Ruling on the mihrab for a person in Itikaf

Answer

Ibn ʿAbideen mentions: *ما كان داخل حدود المسجد فله حكم المسجد* — "Whatever lies within the boundaries of the masjid takes the ruling of the masjid." In al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah the jurists state: *والاعتكاف لا يصح إلا في مسجد، وكل ما كان من المسجد فله حكم المسجد* — "Iʿtikaf is not valid except in a masjid, and whatever is part of the masjid takes the ruling of the masjid." Generally the mihrab is part of the masjid as it lies within the designated boundary of the masjid, therefore Iʿtikaf is valid in this area.