MCC East Bay is blessed to facilitate the sacred tradition of Itikaf during the last ten days and nights of Ramadan. This is a great sunnah of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him). This is an opportunity to leave behind the daily noise and stress of this life and be only with Allah and for Allah.
Submitting this form does not guarantee a spot. Space is limited. We will inform all applicants about whether we can accomodate them for Itikaf by midnight on Saturday, March 15.
The Itikaf dates begin at Maghrib (sunset) on Thursday, Mar 20, 2025, until Maghrib (sunset) on Saturday, March 29.
MCC receives heavy interest each Ramadan, and we have limited spots for the last ten nights. We weight priority to applicants in this order:
- worshipers who regularly attend MCC for daily prayers and Friday Jumu'ah services each week;
- we give secondary priority to brothers who intend to spend the entire ten nights (10 x 24-hour periods) in Qiyam
- We give tertiary priority to applicants who will spend some nights in Itikaf but not all.
- We also weight when in Ramadan the applicant applied for Itikaf at MCC.
Registration is required and space is on a first come, first serve. MCC's Itikaf is limited to men only at this time.
Applicant must be 18 or older to be eligible to participate in Itikaf. No persons under 18 or children allowed, please. Ages 15-17 MUST have a parent present at all times.
All guest interested in performing I’tikaf must register before being allowed to perform their I’tikaf. All participants must keep the masjid area and bathroom facilities clean. We no longer have shower facilities at MCC. Here are the guidelines for Itikaf at MCC:
1. Be on masjid premises during night hours—no group meetings inside or outside the masjid area (please use the hallways or classrooms). Chatting in the parking lot carries across the creek and bothers our neighbors. Please do not congregate in the parking lot.
2. No wandering around the parking area or gathering outside.
3. From Fajr to Maghrib, all sleeping bags must be towards the back of the masala (demarcated by a frosted divider), and by Maghrib prayers, all items MUST be in the corner. (No mattresses on the property). Br. Pervez Qureshi leads the annual Itikaf at MCC. At his discretion, based on the worshiper space needed in the Prayer Hall, MCC may move Itikaf to the Pre-Kindergarten classroom.
4. In Ibada, please keep your volume low, especially while reciting the Holy Qur'an.
5. Please participate in MCC-sponsored activities, Iftars, talks, and scholar visits. See the MCC events at http://mcceastbay.org/ramadan
6. The Conference Room is off-limits for Itikaf.
7. Please bring your suhoor on days when there is no MCC-sponsored suhoor. Suhoor provided on the last ten odd nights in Ramadan. Events Calendar at: https://mcceastbay.org/ramadan-timetable
8. Please do not congregate and talk while others are praying or sleeping near you.
10. Please take care of your valuables. MCC is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
11. Please be safe and keep the main door locked after midnight. The code to re-enter the facility before Fajr is 5862* for the women's door.
12. No personal warmers, heaters, or cookers allowed.
13. Lights will be turned off for sleeping from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., from midnight to 3:30 am, and during break times. Please be considerate and do not disturb others who wish to rest. If you want to do extra nawafil during these times, please do it quietly.
14. Suhur on odd nights and Iftar daily will be served for the attendees of I’tikaf during the ten days. We do not make formal Suhoor arrangements on even nights. However, there are usually leftovers in the MCC refrigerator from the Suhoor on the odd night.
15. Participants should clear the musalla from any luggage or personal items during Taraweeh and program times in the Prayer Hall to the Pre-Kindergarten classroom, except when directed by the MCC Itikaf Amir (leader).
16. Please bring items such as sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, towels, etc.), as MCC will not provide any personal items.
17. If you are sick, please stay home to keep the community safe.
18. The person sitting for Itekaaf must be self-reliant (not needing others’ assistance to function).
Unfortunately, failure to comply with these rules and regulations can and will result in actions that result in being asked to leave the premises; we strongly suggest that all the brothers cooperate with the management.
May Allah (swt) accept our fasting, prayers, and other good deeds in this blessed month.
Questions? Munir Safi at munir@mcceastbay.org and cell (925) 623-2927
For MCA's Itikaf (open to men and women), please see: https://bit.ly/itikafmca
I'TIKAAF
I'tik'af means to stay in the masjid with the niyyah of i'tikaaf for the sake of Allah Ta'ala. The purpose of such a stay in the masjid is ibaadah and to gain proximity to Allah Ta'ala.
SUNNATUL MUAKKADAH I'TIKAF
I'tikaaf of the last ten days of Ramadhaan is the only masnoon i'tikaaf. This masnoon i'tikaaf is Sunnatul Muakkadah alal Kifaayah. If a few, or even just one person, observe this I'tikaf in a particular area/neighborhood, the duty will be discharged on behalf of the entire community of that locality. On the other hand, if no one observes this i'tikaaf, the whole community will be guilty of neglecting a sunnatul muakkadah obligation. Such neglect is sinful.
1. The Mu'takif (the one who observes I'tikaaf) will enter the masjid before sunset of the 20th day of Ramadan.
2. The Mu'takif will remain in the masjid until the sighting of the moon for Eid.
3. Niyyah (making intention) is necessary for masnoon i'tikaaf.
4. If the masnoon i'tikaaf is broken or nullified, Qadha is obligatory.
