Is it permissible to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) on the odd-numbered nights of Ramadan?

Question:
The questioner asks: Is it permissible to perform i'tikaf on the odd-numbered nights of Ramadan?

Answer:
I'tikaf does not have a specific fixed duration. One may perform i'tikaf for a long period, a short period, or a medium period; there is no fixed limit for the duration of i'tikaf. One may perform i'tikaf for one night, for days, or for months; all of this is valid. The longer the i'tikaf, the better it is; the longer its duration, the better it is. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform i'tikaf for the entire last ten nights, from the beginning to the end. This is the best. Yes.