at home.

Itikaf at Home For women:

As we mentioned above, A female can observe I’tikaf at her home for a duration of time, it can be even one hour provided that she does all her responsibilities towards her family.

You can engage in many activities during Ramadan with children and take care of them to introduce them to the teachings of Islam during Ramadan.

Can a Woman Talk to Her Husband During Itikaf? 

First, a female must have her husband’s permission to perform  Itikaf. She can talk to her husband during  Itikaf provided that she talks about necessary issues. At the same time, these side talks should not make her busy performing her I’tikaf.