E’tekaaf, the joys of self-purification

Today we present you an exclusive programme on self-purification as taught by Islam to cleanse the body, the spirit, the soul, the mind and the heart of vestiges of harmful worldly attachments through a spiritual exercise called E’tekaaf, which is observed by the faithful, often in the last days of the blessed month of Ramadhan or in the sacred month of Rajab during the Ayyam al-Beedh, that is the White Nights in the middle of the month when the moon shines in all its resplendent glory.

Since the life of the transient world keeps us busy for the whole year in studies, work, business, traveling and other such things and causes us to be negligent of the Hereafter, we may sometimes think that these things are the sole purpose in life and thus we end up forgetting our true goal. That is the reason E’tekaaf has been recommended in order to refresh the spring of life in a world trapped in the drought of negligence of Allah and His favours. In other words, we get a a fresh breath of life in this short three-day period in order to discover ourselves and to gain a better cognizance of our Loving Creator, before rejoining the daily routine of life.

The period of E’tekaaf is the best time to think and reflect on the self and the world around; in the seclusion of the mosque and in the company of the faithful, away from the worries of the transient world. It is the best time to take stock of our life for reforming ourselves, rectifying our mistakes, and seeking repentance from the All-Merciful Lord for forgiveness of our sins and faults, with the resolution not to commit these mistakes.

E’tekaaf is not spent in idleness or mere thinking and contemplation, but it is the time for praying sincerely to the Lord Most High, supplicating to Him, reciting the Holy Qur’an, pondering upon its timeless wisdom, listening to religious lectures, and discussing with our companions the factors of guidance, in order to remove doubts and ignorance through enlightening of the minds and souls.

There are some conditions for observing E’tekaaf, and the first and foremost thing is saneness of the mind, coupled with faith, and the sincere intention to seek the proximity of Almighty Allah. Thus, a person observing E’tekaaf has to keep fast during these three days of Rajab, that is, the 13th, 14th and 15th of the month. This means, a person who is a traveler on a brief visit, or the one who is not able to fast due to some danger to his life, cannot partake in the E’tekaaf.

The person performing E’tekaaf must stay in this state for a minimum of three complete days from sunrise of the first day until the sunset of the third day (for example if he/she starts E’tekaaf on Monday at Fajr time, he/she must complete it until Thursday at Maghreb time). Thus, E’tekaaf is for 3 full days and 2 nights which are in between these days and this period must be maintained.

The place of E’tekaaf must be the mosque, or more properly the principal mosque, which means performing E’tekaaf in any place other than a mosque such as a room or hall, even if it is used as a Mousalla for performing the ritual prayers, is not correct.

Prohibited acts during the state of E’tekaaf include: Applying perfume and smelling perfume with the intention of deriving pleasure. This act makes I’tikaf null and void and is also a sin.

Discussions and arguments both in relation to the world and personal faith, which means that a person argues with another to prove that he is better or smarter or that he knows more, etc., makes the E’tekaaf void. However, if a person must argue or debate to uphold the truth and destroy falsehood, it is permissible - rather this is the best form of worship and servitude to Allah.

Buying and selling anything is not allowed, and neither deriving pleasure from the opposite sex in any way – holding hands, hugging, kissing, etc….

In addition, all those things that make fasting void must not be performed which include: eating, drinking, sexual intercourse, masturbation (which is a sin at all times), ascribing lies to Allah, the Noble Prophet and the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt, as well as swallowing thick dust (and smoking as an extension), immersing one’s head in water (such as in a swimming pool), remaining in a state of ritual impurity until the time of Fajr, and vomiting. In addition, the rights of others who are in the mosque must also be observed, and one should try to stay in a state of Wudhu or ablution the entire period.

The 15th eve of Rajab is a day of significance in Islam, with special spiritual values attached to it that ensure blessings in life and perpetual bliss in afterlife. It is known as “Laylat-al-Ghufaila”, since many people are ignorant of the rewards reserved by God for those who strive in it. The special “ziyarah” or standard form of salutation for the Chief of Martyrs, the Prophet’s grandson, Imam Husain (AS), is recited by the devotees who also hold mourning ceremonies the next day in memory of Hazrat Zainab (SA), the Heroine of Karbala, who was martyred on the 15th of Rajab. Many shed torrents of tears as they listen to discourses and elegies on her sufferings and sacrifices for the sake of Islam and safeguarding of humanitarian values.

This egalitarian spirit is on full display these days throughout Iran where hundreds of thousands of youngsters, both male and female – in addition to people of all ages – have converged on the principal mosques to observe E’teakaf.

On the 15th of Rajab, those in the state of E’tekaaf perform the famous observance, known as Amal Omm-e Dawoud that was taught by Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS) to his foster-mother, for the immediate release of the her son, Dawoud – great grandson of Imam Hasan Mojtaba (AS) – from the prison of the Abbasid tyrant, Mansour Dawaniqi in Baghdad.

The reason he was arrested and imprisoned by the self-styled caliph was the latter’s animosity for the Prophet’s progeny, especially the descendants of Imam Mojtaba (AS), since Mansour and his brothers, before seizing power of the Islamic realm through tricks and intrigues, had sworn allegiance to Dawoud’s first cousin, Muhammad Nafs Zakiyya, as the next political ruler, if the tyrannical Omayyad regime falls.

The treacherous Mansour now started imprisoning, torturing and martyring the descendants of Imam Hasan (AS). Fatema was despaired of the whereabouts of her son Dawoud, and did not know whether he was alive or dead. It was then that Imam Sadeq (AS) taught her this special ritual for speedy resolving of her problem, saying that whoever performs it, the doors of skies are opened for their supplications.

The mother of Dawoud said that she waited till mid Rajab and performed the Amal in her hometown Medina. The next day there was a knock at the door and to her pleasant surprise, her son had come back. He said that he was held in a very high security prison in Iraq, with chains on his neck, hands and feet, when one day the guards came in and took him to Mansour, who ordered the chains to be removed, gave him ten thousand dirhams and a very fast-paced camel, with permission to return home to Hijaz. Later, when Mansour was asked the reason for the release, he said that he saw Imam Ali (AS) in his dream, warning him that if he did not release Dawoud, he would very soon meet his end. Therefore he got scared and released him.

AS/SS