Wikipedia's first sentence called it “particularly commended pious islamic practice consisting of a period of retreat in a mosque”. Today it says “islamic practice in which a person secludes himself or herself in a mosque for a period of time”.
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Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2010
Iʿtikāf ( ), also transliterated as Etikaf or E'tikaf or E'tekaf , is a particularly commended pious Islamic practice consisting of a period of retreat in a mosque, for a certain number of days in accordance with the believer's own wish.1It is Ehtiyat that one should stay with the intention to worship Allah by praying formal or informal prayers although prayer is not a condition therein. The time for this form of worship could be anytime when one is allowed to fast.2The best time is the month of Ramadan , especially, the last ten days.3Itikaf offers an immense hidden benefit, which is protection from the effects of excessive socializing. Itikaf also offers protection from the evil consequences of talking and sleeping too much, because a person usually does Itikaf on his own, turning to Allah by praying Qiyamul-Layl (Night prayers), reading Quran , making Dhikr , reciting dua, and so on. Undoubtedly, a person’s success in freeing himself from excessive socializing, talking and sleeping, will help him to make his heart turn towards Allah, and will protect him from the opposite.4
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 336159601.
The opening as it stood in 2015 5 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Iʿtikāf ( ) is an Islamic practice consisting of a period of retreat in a mosque for a certain number of days in accordance with the believer's own wish. It is most common during the month of Ramadan , especially the last ten days.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 666550933.
The opening as it stood in 2020 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
( Learn how and when to remove this message ) I’tikaf at the University of Tehran in Iran , April 2016.Iʿtikāf ( , also i'tikaaf or e'tikaaf ) is an Islamic practice consisting of a period of staying in a mosque for a certain number of days, devoting oneself to ibadah during these days and staying away from worldly affairs.The literal meaning of the word suggests sticking and adhering to, or being regular in something, this 'something' often including performing nafl prayers , reciting the Qur'an , and reading hadith .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 935319158.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023
Islamic practice of religious seclusion I’tikaf at the University of Tehran in Iran , April 2016. Iʿtikāf ( , also i'tikaaf or e'tikaaf ) is an Islamic practice consisting of a period of staying in a mosque for a certain number of days, devoting oneself to ibadah during these days and staying away from worldly affairs. The literal meaning of the word suggests sticking and adhering to, or being regular in something. It is particularly popular among devout Muslims during the last 10 days of Ramadan , during which one secludes oneself in a part of the mosque and spends all one's time to worshiping.GGKEY:KDYYR0A1QE7. : Check date values in: |date= ( help ) "Itikaf" .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1152634653.
The opening as it stood in 2025
Islamic practice of religious seclusion Iʿtikāf at the University of Tehran in Iran , April 2016 Iʿtikāf ( Arabic : اعتكاف , also i'tikaaf or e'tikaaf ) is an Islamic practice consisting of a period of staying in a mosque for a certain number of days, devoting oneself to ibadah during these days and staying away from worldly affairs. The literal meaning of the word suggests sticking and adhering to, or being regular in something. It is particularly popular among devout Muslims during the last 10 days of Ramadan , during which one secludes oneself in a part of the mosque and spends all one's time to worshiping. Iʿtikāf at mosque in West Street in Durban , April 2024 Habib Rauf (January 0101). GGKEY:KDYYR0A1QE7. : Check date values in: |date= ( help ) "Itikaf" .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1254348707. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “particularly commended pious islamic practice consisting of a period of retreat in a mosque”. Today it says “islamic practice in which a person secludes himself or herself in a mosque for a period of time”. Read the current article and compare.
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2010, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
particularly commended pious islamic practice consisting of a period of retreat in a mosque
Now
islamic practice in which a person secludes himself or herself in a mosque for a period of time
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
