KOHAT
It is time of joy and happiness once again that today, the Muslims entering the last days of Ramadan where millions of dedicated faithful would start performing isolation activities called “Etikaf” on Friday before the sunset and would sit in Mosques for maximum ten day across the country for worship and in search of “Lailatul Qadr”as well.
The “Etikaf” begins on 21st night of Ramadan and continues until its conclusion. The Prophetic Sunnah is to remain in the Mosques during the entire 10-day period.
Of course, male devotees perform Etikaf in Mosques while females carry out in a prayer area of their homes – spending as much time as possible engaged in worship, learning and reflection.
Many Muslims decide to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in Etikaf, where one concentrates merely on worshiping God and ceasing himself/herself from getting involved in worldly affairs.
The sole purpose of the Etikaf is to worship Allah and seek pardons of his/her sins. Etikaf helps the worshipers to get connected with their Creator through prayers and reciting Holy Quran.
Usually, “Etikaf” continues nine to ten days from 21st Ramadan and the Mutakafeen (Etekaf doers) come back to their normal routine at Chand Raat (appearance of Shawaal moon).
Etikat is a period starting from the afternoon of 20th Ramadan where Muslims spend in seclusion in the mosques for ten days, seeking out “Lailatul Qadr” and in quest of forgiveness of Almighty Allah.
According to the Sunnah, these worshipers would not go out from the mosque for worldly purposes, except for essential needs, and devote their whole time for reading the Holy Qur’an and engage in prayers seeking forgiveness and blessings of Allah.
Etikaf is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). Generally, Mutakafeen (Etekaf doers) perform their Etikaf in small partitions, set up by hanging large cloth sheets inside mosques, whereas females observe it at any corner or quit place in the house.
