With the current surge in violence in the city and inflation hitting new highs, the number of people observing itikaf in mosques this year has declined. At the Hasan Mujtaba Masjid located in Malir, only seven people have opted to observe the spiritual seclusion whereas there were 19 people last year. Similarly, only four would be observing itikaf in Yaqoobia Masjid in Malir as compared to 18 people last time.
Muhammad Aamir, who spent the seclusion period of 10 days at the Yaqoobia Masjid last year, told Pakistan Today, “My brother and I working to earn bread and butter for our family. The inflation has sky-rocketed and if one of us does not earn for 10 days, our household budget would collapse.” Last year, six people observed 10 days of seclusion in Masjid-e-Naqeebi of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, but now there are only four.
“A few days back, my brother was injured in the ongoing violence. There is no one else at home who can bring sehr and iftar meals for me to the mosque now,” says Ali, who observed itikaf at the mosque last year. The same is the case at Jamia Masjid-e-Abuzar in Gulistan-e-Jauhar where six people are participating in the religious rite. Last year, there were nine. A resident of the area, Abdul Sami said, “I would be unable to do observe itikaf this year as the situation of the city is terrible these days. I have four children to look after.”
