The ruling on the one in i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) going out to the prayer ground for the festival

Question:
And Imam Malik said: I found the people of knowledge going out from the one in i'tikaf directly to the prayer ground for the festival. So how do you reconcile this with the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would eat dates in his house, take a bath, and then go out from his house?

Answer:
Yes, there is no contradiction between these. He is given the choice: he may go to the prayer ground from his place of i'tikaf, or he may go out to his house, prepare himself with wudu' (the ablution for prayer), adornment, and perfume, and then go to the prayer ground for the festival. He is given the choice, but it is better for him to remain in his place of i'tikaf and go out to the prayer ground. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do this because of his special status (peace and blessings be upon him), as he would prepare himself, and because he was the imam of the Muslims, and it is necessary for him to prepare for the khutbah (the sermon). Yes.