To strive hard in worship in i’tikaf
“The Messenger of Allah [saws] used to strive harder in the last ten [nights of Ramadan] than at any other time.”[16]
“When the [last] ten [nights] began the Messenger of Allah [saws] would stay awake at night wake his family strive hard [in worship] and tighten his izar.”[17]
May leave the mosque for unavoidable personal needs
“Allah’s Messenger [saws] used to let his head in [the house] while he was in the mosque and I would comb and oil his hair. When in I’tikaf he used not to enter the house except for a need.”[18]
“I [‘A’ishah (ra)] used to enter the house to relieve myself and there was a sick person there and I only enquired after him as I was passing through. And the Messenger of Allah [saws] would not enter the house except to relieve himself when they were observing I’tikaf.”[19]
A mu’takif may receive visitors
“Safiyya [ra], the wife of the Prophet [saws], told me that she went to Allah’s Messenger [saws] to visit him in the mosque while he was in I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. She had a talk with him for a while then she got up in order to return home. The Prophet [saws] accompanied her. When they reached the gate of the mosque opposite the door of Umm Salamah [ra], two Ansari men were passing by and they greeted Allah’s Messenger [saws]. He said to them, ‘Do not run away!’ And said, ‘She is Safiyya bint Huyai.’ Both of them said, ‘Subhan Allah O Allah’s Messenger [saws].’ And they felt it. The Prophet [saws] said, ‘Satan reaches everywhere in the human body as blood reaches in it. I was afraid lest Satan might insert an evil thought in your minds.’”[20]
[1] Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 187
[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2026; Sahih Muslim 2784 [5/1172]
[3] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2045, 2033, 2041; Sahih Muslim 2785 [6/1173]; Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1771
[4] Jami’ At-Tirmidhi Sahih 803
[5] Sunan Ibn Majah 1770
[6] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2042, 2032; Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1772
[7] Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1769
[8] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2027, 2036, 2040
[9] Jami’ At-Tirmidhi Sahih 791
[10] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2045, 2033, 2041; Sahih Muslim 2785 [6/1173]; Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1771
[11] Sunan Ibn Majah Hasan 1774
[12] Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1775
[13] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2031; Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1778
[14] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2046
[15] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2037; Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1780
[16] Sahih Muslim 2788 [8/1175]
[17] Sahih Muslim 2787 [7/1174]
[18] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2029
[19] Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1776
[20] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2035, 2038; Sunan Ibn Majah Sahih 1779