Question:

_ In regards to i'tikaf during Ramadan, is it compulsory that the i'tikaf is done in the masjid? Can people in i'tikaf stay in the maktab area, where jamat brothers come and stay?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

_ I’tikaaf must be done within the boundaries of the masjid. By going outside the boundaries of the masjid – even for a moment – without a valid excuse, one’s i'tikaaf becomes invalid.

Technically, the masjid area and its boundaries is the area that was designated for offering salat by the founder of the masjid (i.e. the person who gave the land as waqf for masjid). The other areas that were designated for the necessities of the masjid – such as the wudu area, the toilet area, the imam’s room, storage room, etc. – are outside the boundaries of the masjid; and the injunctions that apply inside a masjid – such as the prohibition of entering it in the state of janabah (ritual impurity) – do not apply in these areas.

Hence, the answer to your question is that if the founder of the masjid designated the area where the maktab is for the necessities of the masjid and not for offering salat, then the maktab area is not part of the masjid and it will not be permissible for a person to do i'tikaaf there.

(Ahkaam I’tikaaf: pg 35)

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Faizal Riza
20/2/2012
Darul Ifta Australia
www.mufti-online.net  
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