What is the ruling on smuggling food to those in i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the Sacred Mosque?

The questioner : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may the prayer and peace be upon the noblest of the prophets and messengers, our master Muhammad, and his family and all his Companions. This letter, or this paper, was opened by its author with the words, "I love you for the sake of Allah." It appears that most letters of this kind are the same; they all say, "I love you for the sake of Allah."

The Shaykh : And I say to everyone: May Allah love those who loved me for His sake, and may He make us all among His beloved and the awliya (close friends of Allah).

The questioner : The question asks: What is the ruling on smuggling food to those in i'tikaf in order to prevent them from leaving the mosque?

The Shaykh : Smuggling food to the stomachs is permissible. However, smuggling food into the Sacred Mosque is forbidden. Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: We have witnessed the benefit of the prohibition. People used to enter the Sacred Mosque with food, including meat, tendons, bones, and food leftovers, which they would throw in the mosque itself, either out of negligence or ignorance. This resulted in foul odors, and these blessings were degraded by being trampled underfoot. Therefore, the wisdom was to prevent people from bringing food into the Sacred Mosque. If the authorities have prohibited this for the sake of this public benefit, then it is obligatory for us to assist them in what brings good and reform. The restaurants, praise be to Allah, are close to the Sacred Mosque, and a person can go out and eat whatever is available from them. If that is not possible, he should go to his home, even if it is far, to eat and drink, and then return to his place of i'tikaf.