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500 children in Gaza, Sudan & 13 more countries are waiting for a guardian — earn 12 months of sadaqah jariyah today.
Sponsor a child500 children are waiting for a guardian — earn 12 months of Sadaqah Jariyah today.
Sponsor a child
21st September 2026
Itikaf is self-seclusion in the mosque, usually for a series of days in order to seek closeness to Allah. Often, this is done in the last 10 days of Ramadan, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to do this.
So what is itikaf in Islam, and why is it recommended? At its core, itikaf is a chance to step away from the distractions of daily life and dedicate yourself entirely to worship — which is why it's recommended in the last ten nights of Ramadan, when Laylatul Qadr falls and good deeds carry extra reward.
Some scholars also suggest that women may do itikaf at home so long as it is in a designated prayer area free from interruption.
Want to learn how to do itikaf, how long for, and what the itikaf rules must be? Read on to find out all about itikaf, including a free printable itikaf checklist you can use during the last ten nights.
This Ramadan, alongside dedicating your last ten nights to itikaf, you can also make the most of these blessed nights by giving through our appeal.
There are some conditions that must be observed for your itikaf to be valid, all of which can help with your focus too.
You must perform itikaf with the sincere intention to seek closeness to The Most Merciful. You can make this intention mentally, verbally with others, or out loud with the dua: "Allah the most beneficent the most merciful, please remove what stands between me and you and grant me closeness to you so you may guide me".
When making your intention, don't forget to consider anyone who will be impacted by your absence, and helping them to prepare by making arrangements or providing additional support — this could mean hiring someone to help out at home while you're away, asking someone to check up on parents, or even taking time off work. This will allow your itikaf to be distraction free and help you to focus entirely on worship.
Men must perform itikaf in a mosque where there are congregational prayers. For women, some scholars — of the Hanafi school — say it's permissible to do itikaf at home in a secluded prayer area. But women also have every right to perform itikaf in a mosque and used to do so — the Messenger's ﷺ wives used to do this. The majority of madhabs say that itikaf is only valid in a mosque for women too.
Because this is one of the most-searched itikaf questions, here's a quick summary of the itikaf rules for women specifically: most madhabs require women to perform itikaf in a mosque, just as men do, but some scholars from the Hanafi school allow women to observe itikaf at home in a clean, designated prayer space, free from interruption. Whichever view you follow, the same core rules apply — sincere intention, no unnecessary leaving of the space, and avoiding conversations unrelated to worship. Menstruation or postnatal bleeding ends a woman's itikaf immediately, so this is worth planning around when choosing your dates.
It can be as short as a few hours, but the sunnah in Ramadan is to do itikaf for the entirety of the last ten nights.
When it comes to timing, the sunnah practice is to begin itikaf just before Maghrib on the 20th night of Ramadan, and to remain in seclusion until the sighting of the new moon confirms the end of Ramadan (the night of the 29th or 30th). This gives you the full last ten nights, including the possibility of Laylatul Qadr.
Itikaf offers a rare, distraction-free window to focus entirely on your relationship with Allah. Key benefits include the chance to catch Laylatul Qadr, a night described in the Quran as better than a thousand months; a reset from the distractions of phones, work and daily chatter; more focused, unhurried worship through prayer, dhikr and Quran recitation; and a heightened sense of self-discipline and gratitude that many people carry with them long after Ramadan ends.
It's not permitted to leave the mosque during itikaf without a valid reason, such as to use the toilet, fetching food (if nobody is able to bring you food) which must then be eaten in the mosque, or if there's an emergency requiring you to flee.
You shouldn't leave the mosque to go home, go to work, or to return to daily life.
While in itikaf you must not backbite or slander, or engage in purposeless chatting. Conversations should be limited to only the worship of Allah. This means putting your phone away for itikaf. If you have notes or prayers on your phone, print them out or write them in a notepad ahead of time.
In every instance, sexual intimacy breaks itikaf.
Both of these break the state of itikaf.
During itikaf you may:
Fast during the day
Pray
Recite adhkar and Quran
Read Islamic books
Listen to Islamic lectures — but please take earphones so you don't bother others
Write notes relating to your worship or study
Leave the mosque to use the toilet or get food if you have no other way to eat
You can print this checklist to help you to remember what to do and what not to do during itikaf. Save or print this page so you have it to hand throughout your last ten nights.
Avoid:
Idle gossip
Backbiting
Talking about worldly matters
Leaving the mosque
Distractions
Do:
Adhkar
Pray all prayers in congregation
Read Quran
Read Islamic books
Take notes on things you learn
Leave the mosque only when necessary — such as for food or the toilet
Remember to pray for:
Your forgiveness
Parents and family
Spouse and children, if applicable
Health and protection
Rizq and provision
Guidance and preservation of iman
To be able to complete the five pillars with sincerity
To be able to emulate the Messenger ﷺ in all that you do
To live a life centred on pleasing Allah
Alongside the checklist, use a notebook during itikaf to reflect each night. A few prompts to get you started:
What am I most grateful to Allah for right now?
Which bad habit do I want to leave behind after Ramadan?
What is one dua I want to keep making after itikaf ends?
How has this seclusion changed how I see my daily distractions?
As you reflect on the mercy you've received this Ramadan, consider extending it outward — you can make the most of your mercy by supporting our appeal before the last ten nights come to an end.
May Allah accept your itikaf; may it fill your heart with remembrance of Allah and enhance your commitment to pleasing Him after your itikaf ends.
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Itikaf is a period of self-seclusion in the mosque dedicated to worshipping Allah, most commonly observed in the last ten nights of Ramadan. It's recommended because it removes everyday distractions and gives you the best chance of catching Laylatul Qadr, the most rewarding night of the year.
Itikaf can be as short as a few hours, but the full sunnah practice is the entire last ten nights of Ramadan — starting just before Maghrib on the 20th night and continuing until the moon is sighted at the end of the month.
The last ten nights offer the chance to seek Laylatul Qadr, dedicate uninterrupted time to prayer and Quran recitation, and reset your habits and priorities away from daily distractions.
Most madhabs require women to perform itikaf in a mosque, though some Hanafi scholars permit a secluded, designated prayer space at home. The same core rules apply — sincere intention, staying in the space, and avoiding worldly conversation — and menstruation or postnatal bleeding ends a woman's itikaf.
Yes — see the 'My itikaf checklist & reflection journal' section above, which you can print or save, covering what to avoid, what to do, who to pray for, and nightly reflection prompts.
