08/03/2026
Partial Iʿtikāf?
There is scholarly consensus that Iʿtikāf is a meritorious act of worship. It is especially emphasized during Ramadan, and even more so in the last ten nights.
Scholars also generally agree that Iʿtikāf is performed in mosques, though jurists differ regarding the type of mosque in which it should take place.
For those who intend to perform Iʿtikāf but must continue working during this period, the following points should be noted:
1. Iʿtikāf is Sunnah, not obligatory
Although Iʿtikāf is a virtuous act, it remains a Sunnah rather than an obligation. Therefore, if performing Iʿtikāf would violate the terms of one’s employment contract, the Iʿtikāf should be postponed or abandoned. Fulfilling the terms of one’s work agreement is obligatory, and obligations take precedence over voluntary acts.
2. If possible, take leave
If a person can arrange leave from work during this period, then performing full Iʿtikāf is ideal. If that is not possible, one may consider what can be called partial Iʿtikāf, that is, observing Iʿtikāf for less than a full day and night.
Scholarly views on partial Iʿtikāf
A. The Shāfiʿī school permits Iʿtikāf for even a short period of time. This is also reported to be the well-known position of the Hanbalī school and one of the two opinions attributed to Abu Hanifah.
(See Raḥmat al-Ummah and al-Qawānīn al-Fiqhiyyah.)
B. The Mālikī school, however, does not recognize Iʿtikāf for less than a day and a night (24 hours).
Nevertheless, Mālikī jurists permit something known as Jiwār (الجوار), which they define as:
الجوار لزوم مسجد، بنية الجوار، تقربًا إلى الله تعالى.
“Al-Jiwār is remaining in a mosque with the intention of seclusion, seeking closeness to Allah, the Exalted.”
The key difference is that the legal restrictions of Iʿtikāf do not apply to Jiwār.
Practical takeaway
A person who must continue working can therefore:
Intend Iʿtikāf during non-working hours, even if only for a few hours, according to the opinion mentioned above, or
Follow the Mālikī approach of Jiwār.
In either case, one still has the opportunity to combine worldly responsibilities with spiritual devotion, benefiting from the blessed nights of Ramadan while fulfilling one’s obligations.
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