🔺Note: Sheikh ’Uthaymīn raḥimahullāh mentioned that it's best not to observe I’tikāf outside Ramaḍhān as this was not the practise of the Prophet ﷺ nor his Com

➢ 6. The best time to perform I’tikāf? Although it's permissible to perform I’tikāf all year round, it is more recommended to do so during Ramaḍhān based on the ḥadīth of Abū Hurairah raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu that: “The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ used to observe I’tikāf for ten days every Ramaḍhān, and in the year in which he passed away he observed I’tikāf for twenty days. [Bukhāri] And during Ramaḍhān, the best time to observe I’tikāf is in the last ten days, because the Prophet ﷺ used to observe i’tikaf for the last ten days of Ramaḍhān until he passed away. [Bukhāri & Muslim] Similarly, An-Nawawī raḥimahullāh said: “The best I’tikāf is that which is accompanied by fasting; and the best of that is during Ramaḍhān; and the best of that is within the last ten days.” [Al-Majmū’ (6/514)] ➢ 7. Does I’tikāf have a specific duration? The scholars agreed that there's no maximum duration, but they differed concerning the minimum duration. And the correct opinion is that there is no minimum amount of time required for Iʿtikāf to be valid, as is the opinion of most of the scholars. However, it's better to observe I’tikāf for at least a day or night, as it has not been transmitted that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ nor his Companions ever did I’tikāf for less than a day or night. ➢ 8. If someone wants to perform I’tikāf for the last 10 days of Ramaḍhān, when do they begin and end? They should enter into I’tikāf from sunset on the 20th of Ramaḍhān according to most of the scholars. This is proven by the statement of the Prophet ﷺ: “I used to devote myself (observe I’tikāf) during these ten. Then I started devoting myself in the last ten (of Ramaḍhān). So whoever desires to observe I’tikāf along with me should spend the night at his place of I’tikāf.” [Muslim]. However, he ﷺ would isolate himself from others after Fajr the following morning (21st), as proven by the ḥadīth of ’Ā'ishah raḍhiyallāhu ’anhā that: “When the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ wanted to perform I’tikāf, he would pray Fajr and then enter his place of I’tikāf.” [Bukhāri & Muslim]. According to most scholars, the ten days end at sunset on the last day of Ramaḍhān. ➢ 9. If a person intends to observe I’tikāf for a set number of days, are they allowed to abort midway? Once a person begins observing I’tikāf, it is not obligatory upon them to complete it because there's no evidence obligating this. In fact, the evidences indicate otherwise. ’Ā'ishah raḍhiyallāhu ’anhā said: “When the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) decided to observe I’tikāf, he prayed in the morning and then went to the place of his I’tikāf, and he commanded that a tent should be pitched for him, and it was pitched. He (once) decided to observe I’tikāf in the last ten days of Ramaḍhān. Zainab (the wife of the Prophet) commanded that a tent should be pitched for her. It was pitched accordingly. And some other wives of Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded that tents should be pitched for them too. And they were pitched. When the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) offered the Fajr prayer, he looked and found (so many) tents. Thereupon he said: 'What is this virtue that these (ladies) have decided to acquire?' He commanded his tent to be struck and abandoned I’tikaf in the month of Ramaḍhān and postponed it to the first ten days of Shawwāl.” [Bukhāri & Muslim]