Should a Husband Grant Permission for His Wife to Perform I'tikaf in the Mosque? Find the Answer!

Kapanlagi.com - I'tikaf, a highly recommended act of worship in Islam, becomes a special moment, especially during the month of Ramadan. This activity is performed by staying in the mosque, with the aim of worshiping, increasing prayers, reflecting, and drawing closer to Allah.

Anyone can perform i'tikaf, both men and women. However, for married women, there are several considerations that need to be taken into account from the perspective of religious law, social aspects, and the husband-wife relationship.

Although i'tikaf is highly recommended, there are times when a husband may grant permission or even ask his wife to postpone her i'tikaf if there are important household needs that must be addressed.

The question is, is the husband's permission something that must be adhered to by a wife who wishes to perform i'tikaf in the mosque? Let's explore this interesting explanation, referring to the NU Online page summarized by Kapanlagi.com.

1. Husband's Permission for Women's I'tikaf Worship

Women have the right to perform the i'tikaf worship, a practice exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad SAW and preserved in the hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari and Muslim through Sayyidatina Aisyah RA.

During the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad SAW performed i'tikaf, and after his passing, his wives continued this sacred tradition.

However, regarding the husband's permission, there are differing opinions among scholars: The Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools require the husband's permission for a woman's i'tikaf to be considered valid, while the Maliki school holds that i'tikaf remains valid even without the husband's permission, although it may carry sin.

This discussion underscores the importance of understanding and respecting various views in performing worship.

2. Husband's Right to Stop His Wife's I'tikaf

In the debate regarding the husband's ability to stop his wife's i'tikaf, scholars present a range of interesting views. Most scholars agree that a husband can ask his wife to stop the i'tikaf worship even if she had previously obtained permission.

However, Imam Malik provides a different perspective, asserting that the husband does not have the right to ask his wife to stop the i'tikaf once permission has been granted.

This statement is echoed by Sheikh Hasan Sulaiman An-Nuri and Sheikh Alawi Abbas Al-Maliki in their works.

Therefore, for married couples, it is important to discuss thoroughly the plans for the i'tikaf worship that the wife wishes to undertake, while also considering their household priorities, especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan, given that i'tikaf requires one to remain in the mosque.

(kpl/rao)