in their homes, and he did not permit them [to observe it] in the mosque. As for prayer, it is not valid to equate I'tikaf with it, for a man's prayer in his house is superior, yet his I'tikaf is not valid therein.
Section: As for a man from whom the congregational prayer is waived, such as a sick person if he wishes to observe I'tikaf in a mosque where the congregational prayer is not held, it is appropriate that this be permissible for him, because the congregational prayer is waived for him; thus, he is like the woman. It is also possible that it is not permissible for him, because he is among those for whom the congregation is typically intended, thus he is like those for whom it is obligatory. Furthermore, when he commits himself to I'tikaf and burdens himself with it, it is appropriate that he should perform it in a place where the congregation is performed. Also, whoever commits himself to that which is not obligatory upon him, it is not valid [except according to its conditions], like one who performs voluntary fasting and prayer.
Section: If a woman observes I'tikaf in the mosque, it is recommended for her to be screened with something; because when the wives of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) wished to observe I'tikaf, they ordered their structures to be set up in the mosque. Furthermore, the mosque is attended by men, and it is better for them and for the women that they do not see them and they do not see them. If she sets up a structure, she should place it in a location where men do not pray, so that she does not disrupt their rows or cause them constraint. There is no harm for a man to be screened as well; for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) ordered his structure and it was set up, and because it is more concealing for him and more private for his acts of worship. Ibn Majah (16) narrated from Abu Sa'id that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) observed I'tikaf in a Turkish dome, with a piece of matting over its threshold (17). He said: So he took the mat with his hand and pulled it to the side of the Qibla, then he put his head out and spoke to the people. And Allah knows best.
529 - Issue: He said: (And he shall not exit from it except for human necessity, or the Friday prayer). The essence of this is that the one observing I'tikaf may not exit from his place of I'tikaf, except for that which is indispensable for him,
(15) In [A], [B], and [M]: "without its conditions". (16) In: The Chapter on I'tikaf in a Tent in the Mosque, from the Book of Fasting. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/564. It was also recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Virtue of the Night of Decree..., from the Book of Fasting. Sahih Muslim 2/825. (17) Al-Suddah: The doorway of a house.
فى بُيُوتِهِنَّ، ولم يَأْذَنْ لهنَّ فى المسجدِ. وأمَّا الصلاةُ فلا يَصِحُّ اعْتِبَارُ الاعْتِكافِ بها، فإنَّ صَلَاةَ الرَّجُلِ فى بَيْتِه أفْضَلُ، ولا يَصِحُّ اعْتِكافُه فيه.
فصل: ومَن سَقَطَتْ عنه الجماعَةُ من الرِّجالِ، كالمَرِيضِ إذا أحَبَّ أن يَعْتَكِفَ فى مسجدٍ لا تُقامُ فيه الجَمَاعَةُ، يَنْبَغِى أن يجوزَ له ذلك؛ لأنَّ الجماعةَ ساقِطَةٌ عنه، فأشْبَهَ المَرْأَةَ. ويَحْتَمِلُ أنْ لا يجوزَ له ذلك؛ لأنَّه من أهْلِ الجماعةِ، فأشْبَهَ مَن تَجِبُ عليه، ولأنَّه إذا الْتَزَمَ الاعْتِكافَ، وكلَّفه نَفْسَهُ، فيَنْبَغِى أن يَجْعَلَهُ فى مَكَانٍ تُصَلَّى فيه الجماعةُ. ولأنَّ مَن الْتَزَمَ ما لا يَلْزَمُه، لا يَصِحُّ [إلَّا بشَرْطِه] (١٥)، كَالمُتَطَوِّعِ بِالصَّوْمِ والصلاةِ.
فصل: وإذا اعْتَكَفَتِ المَرْأَةُ فى المسجدِ، اسْتُحِبَّ لها أن تَسْتَتِرَ بِشىءٍ؛ لأنَّ أزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ -صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- لَمَّا أرَدْنَ الاعْتِكافَ أمَرْنَ بِأبْنِيَتِهِنَّ فَضُرِبْنَ فى المسجدِ، ولأنَّ المسجدَ يَحْضُرُهُ الرِّجالُ، وخَيْرٌ لهم ولِلنِّساءِ أن لا يَرَوْنَهُنَّ ولا يَرَيْنَهُم. وإذا ضَرَبَتْ بِناءً جَعَلَتْهُ فى مكانٍ لا يُصَلِّى فيه الرِّجالُ، لِئَلَّا تَقْطَعَ صُفُوفَهم، ويُضَيَّقَ عليهم. ولا بَأْسَ أن يَسْتَتِرَ الرَّجُلُ أيضًا؛ فإنَّ النَّبِىَّ -صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- أمَرَ بِبِنَائِه فضُرِبَ، ولأنَّه أسْتَرُ له، وأخْفَى لِعَمَلِه. ورَوَى ابنُ مَاجَه (١٦)، عن أبي سعيدٍ، أنَّ رسولَ اللهِ -صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ- اعْتَكَفَ فى قُبَّةٍ تُرْكِيَّةٍ، على سُدَّتِهَا (١٧) قِطْعَةُ حَصِيرٍ. قال: فأخَذَ الحَصِيرَ بِيَدِه، فنَحَّاهَا فى نَاحِيَةِ القِبْلَةِ، ثمَّ أطْلَعَ رَأْسَهُ، فكَلَّمَ النَّاسَ. واللهُ أعلمُ.
٥٢٩ - مسألة؛ قال: (ولَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ إلَّا لِحَاجَةِ الإِنْسَانِ، أوْ صَلَاةِ الجُمُعَةِ)
وجُمْلَةُ ذلك أنَّ المُعْتَكِفَ ليس له الخُرُوجُ مِن مُعْتَكَفِه، إلَّا لما لا بُدَّ له منه،
(١٥) فى أ، ب، م: "بدون شروطه".(١٦) فى: باب الاعتكاف فى خيمة المسجد، من كتاب الصِّيام. سنن ابن ماجه ١/ ٥٦٤.كما أخرجه مسلم، فى: باب فضل لَيْلَة القدر. . .، من كتاب الصِّيام. صحيح مسلم ٢/ ٨٢٥.(١٧) السدة: باب الدار.
