Itikaf A School of Self-Improvement, Religious Education: Cleric
Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani considered this devotional tradition a practical school for self-improvement, religious education, and a conscious return of man to the path of servitude.
He said that worship without heartfelt attention gradually turns into a dry habit, adding that the cure for this situation lies in consciously and sincerely returning to God.
“Man must remove the obstacles to his spiritual connection with God by seeking forgiveness, constantly calculating his soul, and correcting his behavior; because God has always opened the way of return for His servants.”
Referring to the special place of Itikaf in the religious education of society, he said this worship tradition is a practical exercise for solitude with God and distancing himself from the daily hustle and bustle.
“Itikaf is not simply a few days of staying in the mosque, but rather an intensive period of self-improvement, reflection, and revision of one’s lifestyle that can correct the future path of man.”
Itikaf has profound educational and cognitive dimensions, he stated, urging that mosques, religious boards of trustees, benefactors, and cultural groups should responsibly provide the best possible opportunity for different segments of society to benefit from this uplifting opportunity, and especially for teenagers and school students, programs should be designed that go beyond the appearance of the ceremony and deepen their religious belief and spiritual identity.”
Itikaf is a tradition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his family, and is regarded as a highly rewarding act of worship in Islam.
It is a spiritual practice in Islam that involves staying in a mosque for a certain number of days, fasting, and praying to God.
It is usually performed on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic calendar, which fall on January 3, 4, and 5 in 2026.
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