because it is a continuous act of worship. The same applies to jiwār (devotional residence) if one commits oneself to fasting during it. If, however, he does not commit himself to fasting and merely intends a devotional stay without fasting, like a stay in Mecca, then forming the intention and beginning it do not oblige him to complete the number of days he intended. There are two opinions on whether he must remain for the day on which he began: one holds that he must; the other holds that he need not and may leave whenever he wishes that day. The latter is more convincing, since he has not embarked upon an act of worship that would be invalidated by interrupting it.
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Vows to observe iʿtikāf are of two kinds: a vow to observe it on specified days, and a vow to observe it for a number of unspecified days.
If someone vows to observe it on specified days, these must fall either within Ramadan or outside it. If they fall within Ramadan and he is ill throughout them, he must make them up, since he is obliged to make up the fasts. If he is ill during only some of them, he must make up those days while maintaining continuity; if he does not maintain continuity, he must begin anew. This applies whether his illness occurs at the beginning of those days, before he enters iʿtikāf, or at their end, after he has entered it. The same applies if he breaks his fast forgetfully during them. If, however, he deliberately breaks his fast without an excuse, he must begin the iʿtikāf anew and offer expiation for breaking his fast in Ramadan.
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If the specified days fall outside Ramadan and he is ill throughout them or during some of them, there are three opinions. The first is that he must make them up in all cases, without distinction. This accords with Ibn Wahb’s report from Mālik in some versions of the fasting material in al-Mudawwana. The second is that he need not make them up in any case, without distinction; this is Sahnūn’s position. The third distinguishes between becoming ill before entering iʿtikāf and becoming ill after entering it. This is also Ibn al-Qāsim’s position in al-Mudawwana, as