The Fiqh of I'tikaf
What breaks I'tikaf and what does not, permitted exits from the mosque, intentions, and the rulings the four schools agree upon.
Ramadan · Last Ten Nights
Itikaf Registration, Explained Screen by Screen
The official I'tikaf service is operated by the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques. We do not issue permits — we make sure your application is complete, correct and submitted on time.
We are an independent guidance service. The I'tikaf permit is issued solely by the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, and approval depends entirely on their eligibility rules, availability and decision. No permit can be guaranteed.
18+
Minimum age
Applicants must be no younger than eighteen years of age at the time of application.
12 h
Attendance window
Arrive at the designated location within twelve hours of the start of the approved period, or the permit is cancelled automatically.
10 h
QR re-scan
Your QR code must be scanned at a designated entry point at least once every ten hours during the I'tikaf period.
The Official Process
Thirteen Steps, In Order
This is the real flow on the Authority's portal — from opening the registration page to receiving your attendance SMS. Nothing here is invented.
- 01
Open the Itikaf registration page
Go to the official I'tikaf registration service on the General Authority's portal. Only use the official domain — alharamain.gov.sa.
- Bookmark the page before Ramadan begins
- Registration windows open and close without long notice
- 02
Click "Start Service"
This takes you from the informational page into the online application system where the request is actually created.
- The service page confirms the current season's dates
- Have your documents ready before you begin
- 03
Log in with Nafath, or with a username and password
Saudi nationals and Iqama holders sign in through Nafath. Visitors and Umrah visa holders sign in with a username and password instead.
- Nafath — Saudi nationals and Saudi Iqama holders
- Username & password — visitors and Umrah visa holders
- 04
No account yet? Choose "Create New Account"
If you do not already have a username and password, register a new account and complete the details exactly as they appear on your passport.
- Your login username will be your passport number, or whatever you enter in that field
- 05
Verify your Saudi mobile number by OTP
Tick the verification box, submit the registration, then enter the verification code sent by SMS to your registered Saudi mobile number.
- Only an active Saudi mobile number can receive the OTP
- Enter the code and press "Verify" — the account is then created
- 06
Return and start the service again
Once the account exists, sign in and click "Start Service" to begin the actual I'tikaf request.
- Keep your password written down somewhere safe
- 07
Select the I'tikaf location
Choose between the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah and the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Availability differs between the two.
- Al-Masjid an-Nabawi · Madinah
- Masjid al-Haram · Makkah
- 08
Read and agree to the terms and conditions
The full undertaking covers conduct, health, timing and permit cancellation rules. Read it before accepting — it is binding.
- Full text is reproduced further down this page
- 09
Fill in the required information accurately
Any mismatch between your application and your passport or visa can invalidate the request. Check every field twice.
- Names must match the passport exactly
- Passport and visa numbers must be entered without spaces
- 10
Click "Submit Application"
The request enters the nomination pool. Submission is not acceptance — nomination is decided by the Authority.
- Keep a screenshot of the submission confirmation
- 11
Wait for the nomination SMS and email
You will be notified by SMS and email if you are nominated. Notifications go to the mobile number and email on the account.
- Check spam folders
- Do not change your mobile number during the season
- 12
If accepted, confirm attendance and upload your photo
Log in to confirm attendance and upload a personal photograph so the permit can be issued — or cancel the request if your plans changed.
- A clear, recent photograph on a plain background
- Cancel early so the space can be reallocated
- 13
Receive your attendance date and location by SMS
The final SMS confirms when and where to present yourself. From that moment the attendance and QR scanning rules apply.
- Arrive within 12 hours of the start of the approved period
- Keep your QR code available at all times
Creating A New Account
Every Field, And What Trips People Up
Most rejected applications fail on one of these nine fields. Get them right the first time.
Remember: your login username becomes your passport number — or whatever you type into that field. Write both the username and password down before you submit.
- 01
Full Name
Exactly as written on your passport
- 02
Passport Number
Exactly as written on your passport
- 03
Mobile Number
An active Saudi number — the OTP is sent here
- 04
Visa Number
As printed on your visa
- 05
Date of Birth
Applicants must be 18 years or older
- 06
E-mail Address
Used for nomination notifications — check it carefully
- 07
Gender
Male or female, as per your documents
- 08
Nationality
As stated on your passport
- 09
Password
Write it down and keep it safe
Guidance Intake
Send Us Your Details For Review
Fill this in exactly as you would the official form. We check it against the requirements and tell you what to fix before you submit for real.
Step 1 of 4
Exactly as printed on your passport
Identity & Passport
Exactly as printed on your passport
Terms & Conditions
What You Are Agreeing To
Reproduced in full so you can read it calmly now, rather than skimming it on the registration screen.
The Official Undertaking
You accept all 14 clauses below during registration. They are binding, and breaching any one of them can cancel your permit.
