3/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 297b — I'tikaf Rules and Needed Care
It is permissible for a menstruating woman to wash her husband’s head, and comb his hair; her leftovers are pure (tahir); and regarding reclining in her lap and reciting Qur’an
Hadith About I'tikaf Rules: Staying Focused While Meeting Real Needs
Sahih Muslim : 297b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 297b
وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، وَعَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأَدْخُلُ الْبَيْتَ لِلْحَاجَةِ وَالْمَرِيضُ فِيهِ فَمَا أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ إِلاَّ وَأَنَا مَارَّةٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيُدْخِلُ عَلَىَّ رَأْسَهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَأُرَجِّلُهُ وَكَانَ لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْبَيْتَ إِلاَّ لِحَاجَةٍ إِذَا كَانَ مُعْتَكِفًا . وَقَالَ ابْنُ رُمْحٍ إِذَا كَانُوا مُعْتَكِفِينَ .
Amra daughter of Abd al-Rahman Narrated from:
'A'isha, wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: When I was (in I'tikaf), I entered the house for the call of nature, and while passing I inquired after the health of the sick (in the. family), and when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was (in I'tikaf), he put out his head towards me, while he himself was in the mosque, and I combed his hair; and he did not enter the house except for the call of nature so long as he was In I'tikaf; and Ibn Rumh stated: As long as they (the Prophet and his wives) were among the observers of I'tikaf.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 297bIn-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 3, Hadith 583
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 297b
This hadith about I'tikaf shows a careful balance between worship in the mosque and basic human needs. A'isha says that when she was observing I'tikaf, she entered the house for the call of nature. If there was a sick person in the family, she asked about the person only while passing by. The report also says that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), while in I'tikaf, would put his head out toward her from the mosque so she could comb his hair. The main point is simple: I'tikaf is a focused stay in the mosque, but the text still mentions necessary exits and brief acts of care that happen without breaking that focus. This makes it a strong hadith about I'tikaf rules, mosque devotion, and needed daily care.
What we learn from this hadith
- I'tikaf is shown as a focused stay connected to the mosque.
- Leaving is mentioned only for the call of nature in this report.
- Asking about a sick person was done briefly while passing by.
- Simple care, like combing hair, happened without leaving the mosque setting.
