TRAVELLING TO OTHER THAN THE THREE MOSQUES FOR ITIKAAF: Shaikh Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir as-Sadee

[Safdar.Khan]

TRAVELLING TO OTHER THAN THE THREE MOSQUES FOR ITIKAAF: (Translated by Dawud Burbank -rahimahullaah)

(1) Shaikh Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir as-Sadee -rahimahullaah-(d.1376 H) was asked:

Question: If a person makes a vow to perform i`tikaaf in other than the three mosques, is it disliked for him to carry out his vow?

Answer: If it requires making a journey then it is not permissible, as is authentic in the hadeeth:
((لا تُشَدُّ الرِّحالُ إلاّ إلىٰ ثَلاثَةِ مَساجِدَ))
<< Journey should not be undertaken except to three mosques. >>

So whichever place, whether it is a mosque or another place, he designates for worship: whether for itikaaf, or other than it, and he has to travel to it, then this is not permissible. So even though some of the companions, such as al-Muwaffaq, permitted that, then the position of the verifiers is what is indicated by the hadeeth, i.e. that it is prohibited.

However if it does not require a journey, then if the place which he has designated has the Jumuah established within it, and there will be a Jumuah during his itikaaf, then he should not perform itikaaf in a mosque where the Jumuah is not held, because he will be falling short of what is obligatory upon him. Then if there are two mosques which are the same with regard to establishment of the Jumuah or its non-establishment, then he has a choice: if he wishes he can carry out the vow that he made (in one of them), and if he wishes he can carry it out in the other. This is what the companions -rahimahumullaahu taaalaa- mentioned.

[ref.: al-Fataawas-Sadiyyahý (vol.7, p.165, of the complete collection)]