A question regarding i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque)

Question : The questioner asks: Is it permissible for one who intends to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the Haram to stipulate leaving for the tarawih prayer in one of the mosques of Makkah, given that he is obligated to lead the prayer?

Answer : First, it must be known that i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is a recommended practice (sunnah) without doubt. However, it is not the most excellent of the recommended practices; rather, there may be other recommended practices that are more beneficial for the servant. So, if this man who is an imam in a mosque is needed in the mosque where he serves as imam, let his i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) be in that mosque. As for coming to al-Masjid al-Haram while being an imam, thereby neglecting the obligatory duties and responsibilities incumbent upon him, or the wisdom of i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) being nullified by his frequenting his mosque five times a day and night, this is an error. So we say to this man who is an imam in a mosque: Your remaining in place to uphold the obligatory duty of your position is better than your performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in al-Masjid al-Haram. And if you wish to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), then perform it in your mosque, in which you are obligated to be the imam. And the favor of Allah the Exalted is vast. This is our answer to this question. Yes.