Question:
What is the ruling on i`tik�f for women? Can they observe i`tik�f in their homes, or must they go to the mosque?

Answer:
I`tik�f is Sunnah for both men and women. It is authentically established that the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed i`tik�f in Ramadan and specifically during the last ten days of Ramadan, and some of his wives used to join him in i`tik�f. They continued to perform i`tik�f after he died.

However, a woman may not perform i`tik�f in her house, since i`tik�f is by definition a devotional retreat in the mosque. She may observe i`tik�f in the mosque if the mosque has an area set aside for women and she knows that she will not be confronted by any dangers, trials, or temptations.

Allah knows best.

Responded by: 
Sheikh `Abd Al-Wahh�b Al-Turayr�, former professor at Al-Im�m University in Riyadh