Try to maintain spiritual changes of I’tikaf

Following the report presented by Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Sayyid Alireza Tekyeyi, the head of the Central Committee for I’tikaf in the country, Imam Khamenei expressed his gratitude to all those involved in organizing this year’s I’tikaf. 

The Leader said, “May God bless them and reward them for their efforts. May God accept the efforts they have made to promote I’tikaf. I’tikaf was never a common practice during our time. In Mashhad, I had never seen anyone take part in I’tikaf – never, not even once. In Qom, only a few people would participate in I’tikaf in the upper prayer hall of the Imam [Hassan Askari (pbuh)] Mosque. They would hang curtains between about every five or six pillars, and two or three seminary students would take part in I’tikaf near each curtain. Perhaps in all of Qom, which was confined to the Imam [Hasan Askari (peace be upon him)] Mosque, there would be about 20 or 25 people participating in I’tikaf.
All of these young people – all of these men, women, and teenagers throughout the country in all the mosques [participating in I’tikaf] – is truly a great blessing. However, you need to make sure that what these young people experience during these three days – their attention [toward God], their spiritual state, their invoking God, their beseeching Him, and the changes that are brought about in them should be maintained. Young people are naturally more open to changes. This state should become permanent in them. For instance, when we listen to a scholar deliver a speech, we feel inspired and motivated at that time. But naturally, we need to ensure that the insights we gain, our spiritual state, and our decision to avoid sins remains firm until the next opportunity arises to reinforce this state. So this point should be taken into consideration in our I’tikaf programs.”