What is iʿtikāf? Why do Muslims spend the last ten nights of Ramadan in the masjid?
The Prophet ﷺ spent the last ten nights of every Ramadan in the masjid, cut off from everything except worship. The classical scholars preserved his exact practice — and one annual window each year to join him in it.
10 passages from 7 books in the library
Iʿtikāf is secluding oneself in the masjid for devoted worship, the practice the Prophet ﷺ kept in the last ten nights of every Ramadan. Al-Ghazali, in his book on poverty and asceticism, describes the spirit of true retreat — leaving the world as it is rather than seeking to build up a place for oneself. He affirms in the Book of Repentance that the best nights of Ramadan are its last ten, and notes the view that the exact night of value, like Laylat al-Qadr, is left unspecified, so the seeker watches all ten.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 7 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"It is said that its sign is to leave the world as it is, not saying, I shall build a place for religious retreat, or I shall construct a mosque."
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
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"Yet, God sent a fierce wind that destroyed his ships, causing him to retreat from his siege and make peace with its king."
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"outside his retreat, and his companions greeted them while he remained in his place. They discussed"
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"to the intense heat elsewhere, as the mountain was cool and it was his habit to retreat there in"
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"Upon entering the city, we sought the retreat of one of the Fityanaki, a charitable brotherhood."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The best days of Ramadan are the last ten nights, and the best days in Dhu al-Hijjah are the first ten days."
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
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"After dawn prayers, we engaged in remembrance, while the poor man stayed in the corner of the retreat."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"power of anger to reason in both its progress and retreat. By chastity, we mean the discipline of"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"in combat might feign retreat in deception to lure their opponent into a trap and then prevail."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"There was a view that the number is unspecified and unknown, like Laylat al-Qadr and the hour"
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