Malfooz: The Third Worship of Ramadan is I'tikaf

*Malfoozat-e-Hakeem-ul-Ummat Mujaddid-ul-Millat Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ashraf Ali Thanvi Rahmatullah Alaih*

*The Third Worship of Ramadan is I'tikaf*

He stated: In Ramadan (besides fasting and Tarawih), there is also a third worship, which is I'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak. This is such a Sunnah that its fulfillment is necessary upon everyone, but if even one person in the locality observes I'tikaf, it is sufficient on behalf of everyone (otherwise everyone will be sinful). And I'tikaf means to remain in the mosque with the intention that for these many days, I will not leave from here without a compelling need like urinating or defecating. And just like fasting and Tarawih, a beloved thing of the self (Nafs) is abandoned in this too, i.e., roaming around freely, and similarly, there can be no ostentation (show-off) in this either because who knows whether one is sitting in the mosque with a specific intention or has just come casually.

Hazrat Ali bin Hussain (Radi Allahu Anhu) narrates from his father that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever observes I'tikaf for ten days in Ramadan, he will receive a reward like that of two Hajj and two Umrah." (Bayhaqi). It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radi Allahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said regarding the person observing I'tikaf: "He remains safe from all sins, and he gets a reward as if he is performing all good deeds." (Mishkat from Ibn Majah). And another virtue in this is that one has to remain present in the mosque, and a very great virtue of staying in the mosque has been mentioned in the Hadith Shareef. However, women should observe I'tikaf at home in their designated place of prayer.

(Ahkam-e-I'tikaf, Page 15)