7/63. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1776 — Leaving I'tikaf for Need
The person observing I`tikaf may visit the sick and attend funerals
Leaving I'tikaf for Need Hadith
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1776
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1776
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَعَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأَدْخُلُ الْبَيْتَ لِلْحَاجَةِ وَالْمَرِيضُ فِيهِ فَمَا أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ إِلاَّ وَأَنَا مَارَّةٌ . قَالَتْ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْبَيْتَ إِلاَّ لِحَاجَةٍ إِذَا كَانُوا مُعْتَكِفِينَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
I used to enter the house to relieve myself, and there was a sick person there, and I only inquired after him as I was passing through.” She said: “And the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would not enter the house except to relieve himself, then they were observing I’tikaf.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1776In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 139English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1776
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1776
This leaving I'tikaf for need hadith teaches focus during I'tikaf. Aishah said she would enter the house to relieve herself, and if a sick person was there, she only asked about him while passing through. She also said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم would not enter the house except to relieve himself when they were observing I'tikaf. The hadith shows that I'tikaf is a time of staying devoted to worship, with leaving limited to a need mentioned in the text. It also shows restraint even in normal human concerns, such as asking about a sick person only while passing. The main idea is discipline and staying connected to the purpose of I'tikaf.
What we learn from this hadith
- I'tikaf involves limiting exit from the place of worship.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم entered the house only for a needed reason in this report.
- Aishah asked about the sick person only while passing through.
- The hadith teaches focus and restraint during I'tikaf.
