Is the wife's permission required for i'tikaf?

The questioner : We heard that it is not permissible for a married man to perform i'tikaf without his wife's permission. Is this correct?

The Shaykh : I tell him that the wife will not give permission. This is not correct. It is permissible for the husband to perform i'tikaf even without his wife's permission. As for the wife, it is not permissible for her to perform i'tikaf without the husband's permission, because the husband is the master of the wife. Allah the Exalted said: What does that mean? Her husband is at the door. However, it is not permissible for this husband, or for this master who is the husband, to tyrannize over the woman. Rather, he must fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) urged the people in his sermon at the greatest gathering of the Companions, which was on the Day of 'Arafah, when he said: . It is obligatory for the husband to fear Allah regarding his wife, to give her her rights, and to know that .