عكف

8 اـِعْتَكَفَ see 1, first sentence: and see also 5. ― -b2- اعتكف, (Mgh, O, Msb, K, *) or اعتكف فِى المَسْجِدِ, (S, O, * K, *) and فِيهِ ↓ عَكَفَ, signify the same, (O, K,) i. e. He secluded himself, (S, O, TA,) or remained, (Mgh, TA,) in the mosque, or place of worship, (S, Mgh, O, TA,) performing a particular sort of religious service, with the observance of certain conditions, (Mgh,) [ during a period of days and nights, or at least during one whole day, fasting from daybreak to sunset, and occupying himself in prayer and religious meditation, without any interruption by affairs distracting the mind from devotion and not pressing, ] not going forth therefrom except for human necessity: (TA:) اِعْتِكَافٌ is thus termed because it is the withholding oneself from the customary exercises of freedom of action in the disposal, or management, of affairs. (Msb.)