Iran Urges Global Expansion of Itikaf Practice
Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Javad Shahrestani called for expanding international activities regarding Itikaf during a Sunday meeting with the head of Iran's Central Headquarters for Itikaf.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Islam
Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Javad Shahrestani, the representative of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Sistani in Iran, met with the head of Iran's Central Headquarters for Itikaf on Sunday and called for expanding the practice internationally. He said the spiritual capacity of Itikaf is not confined by geographical borders.
Why it matters
The call signals an effort to extend a spiritual observance centered on the teachings of the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) beyond Iran. Expansion would depend on organizational frameworks and cooperation among cultural and religious institutions across borders.
Iraq, Lebanon, and several European nations are identified as having potential for Itikaf expansion, with the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) World Assembly, the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Al-Mustafa International University, and Astan Quds Razavi named as potential partners. No figures on participation or current international activity were provided.
The players
Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Javad Shahrestani
Shahrestani serves as the representative of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Sistani in Iran and is a senior Shia cleric involved in promoting Itikaf and the teachings of the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS).
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Sistani
Sistani is a leading Shia marja (senior religious authority) based in Najaf, Iraq, whose representatives operate in multiple countries.
The details
Shahrestani urged leveraging the capabilities of active organizations in various countries to achieve expansion. Public participation in Itikaf ceremonies within Iran was described as widespread, and the practice is traditionally performed on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of Rajab.
Timeline
Sunday (1 November 2026): Shahrestani met with the head of Iran's Central Headquarters for Itikaf.
13th, 14th, and 15th of Rajab: Days on which Itikaf is usually performed.
Religious Outreach Context
The proposal draws on the representative network of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Sistani, whose offices operate across several countries. Extending Itikaf beyond Iran would place it within that existing transnational framework.
Readers interested in Itikaf can observe the practice in local mosques during the 13th to 15th of Rajab. The announced international expansion has no defined timeline, so any participation abroad remains unconfirmed.
The takeaway
Itikaf is presented as a practice whose spiritual value is not limited by geography. Its wider reach would depend on whether institutions in other countries adopt and coordinate it.
Further reading
For more on the faith and its practices, see our Islam section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by خبرگزاری بین المللی قرآن (ایکنا).
