Srinagar, March 14 -- As Ramadan enters its most sacred stretch, Muslims across the world begin to think more seriously about I'tikaf-the spiritual retreat in the mosque that is most closely associated with the last ten nights of the holy month. At first glance, I'tikaf may appear to be a practice of withdrawal: less talking, less movement, less engagement with the outside world. But in truth, it is one of the most profound examples of how Islam turns time into meaning, intention into discipline, and small acts into multiplied reward. In that sense, I'tikaf has a mathematics of its own.

This mathematics is not about numbers for their own sake. It is about understanding how Islam teaches believers to value time, measure devotion, and stru...