What Time of Day Should One Enter the Place of Iʿtikāf?

Source: Urdu Sharh of ‘Umdat al-Ahkam min Kalam Khayr al-Anam
Translation by: Hafiz Faizullah Nasir

First Hadith: Narrated by Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها​

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe Iʿtikāf during the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah عز وجل took his soul. After him, his wives also observed Iʿtikāf.”
Another narration states:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe Iʿtikāf in every Ramadan. When he would finish offering the Fajr (morning) prayer, he would enter the place where he would observe Iʿtikāf.”

Vocabulary Explanation:​

• الغَدَاةُ: Refers to early morning, specifically the Fajr prayer.
  

Commentary on the Hadith:​

❖ This narration implies that entering the place of Iʿtikāf should be done during the early part of the day, particularly after performing the Fajr prayer.

❖ The scholars have deduced from this Hadith that the Sunnah method is to begin Iʿtikāf by entering the designated place early in the day, right after the Fajr prayer of the 21st night (i.e., the morning of the 20th day of Ramadan).

References:​

① Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Iʿtikāf,
Chapter: Iʿtikāf in the Last Ten Days,
Hadith no.: 2026

② Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Iʿtikāf,
Chapter: Iʿtikāf in the Last Ten Days of Ramadan,
Hadith no.: 1172

Conclusion:​

According to the practice of the Prophet ﷺ, the correct time to enter the place of Iʿtikāf is in the early part of the day, after offering the Fajr prayer on the 20th of Ramadan.