✿ Prohibited Acts During Iʿtikāf ✿
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
According to al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله, if a person observing iʿtikāf commits a major sin, his iʿtikāf becomes invalid, because a major sin contradicts the essence of worship — just as impurity (ḥadath) nullifies ablution and prayer.
[Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī: 2/224]
Allah ﷻ commands:
وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِى الْمَسَاجِدِ
“And do not approach them (your wives) while you are in retreat (iʿtikāf) in the mosques.”
[Al-Baqarah: 187]
Engaging in physical intimacy nullifies the iʿtikāf.
As narrated in the ḥadīth from ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
ولا يخرج لحاجة إلا لما لا بد منه
“The person in iʿtikāf should not leave (the mosque) except for an unavoidable necessity.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 2473]
According to Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله, if a person knowingly leaves the mosque without a pressing need, his iʿtikāf is invalidated — unless he had previously placed a condition or left due to forgetfulness.
[Al-Mughnī: 4/472]
It is narrated from ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
“It is Sunnah for a person in iʿtikāf not to visit the sick, nor attend funerals, nor touch a woman, nor have intimacy with her.”
[Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2160, Kitāb al-Ṣawm: Bāb al-Muʿtakif Yaʿūd al-Marīḍ; also Abū Dāwūd: 2473]
A menstruating woman is not permitted to stay in the mosque. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إني لا أحل المسجد لحائض ولا جنب
“I do not permit the mosque for a menstruating woman or one in a state of major impurity.”
[Ḍaʿīf: Ḍaʿīf Abū Dāwūd: 40, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah: Bāb fī al-Junub Yadkhulu al-Masjid; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 193; Abū Dāwūd: 232; Bayhaqī: 2/442]
Shaykh Ḥāzim ʿAlī Qāḍī has authenticated this ḥadīth in al-Taʿlīq ʿalā Subul al-Salām: 1/201. Imām Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله also graded it as ṣaḥīḥ, as quoted by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله in Bulūgh al-Marām: 111.
➡ Therefore, as per Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله, a woman should exit the mosque as soon as her menstrual period begins.
[Al-Mughnī: 4/487]
According to Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله, a woman should not perform iʿtikāf without her husband’s consent, and likewise, a slave (male or female) should not observe iʿtikāf without the permission of their master.
[Al-Mughnī: 4/485]
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ ➊ Committing Major Sins (Kaba’ir)
According to al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله, if a person observing iʿtikāf commits a major sin, his iʿtikāf becomes invalid, because a major sin contradicts the essence of worship — just as impurity (ḥadath) nullifies ablution and prayer.
[Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī: 2/224]❖ ➋ Engaging in Marital Relations
Allah ﷻ commands:
وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِى الْمَسَاجِدِ
“And do not approach them (your wives) while you are in retreat (iʿtikāf) in the mosques.”
[Al-Baqarah: 187]Engaging in physical intimacy nullifies the iʿtikāf.
❖ ➌ Exiting the Mosque Without a Valid Need
As narrated in the ḥadīth from ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
ولا يخرج لحاجة إلا لما لا بد منه
“The person in iʿtikāf should not leave (the mosque) except for an unavoidable necessity.”
[Abū Dāwūd: 2473]According to Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله, if a person knowingly leaves the mosque without a pressing need, his iʿtikāf is invalidated — unless he had previously placed a condition or left due to forgetfulness.
[Al-Mughnī: 4/472]❖ ➍ Visiting the Sick or Attending Funerals
It is narrated from ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
“It is Sunnah for a person in iʿtikāf not to visit the sick, nor attend funerals, nor touch a woman, nor have intimacy with her.”
[Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 2160, Kitāb al-Ṣawm: Bāb al-Muʿtakif Yaʿūd al-Marīḍ; also Abū Dāwūd: 2473]❖ ➎ A Woman Performing Iʿtikāf During Menstruation
A menstruating woman is not permitted to stay in the mosque. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إني لا أحل المسجد لحائض ولا جنب
“I do not permit the mosque for a menstruating woman or one in a state of major impurity.”
[Ḍaʿīf: Ḍaʿīf Abū Dāwūd: 40, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah: Bāb fī al-Junub Yadkhulu al-Masjid; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 193; Abū Dāwūd: 232; Bayhaqī: 2/442]Shaykh Ḥāzim ʿAlī Qāḍī has authenticated this ḥadīth in al-Taʿlīq ʿalā Subul al-Salām: 1/201. Imām Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله also graded it as ṣaḥīḥ, as quoted by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله in Bulūgh al-Marām: 111.
➡ Therefore, as per Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله, a woman should exit the mosque as soon as her menstrual period begins.
[Al-Mughnī: 4/487]❖ ➏ Iʿtikāf Without the Husband’s Permission
According to Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله, a woman should not perform iʿtikāf without her husband’s consent, and likewise, a slave (male or female) should not observe iʿtikāf without the permission of their master.
[Al-Mughnī: 4/485]
