Can a woman observe itikaaf in her house?

i’tikaaf is only valid if observed in the mosque, because Allah says

“And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you  are in I`tikaaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and  invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques”

[al-Baqarah 2:187]


With regard to Itikaaf for females, the majority of scholars are of the view that as in the case of men, their itikaaf is not valid unless it is observed in the mosque, because of the verse

“And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in I`tikaaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques”

[al-Baqarah 2:187]

The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked him for permission to observe itikaaf in the mosque and he gave them permission, and they used to observe itikaaf in the mosque after he died.

If it were permissible for a woman to observe i’tikaaf in her house, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have told them to do that, because it is better for a woman to remain concealed in her house than to go out to the mosque.



Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’ (6/505):

It is not valid for men or women to observe i’tikaaf anywhere but in the mosque; it is not valid in the mosque of a woman’s house or the mosque of a man’s house, which is a space that is set aside for prayer.



In al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (5/212) it says:

The scholars differed as to where women should observe itikaaf. The majority are of the view their itikaaf is not valid unless observed in the mosque. In a report narrated from Ibn Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) who asked about a woman who vowed to observe itikaaf in the mosque of her house. He said: “(This is) an innovation, and the most hateful of actions to Allah are innovations (bidah).”

So there can be no itikaaf except in a mosque in which prayers are established.


I wish to point out that some people  try to misuse the hadith about women’s place of prayer being best at home. This is true for normal prayers. But not for Eid prayers or Itikaf. Different  prayers have different ruling . However some people use ruling for different prayers or Ibadah for matters which are completely different,

The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked him for permission to observe itikaf in the mosque and he gave them permission, and they used to observe itikaf in the mosque after he died.

So how can some one say that women should not observe Itikaaf in the Masjid but rather do it in their own home?

It clear that if it was not allowed then His (peace be upon him)’s wife’s would not have done Itikaaf in the Masjid. I emphasized this point because I heard on the radio one of the Scholars of the astray groups saying that women should observe in home as it is best pray for women is in the home. And was trying to claim that this overruled all previous rulings . However the Prophet’s (peace be upon him ) wives observed Itikaaf in the mosque even after he (peace be upon him ) died. And I am sure they would not do such a thing unless it was allowed.

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