Ruling 1743. Leaving the place of iʿtikāf for necessary and unavoidable matters – such as going to the toilet – is permitted. Leaving the mosque to perform ritual bathing (ghusl) for ritual impurity (janābah) is also permitted; indeed, it is obligatory. Similarly, women are permitted to leave to perform the ghusl for irregular blood discharge (istiḥāḍah). If a woman who is experiencing istiḥāḍah and who must perform ghusl does not do so, the validity of her iʿtikāf is not affected.

Ruling 1744. Leaving the place of iʿtikāf to perform ablution (wuḍūʾ) for an obligatory prayer within its prescribed time (adāʾ) is permitted, even if the time for the prayer has not yet set in. Leaving to perform wuḍūʾ for an obligatory qaḍāʾ prayer – in case there is ample time for performing it – is problematic [i.e. based on obligatory precaution, one must not leave in this case].

Ruling 1745. In the event that there are facilities for performing wuḍūʾ inside the mosque, a muʿtakif cannot leave the mosque to perform wuḍūʾ.

Ruling 1746. If it becomes obligatory for a muʿtakif to perform ghusl, in case the ghusl is one of the ghusls that is not permitted to be performed in a mosque – such as the ghusl for janābah, which would require staying in the mosque while in the state of janābah or would cause the mosque to become impure – then he must leave; otherwise, his iʿtikāf becomes invalid. In case there is no problem in performing ghusl in the mosque – such as the ghusl for touching a corpse (mass al‑mayyit) – and it is possible to perform ghusl, then based on obligatory precaution, it is not permitted to leave the mosque.

Ruling 1747. Leaving the place of iʿtikāf to perform recommended ghusls – such as the Friday ghusl or the ghusl for performing the rituals (aʿmāl) of Umm Dāwūd[1] – and similarly, leaving to perform a recommended wuḍūʾ, is problematic [i.e. based on obligatory precaution, one must not leave to perform them]. Generally speaking, leaving a mosque for supererogatory matters (i.e. those that are religiously preferred to be done rather than not done) – excluding matters that are commonly considered necessary – is problematic, and precaution must be observed [i.e. based on obligatory precaution, one must not leave the mosque for supererogatory matters]. However, a muʿtakif can leave the place of iʿtikāf for the purposes of attending a funeral procession (tashyīʿ al‑janāzah), preparing a corpse for ghusl, the funeral prayer (ṣalāt al‑mayyit), burial (dafn), and suchlike; [he can also leave for] visiting the sick and attending the Friday prayer (ṣalāt al‑jumuʿah).

Ruling 1748. Based on obligatory precaution, it is not permitted for a muʿtakif to leave the mosque to attend congregational prayers (ṣalāt al‑jamāʿah) that are being held outside the place of iʿtikāf unless one is a muʿtakif in the holy city of Mecca, in which case he can leave the mosque to perform congregational prayers or to perform prayers on his own (furādā). Furthermore, he can perform these prayers wherever in Mecca he wants.

Ruling 1749. A muʿtakif cannot leave the mosque to bring things he needs if he can instruct someone who is not a muʿtakif to bring them for him.

Ruling 1750. A muʿtakif can leave the place of iʿtikāf to sit secondary school, university, or ḥawzah (Islamic seminary) examinations in the event that it is commonly considered necessary. However, he must not stay outside the mosque for a long time such that the form of the iʿtikāf is lost; up to two hours, for example, is not a problem.

Ruling 1751. If a muʿtakif leaves the mosque to attend to some urgent matter but stays outside for a long time such that the form of his iʿtikāf is lost, his iʿtikāf is invalid even if he was compelled or forced to leave, or if he left because of necessity or due to forgetfulness.

Ruling 1752. If a muʿtakif leaves the place of iʿtikāf – intentionally, of his own choice, and while knowing the religious law – for a matter that is neither necessary nor one for which a muʿtakif is permitted to leave, his iʿtikāf becomes invalid.

Ruling 1753. If a muʿtakif leaves the place of iʿtikāf – on account of not knowing the ruling (masʾalah) and being ignorant of the religious law – for a matter that is neither necessary nor one for which a muʿtakif is permitted to leave, his iʿtikāf becomes invalid.

Ruling 1754. If a muʿtakif leaves the mosque due to forgetfulness, his iʿtikāf becomes invalid. If a muʿtakif leaves the mosque because he was compelled or forced to leave, his iʿtikāf does not become invalid unless he stays outside for a long time such that the form of iʿtikāf is lost, in which case his iʿtikāf becomes invalid.

Ruling 1755. If it is obligatory for a muʿtakif to leave the place of iʿtikāf – for example, to pay a debt that is obligatory for him, and the time to repay it is due, and he has the ability to repay it, and the lender wants it to be repaid; or, to accomplish something else that is obligatory for him and which requires him to leave – then in these cases, if he acts contrary to his duty and does not leave, he commits a sin but his iʿtikāf does not become invalid.

Ruling 1756.* A muʿtakif must not stay outside the mosque for longer than is necessary; and while he is outside, if possible, he must not sit under a shade. However, if he cannot help sitting under a shade in order to attend to the matter in question, there is no problem. And based on obligatory precaution, after he has attended to the matter, he must not sit at all unless it is necessary for him to do so.

Ruling 1757. A muʿtakif can walk under a shade outside the mosque, although the recommended precaution is that he should avoid doing so.

Ruling 1758. Based on obligatory precaution, it is necessary for a muʿtakif to take the shortest route when he leaves the place of iʿtikāf or returns to it. However, if he would end up staying outside the mosque for a shorter time by using a longer route, he must choose the longer route.