The Ruling on Group I'tikaf Programs for Young People

Question:
The questioner says: What is your opinion regarding what some Qur'an memorization circles do by organizing a program for i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) for young students in the middle and high school stages, and establishing an organized Qur'anic program within it?

Answer:
This is an exaggeration. This is an exaggeration. I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is not given a program, nor is it given an organization. This is an exaggeration. Rather, the matter is left to the Muslims; whoever wishes to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) alone may do so. As for collective i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), there is no basis for it. And this program for i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) has no basis for it.
This is left to individual Muslims; whoever wishes to perform i'tikaf alone does so alone, not in a group. When they perform i'tikaf in a group, they occupy their time with gossip and preoccupation with one another. The requirement for the one performing i'tikaf is to be alone with his Lord. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would take a mat and a reed mat, and he would be absent from the people in his place of i'tikaf (peace and blessings be upon him). He would not go out except for the obligatory prayer. He would be alone with his Lord. As for us being in groups for i'tikaf, there is no basis for this. This is not i'tikaf; this is merely a gathering. This is called a gathering for gossip and the like. Yes.