Is it better for a student of knowledge to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) during the last ten days, or to attend the gatherings of knowledge?

Question : Is it better for the student to perform i'tikaf in the last ten days, or to attend the lessons of the scholars?

Answer : Which is better, seeking knowledge or i'tikaf? Which is better? Seeking knowledge is undoubtedly better, but if the knowledge can be obtained, such as if a shaykh is present in the town, and if he does not obtain it now, he will obtain it later, then i'tikaf is better. But sometimes shaykhs come to the mosque, and this is a time in which they perform i'tikaf, and one does not obtain this at any other time. So here we say that seeking knowledge is better.