Is it permissible to verbalize the intention for i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), and how is the condition made in i'tikaf?

Question:
Is it permissible to verbalize the intention for i'tikaf? And how is the condition made in i'tikaf for one who wants to condition that he will visit the scholars in their homes? Does he verbalize the condition? Or what? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The intention is a condition in all acts of worship, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) whether it is in the worship of i'tikaf or in anything else. However, the intention is in the heart, and it is not permissible to verbalize it, because verbalizing the intention has not been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor from the recognized scholars, not in prayer, not in i'tikaf, not in fasting, nor in anything else, except what was reported regarding entering the state of ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah, where one declares what he intended, saying "for the 'Umrah" or "for the Hajj." Similarly, when slaughtering the sacrificial animal, whether it is an udhiyah (the 'Id sacrifice), an 'aqiqah (the sacrifice for a newborn), or hady (the sacrificial animal of the pilgrimage), one says, for example, "O Allah, this is an udhiyah," or "this is hady," or "this is an 'aqiqah," or "for so-and-so." There is no harm in declaring this, because evidence has come for it in these two places only. As for other acts, it is not done, because that has not been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Also, the place of the intention is the heart; it is an act of the heart, not an act of the tongue. Furthermore, Allah the Exalted knows what you intended even if you did not verbalize it, so there is no need to verbalize it. Allah the Exalted said: Therefore, verbalizing the intention is considered an innovation, except in the places where it was reported, as we mentioned. "I intend to pray," "I intend to fast," "I intend to perform i'tikaf," "I intend to perform tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah)"—all of this is not permissible. As for the condition, yes, he may make a condition. He may condition that he will go out to visit so-and-so or to visit a specific scholar. He may make a condition in this regard.