Virtues of I'tikaaf
Submitted by Mohammed Desai on
وعن ابن عباس ، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال في المعتكف :
((هو يعتكف الذنوب ويجري له من الحسنات كعامل الحسنات كلها)). رواه ابن ماجه.
Ibn Abbas R.A narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “A Mu’takif (person that performs I’tikaaf) is protected from sins and good deeds are written for him equivalent to a person that carries out good deeds. (Ibn Majah)
Two great benefits of I’tikaaf have been mentioned in this Hadith. The first being a person will be protected from sins due to I’tikaaf else sometimes due to negligence such means are created due to which one falls into sin. To fall into sin at such a blessed time (i.e. Ramadaan) is great oppression. By remaining in I’tikaaf in the Masjid one remains protected. Secondly, a person performing I’tikaaf cannot participate in many good actions such as participating in a Janaazah, visiting the sick , etc. He is being prevented because of I’tikaaf thus he will be granted the rewards of such actions without even carrying them out. How great is the Rahmat of Allah c! A person carries out one action (that is performance of I'tikaaf) yet he attains the reward of how many other actions. Actually it is the mercy of Allah Ta’ala that looks for excuses (so that one may be rewarded).
Reference:
- Fadhaail-e-Aamaal