Prohibitions of I'tikaf

Question:
Are there any prohibitions regarding i'tikaf?

Answer:
There are prohibitions, as Allah the Exalted said: Therefore, he does not approach his wife while he is in i'tikaf, meaning he does not lie with her or have intercourse with her at night while he is in i'tikaf. Also, among the things that negate i'tikaf is frequent going out. Frequent going out and entering the mosque without need negates i'tikaf, because i'tikaf means staying in the mosque. One does not go out except for a need, such as performing wudu, relieving oneself, or bringing food if no one is there to bring it for him. So, going out for a need is permissible. And what diminishes i'tikaf is for a person to spend his time in other than obedience and other than dhikr, such as sitting with someone, people visiting him, and spending the time in conversation and talk about worldly matters and the like. He should leave off seeking knowledge and leave off teaching knowledge so that he may devote himself to the remembrance of Allah the Exalted. How then is it that he holds sessions for gossip, visitors, and the like? Yes.