I'tikaf is to confine oneself in the masjid in obedience to Allah. It is to be secluded from people and be free (from the chores of daily life) in order to exert oneself in worshipping Allah. (One can do I'tikaf) in any masjid, whether it is a masjid in which people gather for the Jumuah prayer or not. However, it is better (to perform the I'tikaf) in a masjid where people gather for the Jumuah prayer because you will not have to leave the masjid (in which you are doing I'tikaf) to go to another masjid for the Jumuah prayer. – Sheikh Bin Uthaymeen; Fatawa Ramadan, vol. 2, pg. 861 Conditions of I'tikaf Q- What are the conditions of I'tikaf, and is fasting one of them? Is it permissible for the person in I'tikaf to visit a sick person, answer an invitation, fulfil some of his family's needs, or go to work? A – I'tikaf is prescribed in a masjid in which the congregational prayer is established. If the person in I'tikaf is from those upon whom Friday prayers are obligatory and the period of his I'tikaf includes a Friday, then it is better to be in a masjid in which Friday prayers are held. Fasting is not a necessary (part of it). The Sunnah is that he does not visit the sick during his I'tikaf and that he does not answer the invitation, nor attends to the needs of his family. He should not attend the funeral (by following it) and he should not go to work outside the masjid. This is based on what has been authenticated on the authority of Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: “The sunnah is that he does not visit the sick nor witness a funeral, nor touch a woman (his wife), nor have intercourse with her nor leave to attend to except what is necessary.” – Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts, Fatawa Ramadan, vol. 2, pg. 862 __
