Vipassana and Eit'kaaf

Hi everyone. I’m back after a long time, seriously long.

Been a hectic couple of months, with the Maharashtra State Summit (which went off very successfully), then the travels to North and East on work, then Taizeen’s illness.

A Very Happy Ramadaan to everyone. Ramadaan Kareem.

A while ago, someone was talking to us about Vipassana, and how it has helped him. And he was recommending it to all of us. He was strongly recommending doing the 10 day course at Igatpuri.
Just a quick recap of what Vipassana is, and certain requirements (Source: http://www.dhamma.org/en/vipassana.shtml)

“Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation....

...There are three steps to the training. The first step is, for the period of the course, to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual activity, speaking falsely, and intoxicants. This simple code of moral conduct serves to calm the mind, which otherwise would be too agitated to perform the task of self-observation...

...Separation of Men and Women
Complete segregation of men and women is to be maintained. Couples, married or otherwise, should not contact each other in any way during the course. The same applies to friends, members of the same family, etc...

...The entire practice is actually a mental training. Just as we use physical exercises to improve our bodily health, Vipassana can be used to develop a healthy mind.”

I was intrigued by the similarities between this course, which runs for 10 days, and Eit’kaaf (I’tikaaf).

Eit’kaaf literally means applying oneself sincerely, diligently and persistently to something. In Islam, it means staying in the mosque for the specific purpose of worshipping Allah. It is a a Sunnat (manners, behaviour, method and fundamentals. Used in Islam as meaning the actions, manners, behaviour, method and fundamentals of the Prophet, PBUH).

It was observed every year by the Prophet every year in Ramadaan, and Muslims are encouraged to follow this Sunnat and seclude themselves in a mosque away from all worldly desires, family, friends, relatives etc. during the last 10 days of Ramadan, with the sole purpose of praying to Allah and seeking his blessings.

Here are some rules of Eit’kaaf.

• For a man, Eit’kaaf should be done in a masjid, secluded away from the world. A woman can designate a place in her house and observe Eit’kaaf there
• One should refrain from idle talk during Itikaaf
• However, to remain completely silent during Eit’kaaf is not permissible. If one remains silent after zikr and recitation, this is fine. Remaining silent is not a form of worship
• To indulge in unnecessary worldly activities during Eit’kaaf is close to forbidden
• Fasting is a prerequisite of Eit’kaaf
  (Source: http://www.inter-islam.org/Lifestyle/Itikaaf.html)

If performed right, Eit’kaaf will help a worshipper build immunity (if I may use this word) against unnecessary worldly pleasures and desires, get closer to Allah, and build soundness of his own heart. After all, as the Prophet (PBUH) has said,

“Beware, in the body there is a piece of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound and if it is corrupt the whole body is corrupt, and hearken it is the heart.” (Muslim: Book 10, Hadith 3882)