Explaining the Sunnah regarding I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque)

The Shaykh : And since the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not perform I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) except in the last ten nights, how can we precede Allah and His Messenger? He would perform I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the first ten nights seeking the Night of Decree, then he would perform I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the middle ten nights seeking the Night of Decree. This was because the Night of Decree was not specified as being in the last ten nights until later, when it was told to him that it is in the last ten nights. So he performed I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the last ten nights and did not return to performing I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the first ten or the middle ten. This is despite the fact that his way (peace and blessings be upon him) was that when he did a deed, what did he do? He established it. And yet, he did not establish this deed that he had initially performed; he did not perform I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the first ten or the middle ten, but he performed I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in what? The last ten nights, and he did not return to I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) in the first ten or the middle ten, even though he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to establish whatever deed he did. But he wanted to make clear to the Ummah (the Muslim community) that being overly strict in the religion of Allah and being excessive in it is not part of his way.