Is an i'tikaf (retreat) of a specified duration obligatory upon declaring the intention?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of I'tikaf
Primary text
If one intends to observe i'tikaf for a specific duration, it is not obligatory merely by intention. However, if the person commences it, they must complete it, or they may leave it whenever they wish. This is the view held by Al-Shafi'i. The evidence for non-obligation by intention alone includes the Prophet's (PBUH) act of leaving his intended i'tikaf, and his wives leaving theirs after preparing their structures, without any command for making up the missed portions, indicating it was not obligatory. Furthermore, voluntary acts of worship, which have no primary obligatory basis, are not binding upon commencing them, similar to spending in charity, where one is not obligated to complete the intended amount if they begin spending part of it.
Supporting text
Al-Malik holds that i'tikaf becomes obligatory upon intention coupled with entering the mosque for it, requiring makeup if abandoned. Ibn Abd al-Barr stated that the jurists are agreed that abandoning it necessitates making it up, and if one did not enter, making it up is recommended. Some scholars mandate making it up even without entering, citing the narration concerning the Prophet's (PBUH) wives preparing their structures for i'tikaf and the Prophet (PBUH) subsequently leaving his own intended i'tikaf, which is argued as evidence for obligation upon intention.