What is the criterion for the prohibited collective i'tikaf, and how do I reconcile it with the fact that the hand of Allah is with the group?

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the criterion for the prohibited collective i'tikaf? And how do I reconcile collective i'tikaf with the fact that the hand of Allah is with the group?

Answer:
The hand of Allah is with the group, meaning the group of the word. The group of the word means being with the group of Muslims and with the Imam of the Muslims, and not deviating from them. As for acts of worship, we do not introduce anything from ourselves. It is not reported that the Companions performed i'tikaf collectively. It is not reported that the Companions performed i'tikaf collectively. Rather, each individual performed i'tikaf. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) performed i'tikaf alone, and the Companions performed i'tikaf, each one alone. We do not invent things from ourselves. We do not say "collective i'tikaf." This is from the Sufis. This has not come to us except from the Sufis. So beware of these matters and religious innovations (bid'ah), for they come through this path. People first question them, then they grow large and cover up the Sunnah.
I'tikaf is individual, it is not collective. Fasting is individual, it is not collective. Just as these innovators do. Standing in night prayer is individual, it is not collective. Unless it happens sometimes that they prayed in congregation. Sometimes there is no harm, without agreement, without agreement. People are gathered in a place and they said, "We will pray in congregation for the night prayer," there is no obstacle. But if they make an appointment and say, "We will come and pray in congregation," no, this is a religious innovation (bid'ah). This is only in the tarawih prayer. This is not in anything other than the tarawih prayer, except in the eclipse prayer. Yes.