Rulings on I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) and the exit of the one in i'tikaf
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question : Regarding the one in i'tikaf in al-Masjid al-Haram, is it permissible for him to go out to eat and drink? Where is i'tikaf prescribed? And what is prescribed for the one in i'tikaf?
Answer : Yes, it is permissible for the person in i'tikaf in the mosque, whether it is the Sacred Precinct or otherwise, to leave if he does not have someone to bring him food and drink, so that he may go to his house to eat and drink. Likewise, he may leave to relieve himself of urine or feces, and he may leave for wudu' (the ablution for prayer), and he may leave for ghusl (the full ritual bath) if he is in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity). He may also leave for the Friday prayer if he is in i'tikaf in a mosque where there is no Friday prayer.
In any case, if he does not have what is necessary for him by religious or natural necessity, he may leave for that purpose. As for leaving for his own desire, he should not leave, even if it is for worship. For example, if a person leaves while in i'tikaf to visit a sick person, and his speech is sought, visiting the sick is not obligatory.
But if he stipulated at the beginning of his i'tikaf that he would visit a sick relative, for example, or accompany a funeral if someone died, then there is no harm in this, because this is a purpose intended by the Shari'ah. However, if he stipulated when entering i'tikaf that he would leave for buying and selling, then this condition is not valid, because it contradicts i'tikaf. Similarly, if he stipulated that he would leave to his family to stay with them and have sexual intercourse with them and the like, then this is invalid. At that point, it is said that the exit of the person in i'tikaf from the mosque in which he is in i'tikaf is divided into two categories. The first category is what is necessary by religious or natural necessity; leaving for this is permissible, whether he stipulated it or not. The second category is what he does not have to leave for, but there is a religious benefit in leaving, such as visiting a sick person or accompanying a funeral. If he stipulated this, there is no harm; if he did not stipulate it, it is not required, but if he leaves for it, his i'tikaf is broken.
And I said to the third: that which cannot be valid with reliance, and that is if he goes out to something that is suitable for reliance. But if he goes out to sell something or goes to sleep with his family or the like of that, then this is not permissible, whether he stipulated it or not. If he does so, the fast of the woman is broken. Yes.
The presenter : Yes.
Answer : Yes, it is permissible for the person in i'tikaf in the mosque, whether it is the Sacred Precinct or otherwise, to leave if he does not have someone to bring him food and drink, so that he may go to his house to eat and drink. Likewise, he may leave to relieve himself of urine or feces, and he may leave for wudu' (the ablution for prayer), and he may leave for ghusl (the full ritual bath) if he is in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity). He may also leave for the Friday prayer if he is in i'tikaf in a mosque where there is no Friday prayer.
In any case, if he does not have what is necessary for him by religious or natural necessity, he may leave for that purpose. As for leaving for his own desire, he should not leave, even if it is for worship. For example, if a person leaves while in i'tikaf to visit a sick person, and his speech is sought, visiting the sick is not obligatory.
But if he stipulated at the beginning of his i'tikaf that he would visit a sick relative, for example, or accompany a funeral if someone died, then there is no harm in this, because this is a purpose intended by the Shari'ah. However, if he stipulated when entering i'tikaf that he would leave for buying and selling, then this condition is not valid, because it contradicts i'tikaf. Similarly, if he stipulated that he would leave to his family to stay with them and have sexual intercourse with them and the like, then this is invalid. At that point, it is said that the exit of the person in i'tikaf from the mosque in which he is in i'tikaf is divided into two categories. The first category is what is necessary by religious or natural necessity; leaving for this is permissible, whether he stipulated it or not. The second category is what he does not have to leave for, but there is a religious benefit in leaving, such as visiting a sick person or accompanying a funeral. If he stipulated this, there is no harm; if he did not stipulate it, it is not required, but if he leaves for it, his i'tikaf is broken.
And I said to the third: that which cannot be valid with reliance, and that is if he goes out to something that is suitable for reliance. But if he goes out to sell something or goes to sleep with his family or the like of that, then this is not permissible, whether he stipulated it or not. If he does so, the fast of the woman is broken. Yes.
The presenter : Yes.
Source
ابن العثيمين - فتاوى على الهاتف - فتاوى الصيام — archive.org (14:33)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.