Payment for i'tikaf

Question

What is the ruling on going to another neighbourhood and performing i'tikaf there in order to obtain money? By performing i'tikaf in this way, will the sunna of i'tikaf be discharged from the people of that neighbourhood or not? If it is not discharged, then is his i'tikaf valid or not? Will he receive its reward or not?

Answer

Turning i'tikaf into a business (trade) is wrong and impermissible. Taking money for i'tikaf means selling it, which is impermissible. There is no reward for such an i'tikaf, nor will the sunna of i'tikaf be discharged by it from the people of the neighbourhood.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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