What is the true meaning and origin of some Sufi shaykhs going out for forty days of meditation, and is it permissible in Islam or haram?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Oct 24, 2026
"Going out for forty days of solitude in the wilderness, which some Sufis call '' (seclusion), has no legitimate religious basis. Their inference from the Prophet’s — peace and blessings be upon him — stay in the cave of Hira before revelation is incorrect, for his actions before prophethood are not something we are commanded to emulate, and he did not return to it after prophethood. As for their inference from the story of Moses’ — peace be upon him — forty-night appointment, it is not proof for the permissibility of khalwa for us, because it is from the law of those before us."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/23873
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 23873
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy