Our soul is like the vessel from which we earn our eternal provision. We flourish in proportion to our soul’s longing, and Paradise is prepared for us in proportion to the beauty of our devotion. For this reason, the maintenance of the soul must never be neglected. Whenever needed, every corner should be carefully cleaned, repaired, and furnished. But when? Worldly responsibilities never come to an end. When do we turn inward to see which parts are covered in cobwebs, which polish has peeled away, which corners have rusted and need attention?
Then suddenly, the crescent of Ramadan appears once again. The devils are chained, the gates of mercy are opened, and forgiveness is everywhere. So much so that by the end of Ramadan, we are given the glad tiding that—except for those who stubbornly insist on condemning themselves—whoever makes even a small effort may be freed from the Fire. Through fasting, tarawih prayers, communal recitations of the Qur’an, and gatherings of remembrance all help to fill the soul with light. All that dirt and rust that has built up is loosened, ready to be removed with one last effort.
That final effort is called i‘tikaf—one of the strongest Sunnahs of the Prophet (pbuh). It is the maintenance of the vessel that was created to earn us a place in Paradise. It is minimizing the pressure of the ego that tries to drag us downward into dust and mud, and washing every corner of the soul with the light of dhikr (contemplation), supplication, reflection, and the Qur’an.
Once there was a man who was trying to cut down a tree in the forest. He struggled for hours, drenched in sweat, but made no progress. Someone watching him said, “Why don’t you sharpen your axe? You won’t be able to cut the tree otherwise.” Without stopping his swing, the man replied, “I need to cut this tree as soon as possible. I don’t have time to sharpen the axe.” Those who rush from task to task without ever setting aside time to purify their souls are much like that man.
Ramadan comes and tells us to slow down. It takes our soul and begins to cleanse it. But not everything depends to Ramadan itself. The servant must also take steps and make an effort. We must care for the vessel that will earn us Paradise, renew it, and prepare it inside and out so that good deeds may eagerly come and settle within it.
I‘tikaf is such an opportunity to put a sign on our door that says “Closed for renovation,” to polish the interior until it shines, to strip away what Satan has stained, and to cleanse our soul hand in hand with the angels.