- 1
My permit has not previously been revoked in any prior season for any reason whatsoever.
- 2
I shall adhere to the designated locations and specified times for I'tikaf, as well as all related instructions.
- 3
I shall comply with the Islamic guidelines of I'tikaf in a way that fulfils the objectives of worship and reflects proper conduct within the I'tikaf areas in the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in al-Madinah.
- 4
I shall uphold the sanctity of the place and maintain dignity and tranquillity within the designated I'tikaf areas.
- 5
I shall abide by the public norms and all general rules and etiquettes.
- 6
I confirm that I am in suitable health and physical condition to perform I'tikaf without exposing myself or others to any risk, and I shall comply with all approved health regulations and preventive measures.
- 7
Applicants for I'tikaf must be no younger than 18 years of age.
- 8
I shall not exploit I'tikaf for any unauthorised purpose of whatever nature.
- 9
I shall not bring in any prohibited items, including hot or cooked meals, or any items that may obstruct the movement of others within the I'tikaf areas.
- 10
I shall comply with all instructions issued by the competent administration during this season, including those related to crowd management, emergencies, and safety and security requirements.
- 11
I consent to the competent administration processing my personal data with full confidentiality for organisational and regulatory verification purposes in accordance with the applicable regulations.
- 12
Failure to attend the designated I'tikaf location within a maximum period of twelve (12) hours from the start of the approved I'tikaf period, without a valid excuse in accordance with the approved procedure, shall result in the automatic cancellation of the permit. The competent administration shall have the right to reallocate the space in accordance with the approved procedure in the public interest.
- 13
The permit shall be cancelled during the I'tikaf period if a new scan of the I'tikaf participant's QR code is not recorded at the designated entry points to the I'tikaf area within a maximum period of ten (10) hours. The Authority shall have the right to reallocate the space in the public interest.
- 14
I acknowledge that any breach of the above Terms and Conditions shall result in the cancellation of the permit or termination of the I'tikaf as determined by the competent administration, without any entitlement on my part to claim any obligation arising from such cancellation.
Spiritual & Practical Guidance
Preparing For Ten Nights
Spiritual Preparation
Setting a realistic Quran target, structuring night prayer, managing sleep, and protecting the heart from distraction in a crowded space.
What to Pack
A compact list: prayer mat, unscented toiletries, two changes of ihram-appropriate clothing, power bank, refillable bottle, small lock.
Your Daily Schedule
A sample rhythm through the last ten nights: Suhoor, Fajr, rest blocks, recitation, Asr circle, Iftar, Isha, Tarawih and Qiyam.
A Day In Seclusion
The Rhythm Of The Last Ten Nights
A sample schedule. Yours will shift with the imams' timings and your own capacity — but the shape holds.
- 03:10Suhoor
Light, unscented food. Hot meals may not be brought into the I'tikaf area.
- 04:30Fajr in congregation
Followed by Quran recitation until sunrise.
- 07:00Rest block
Sleep is part of the discipline, not a failure of it.
- 12:30Dhuhr & study circle
Scholar-led session on the fiqh of the last ten nights.
- 15:45Asr & personal recitation
Quiet study zones are set aside for reading.
- 18:30Iftar
Dates, water and a full-board meal served in the designated area.
- 20:00Isha & Tarawih
The long night prayer with the imams of the Haram.
- 01:00Qiyam-ul-Layl
The final third of the night — the reason you came.
Logistics & Support
What We Arrange Around You
Full-Board Suhoor & Iftar
Prepared meals served within the permitted rules for the I'tikaf area.
Quiet Study Zones
Dedicated low-noise areas for recitation, memorisation and reading.
24/7 Medical Liaison
On-call coordination with the mosque's medical services throughout the period.
Secure Luggage Storage
Your belongings kept safely so the I'tikaf area stays uncluttered.
Scholar Support
Access to a scholar for questions on rulings, doubts and practical matters.
Arrival Coordination
Help planning arrival so you land inside the twelve-hour attendance window.
Iftar, Served In The Permitted Area
Hot and cooked meals may not be carried into the I'tikaf area. Ours are served where the rules allow, so nothing you bring puts your permit at risk.
Light Suhoor & Fresh Fruit
Unscented, easy food for the pre-dawn meal — chosen so you can pray comfortably through a long night.
Questions People Actually Ask
Straight Answers
No, and nobody honestly can. Final approval and issuance of a permit are entirely subject to the eligibility requirements, rules, availability and decision of the relevant Saudi authorities. What we guarantee is that your application will be complete, accurate and submitted correctly.
Stuck On A Screen Right Now?
Send a screenshot on WhatsApp and we will tell you exactly what to enter. This is the fastest way to get unstuck, especially during registration week.
Official portal: eservices.alharamain.gov.sa