ISLAMABAD: Thousands of devotees of Islam have begun the spiritual journey of I’tikaf after the Asr prayer today, as the second Ashara of Ramadan ends.<\/p>\n
I\u2019tikaf is an Arabic word, which means to stop or to restrain oneself; thus, in the terminology of Sharia, staying in a mosque for worship in the last ten days of Ramadan<\/a> is called I\u2019tikaf.<\/p>\n Thousands of Muslims are sitting in I\u2019tikaf after the Asr prayer in millions of mosques in the country, including Karachi, while the data of those sitting in I\u2019tikaf has also been collected in many mosques.<\/p>\n Special arrangements are also made by the administration of some mosques and benefactors to provide Sehri and Iftar for those sitting in I\u2019tikaf, while usually the responsibility of Sehri and Iftar for those in I\u2019tikaf falls on their families.<\/p>\n On the odd nights of the last ten days, Muslims will offer their needs and prayers while praying before Allah all night, while those in I\u2019tikaf will also arrange for special worship tonight.<\/p>\n Special arrangements have also been made for those observing I’tikaf in mosques under the auspices of the Awqaf Department.<\/p>\n Those observing I’tikaf will stay in the mosques until the Shawwal moon is sighted.<\/p>\n Itikaf in Haramain Sharifain\u00a0has started with the arrival of the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan. Thousands of registered worshippers have already begun their spiritual retreat in the two holy mosques of Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\nItikaf in Haramain Sharifain<\/strong><\/h3>\n