Discover the meaning of the term Aatkf (اعتكف) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readIn the place: to retreat in it. To devote oneself to a thing: to apply oneself to it. Al-i'tika f: residence and confinement.
According to the Law: the dwelling of a fasting person in a congregational mosque with intention. (al-Jurjani). According to the Law: the dwelling in the mosque for worship, resolved upon its continuance for a day and a night, or a day and part of the night adjoining its end, or more.
(al-Itfish). Among the Malikis: the constant keeping of a discerning Muslim to an unrestricted mosque, with fasting that suffices in place of intercourse and its preludes, for a day and a night or more, for worship, with intention. Among the Zahirites: residing in the mosque with the intention of drawing near to Allah, for an hour or more, by night or by day.
Al-mu'taka f: the place of retreat. Al-ma'kuf: the one confined. In the Quran: [al-Fath, 25: 'They are the ones who disbelieved and debarred you from the Sacred Mosque, and the offering, prevented from reaching its place.'], that is, confined and withheld.