Q. Where should one observe I’tikaaf during the last 10 days of Ramadhan? 

Kamran Ejaz,

(LONDON) 

A. The best of places for I’tikaaf, for males, is Masjid ul Haraam, in Makkah tul Mukarramah; the next best place is Masjid ul Nabawi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) in Madinah tul Munawarrah and after that comes Bayt ul Muqaddas in Jerusalem. Thereafter, comes the Jamia Masjid in one’s own town and the last but not least comes the Masjid nearest to one’s home. Imam Abu Hanifah (Alayhi Rahmah) stipulates that the Masjid should be one where the daily fiv prayers are performed, while, Imam Abu Yusuf (Alayhi Rahmah) and Imam Muhammad (Alayhi Rahmah) are with the view that any Masjid can be entered for I’tikaaf even if there is no regular Salaah with Jama’ah.  

(VERILY, ALLAH TAA’LA IS ALL-KNOWING!)