The ruling on i'tikaf and what the person in i'tikaf must observe

Question: What is i'tikaf? And if a person wants to perform i'tikaf, what must he do and what must he refrain from? Is it permissible for a woman to perform i'tikaf in the Sacred Mosque? And how is that done?

Answer: I'tikaf is an act of worship and a recommended practice (sunnah), and it is best performed in Ramadan in any mosque where the congregational prayer is held, as Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Baqarah: 187]. So there is no harm in performing i'tikaf in the Sacred Mosque and the Noble Prophet's Mosque, for both men and women, provided it does not harm the worshippers or annoy anyone; in that case, there is nothing wrong with it.
The person in i'tikaf must stay in his place of i'tikaf and occupy himself with the remembrance of Allah and worship. He should not leave except for a human need, such as urination or defecation, or for the need of food if no one is available to bring him food, in which case he may leave for his need. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to leave for his needs.
It is not permissible for a woman's husband to have intercourse with her while she is in i'tikaf, and likewise, the person in i'tikaf is not allowed to have intercourse with his wife while he is in i'tikaf; because Allah the Exalted said: . It is better for him not to talk to people much, but rather to occupy himself with worship and obedience. However, if some of his brothers visit him, or if some of her mahrams or some of her sisters in Allah visit the woman and she talks with them, there is nothing wrong with it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to be visited by his wives in his i'tikaf, and he would talk with them, and then they would leave, which indicates that there is no blame in that.
I'tikaf is staying in the mosque for the obedience of Allah the Exalted, whether the duration is long or short; because, as far as I know, there is no text indicating a specific limit, not one day, not two days, nor anything more than that. It is a prescribed act of worship, but if one makes a vow to do it, it becomes obligatory by the vow. It is the same for women and men, and it is not required to fast with it according to the correct opinion. So if a man or a woman performs i'tikaf while not fasting, there is nothing wrong with it outside of Ramadan.