What is the ruling on i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) during the odd-numbered nights, its minimum duration, and attending circles of dhikr (the remembrance of Allah)?

The questioner : The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, is it permissible for a Muslim to intend to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) only on the odd-numbered nights, and what is the minimum? Okay. The odd-numbered nights, and what is the minimum for i'tikaf? And is it valid for the one in i'tikaf to attend circles of dhikr?

The Shaykh : The person who seeks the odd-numbered nights in his i'tikaf stays on the twenty-first night and leaves on the twenty-second, stays on the twenty-third and leaves on the twenty-fourth, stays on the twenty-fifth and leaves on the twenty-sixth, stays on the twenty-seventh and leaves on the twenty-eighth, stays on the twenty-ninth and leaves on the thirtieth. This is complete, a clear bid'ah (religious innovation). Yes. It is a clear contradiction of the Sunnah. Does he now make it certain that Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) is only in the odd-numbered nights? No, it is in the odd-numbered nights and also in the even-numbered ones, but it is more likely in the odd-numbered ones, that is correct. As for the even-numbered ones, it is not excluded; it must be considered, it could be in the even-numbered ones, one does not know. Then, his cutting off the worship and fragmenting it, while the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) performed it in its complete form, this is a clear bid'ah. And is there anything that mentions the like of this?
Some people, glory be to Allah, say Subhan Allah, Allahu Akbar on the night of Friday at Fajr (the dawn prayer). What is the prescribed (mashru') thing in the recitation?

The questioner : The recitation of the person.

The Shaykh : "Alam nazzil" (Did We not send it down?) in the first rak'ah (a unit of prayer), and "Hal ata 'ala al-insan" (Has there come upon man?) in the second rak'ah?
Some people try to be clever and say, "I want to answer the Sunnah and make it easier for the Ummah (the Muslim community). What do you do?" He says, "I divide Surah al-Sajdah (the chapter of prostration) into two, half in the first rak'ah and half in the second rak'ah." Is this a correct ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) or an incorrect one?
It is incorrect and contradicts the Sunnah. Are you more knowledgeable about the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) of Allah than the Messenger of Allah? Do you know what is easier for the servants of Allah better than the Messenger of Allah? Either you recite as the Messenger recited, or you recite from the rest of the Qur'an. We do not obligate you to recite from Surah al-Sajdah and "Hal ata" for a specific person, but we do not grant you a rukhsah (dispensation) to divide what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) combined. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) combined the entire surah in one rak'ah and the entire second surah in one rak'ah. If this is easy for you, do it; otherwise, the matter is broad. And more amazing than this, glory be to Allah, is a man who recites in Fajr on Friday, starting with Surah al-Kahf (the chapter of the Cave). We said, "Why?" He said, "So that people remember that it is Friday and they recite Surah al-Kahf." Glory be to Allah, where did this knowledge come from?
This is also an error, because if he continues to recite Surah al-Kahf, starting with Surah al-Kahf every Friday in Fajr every Friday, it means he has legislated this thing and made it a Sunnah. And every bid'ah (religious innovation) is misguidance. And this is what we referred to a moment ago: that acts of worship are not based on taste, but on the Shari'ah. The like of this is the one who performs i'tikaf on the odd-numbered nights and leaves out the even-numbered ones. Glory be to Allah, he says, "Perhaps Laylat al-Qadr is in the even-numbered ones that you left out." Then, fragmenting what the Messenger combined is a bid'ah.

The questioner : Okay, the minimum, the minimum.

The Shaykh : The minimum of the prescribed i'tikaf is the entire last ten days. The Messenger performed i'tikaf for the entire last ten days, not leaving out a single night. But the minimum i'tikaf for which a rukhsah (dispensation) was given is one day and one night, as the Messenger said to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). This is the extent of what our knowledge has reached regarding the minimum i'tikaf: that it is one day and one night, or one day, or one night. Yes.

The questioner : Okay, what is the ruling on the one in i'tikaf attending circles of dhikr?

The Shaykh : The ruling on the one in i'tikaf attending circles of dhikr is that there is no harm in it; its ruling is that it is permissible. Because circles of dhikr contain good and are missed, meaning a person might not be able to catch them at another time. So attending them is good and fine, and it has benefit, if Allah wills.