I’tikaf is a form of worship and spiritual. It is often done in the month of Ramadan, especially in the last days of Ramadan. In the last ten days in Ramadan, I’tikaf is done while welcoming the night of Lailatul Qadar. Of course, all of Muslims are competing to get this night.
As the example of the Prophet Muhammad Shallallahu ‘Alaihi wa sallam, indeed I’tikaf is not only done in Ramadan, but we can do I’tikaf in another months, too. The Messenger of Allah saw also gave examples of this matter.
See also :
- Law of I’tikaf for women in Islam
- Prayers at night of Lailatul Qadar
- Miraculous dua for the last 10 days of Ramadan
The Definition of I’tikaf
I’tikaf is stay away in the mosque while doing evaluations and self reflections. Some activities that can be done while keeping quiet in the mosque are productive activities, not making noise, but still have wisdom and worth of worship. For examples are :
- Reading Quran and its tafsir
- Virtues of dhikr to Allah SWT
- Self-evaluation and meditation in Islam
- Reading worth of books
- Tadabbur of Quran
- Etc
Of course, I’tikaf is very meaningful if it is done. By I’tikaf, we can also focus on the practice of worship before we are busy with many jobs and activities in another time. For that, it is needed during the month of Ramadan. So we can get meaningfulness and spiritual experiences through this I’tikaf.
The Prophet Muhammad Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam gave examples I’tikaf that is done in the month of Ramadan, especially in the last ten days of Ramadan or in the coming period of Lailatul Qadar. For that, I’tikaf is very recommended because it is given by The Messenger of Allah saw.
Benefits and Wisdoms of I’tikaf
There are many things that we can get from I’tikaf. Certainly, I’tikaf is not only keeping quiet in the mosque, but we can get something from I’tikaf that can inspire and give meaning in our lives. Here are benefits and wisdoms of I’tikaf in the month of Ramadan.
- Self-Evaluation
Self-evaluation is the most difficult thing to do by humans although it is against themselves. We will be very easy to evaluate others, but it can be difficult to evaluate ourselves.
Self-evaluation such as a process or grip that will bring us to achieve wisdom and self-improvement. Without self-evaluation, of course humans will be trapped and lost by themselves or their lust.
I’tikaf in the month of Ramadan help us to evaluate ourselves. By I’tikaf, we will focus to ourselves and avoid us from pride that can break akhlaq.
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- Contemplation of life
In the period of I’tikaf, we can reflect on many things of life. Being in the mosque makes us to remember Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and all of His greatness.
For that, we will remember that we have a lot of sins and faults in ourlives intentionally or unintentionally. So that, Allah SWT gives us a chance to I’tikaf as a worship to remember and contemplate our lives.
The contemplation of I’tikaf during Ramadan can be about the problems of the world and the hereafter, the problems of happiness, the problems of past mistakes, what we have done and what we have neglected.
In other months, of course, this is difficult for us to be done. For that, the chance is in the month of Ramadan to do reflection and self-appreciation.
See also : Importance of self-reflection in Night in Islam
- Worship solemnly
During I’tikaf, we will be a lot of silence in the mosque and rounded by people who worship solemnly, too. During I’tikaf, we will focus on how to worship to Allah SWT, not focus on worldliness problems. For that, I’tikaf help us to do prayers, fasting and tadabbur of Quran solemnly and tumaninah. (See also how to increase iman in Islam)
The worship in front of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala is only a matter of ritual worship, but studying, filling spirit with religious knowledge, a cool lecture can also include worship if these are intended to be done for goodness.
In another months except Ramadan, there are many activities and busyness that sometimes make us unfocused. For that, the opportunity in this Ramadan or I’tikaf is the right time for us to be solemn and do the command of Allah well.
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- Build Spiritual (The Relationship between Allah SWT and human)
I’tikaf is also an opportunity to build a strong spiritual self. A strong spiritual self can be got from special worships and a strong self-reflection.
Of course, The spiritual experience will not effect in the months after Ramadan, if it is not done sincerely. For that, the spiritual experience can be got from I’tikaf that is not just a day, but it needs consistency and sincerity.
There are many people who do I’tikaf. But of course, their intentions are different. For that, spiritual must be done by straight intention and sincere to get the spiritual experience that make us closer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
- Avoid from the Frenzy of the World
By doing I’tikaf, we can avoid from the frenzy of the world and make us more focus to worship. At the time of I’tikaf, we will not get the frenzy of the world as it is in the shopping place or other places that actually make Muslims to shop or spend their money.
I’tikaf that we done, of course make us to near positive environments and avoid us from badness. Of course, it will be different if we spend our times to shop or meet our friends without a clear intention.
See also : tips for saving money in Ramadan
By I’tikaf, we are conditioned to do good deeds, infaq and sadaqah. Although zakat is an obligatory treasure worship, sadaqah or infaq also becomes our obligations if we have a surplus of material. For that, it becomes a social obligation that must be done by people who can afford. You may also read how to give sadaqah in Islam.
I’tikaf can lose the cause of unsettling emotions and your dua come true quickly. One of activities that can do is reading asmaul husna because there are many the secret power of asmaul husna.
Hopefully we can do I’tikaf not only during the month of Ramadan, but at other times to fill our soul with the method of silence in the mosque and focus to worship for Allah Subhaanhu Wa Ta’ala.
May we always istiqamah to do the command of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. Although the month of Ramadan has gone, but we have to keep istiqamah in our lives.