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A number of those who secluded themselves in Al-Aqsa Mosque said during their talk to “Al-Jazeera Window from Jerusalem” that they were keen to exploit the opportunity available to them to seclude themselves in Al-Aqsa Mosque as a necessary matter and a religious duty, to affirm Muslims’ full right to it.
They explained that they spend their time during itikaf between praying and reading the Qur’an individually, or in groups designated for that, and experiencing the different faith and spiritual atmospheres, while one of the speakers pointed out that this comes after an absence that lasted for about 9 months during which they were deprived of praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Speaking to Al-Nafza, Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri, the imam and preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, explained that itikaf is available on two nights of each week during the first three weeks of Ramadan, while it will be fully available in the last ten days of the holy month.
He explained that specifying i'tikaf on two nights (Thursday-Friday and Friday-Saturday) during the first weeks of Ramadan came as an administrative arrangement after identifying the increasing desire of many Palestinian youth, especially those from the 1948 regions, as this coincides with their vacation and leisure times.
He stated that the legitimacy of itikaf is derived from the Prophet’s legislation, as our Master Muhammad - may God bless him and grant him peace - practically used to seclude himself in mosques on different days of the year, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan.
Source: Al Jazeera