Fatwa ID: 06149

Answered by: Shaykh Shafiur Rahman

Question:

Can i’tikaf be done in the masjid Courtyard?

Or if a masjid hall has an extension at the back (opposite to qibla side) and the new hall isn’t designated at masjid but is open and connected to the masjid hall without any walls etc can i’tikaf be done in this new hall

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

I’tikaf must be done in a masjid that offers the 5 congregational salahs.¹

Whatever space inside is designated as the masjid, meaning where the prayers are performed that is where it will be allowed to do I’tikaf. If the courtyard is a space outside of the masjid and it is not a designated space for the regular congregational prayers, then it will not be permissible to perform I’tikaf there. The same ruling is for the hall extension, if it is an extension of the actual masjid prayer space (musalla) then I’tikaf will be permissible there, if it isn’t an extension of the musallah then it will not be permissible there.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Shaykh Shafiur Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

1 وَشَرْعًا: (لَبْثٌ) بِفَتْحِ اللَّامِ وَتُضَمُّ الْمُكْثُ (ذَكَرٍ) وَلَوْ مُمَيَّزًا فِي (مَسْجِدٍ جَمَاعَةً) هُوَ مَا لَهُ إمَامٌ وَمُؤَذِّنٌ أُدِّيَتْ فِيهِ الْخَمْسُ أَوْ لَا.

وَعَنْ الْإِمَامِ اشْتِرَاطُ أَدَاءِ الْخَمْسِ فِيهِ وَصَحَّحَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ وَقَالَ لَا يَصِحُّ فِي كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَصَحَّحَهُ السُّرُوجِيُّ، وَأَمَّا الْجَامِعُ فَيَصِحُّ فِيهِ

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