The I`tikaf is the annual ten
day seclusion which takes place in the last ten days of the Holy Month of
Ramadhan. This practice is optional for Muslims and can be performed alone or
collectively. It is an advance form of self purification and spiritual uplift
which takes the performer into a domain which is not in the scope of fasting
which is a lower form of this spiritual venture.
Collective I`tikaf is performed all over the world with the most famous venues
being the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid Nabavi in Madinah. The collective
I`tikaf is the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) and holds higher reward and benefit.
The collective I`tikaf performed by the Holy Prophet SAW in Masjid Nabavi with
the Sahabah was a unique spiritual training camp which consisted of the Holy
prophet (SAW) lecturing, teaching and practically training the Sahabah with
special regards to gaining a high spiritual status.
The Collective I`tikafs present in the world today, are only considered to be
collective due to the large numbers of people performing the practice at one
venue. They do not possess the attributes of the collective I`tikaf which was
performed by the Holy Prophet (SAW). The annual collective I`tikaf organised by
Minhaj-ul-Quran International in Lahore is based upon the collective I`tikaf
model of the time of Holy prophet (SAW). The ten day I`tikaf is organised as a
spiritual training camp with the main features of the I`tikaf being the lectures
and sittings of Shaykh-ul-Islam Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. Together with
the practical methods of advancing ones spiritual status through various
sequences of the remembrance of Allah which those in the I`tikaf adhere to under
the guidance of Shaykh-ul-Islam.
Thousands of men and women take part in the MQI collective I`tikaf every year
who travel from the lengths and breadths of Pakistan with scores making a
special journey from around the globe. Having the opportunity to perform the
collective I`tikaf in the company and spiritual guidance of one of the greatest
Sufis and Shaykhs alive is a privilege which attracts drove upon drove of
worshippers. The collective I`tikaf is used by MQI as a training camp to
spiritually charge individuals to prepare them to carry out the Islamic
propagational work of MQI.