A Comparative Study of the Instances of the Place of Iʿtikāf in the Narrative Heritages from the Perspectiveof the Two Denominations of Islam

The issue of the place of iʿtikāf is one of the disputed issues of Islamic jurists. According to the verses of the Qur'an, one of the conditions stipulated in performing the iʿtikāf is the presence of the Muʿtakif in the mosque, but there is a disagreement in the view of Islamic jurists as in which mosque the Muʿtakif can perform iʿtikāf. The aim of this research is a jurisprudential and thematic study on the instances of the place of iʿtikāf such as grand mosques in the Imami and Sunni narrative heritages. From the perspective of Imami jurisprudence, iʿtikāf is not valid in every usual place and it should be performed in the mosque, a fact that, in addition to the texts, has been confirmed by the majority of jurists. Surveying the statements of Imami jurists regarding the place of iʿtikāf, there three main and basic views are traceable: the first view says that every Mosque is appropriate. The second says that iʿtikāf is to be done in four or five special mosques, and according to the third view it is to be done in four special mosques and the grand mosques, among which the latter is accepted by the majority and the famous jurists. From the viewpoint of the Sunnis, iʿtikāf is valid in three special mosques and the mosques where people congregate (the grand mosque), and it is also valid where the Friday prayers are said.