The courtyard [is recommended] and it is not obligatory. If she does not reside in the courtyard and returns to her home or elsewhere, there is nothing upon her, because she exited with the permission of the Law. Whenever she becomes pure, she returns to the mosque, makes up the missed days, and continues from where she left off, and there is no expiation upon her. We know of no disagreement regarding this, because it is an exit for a customary excuse, resembling the exit to relieve oneself. As for the statement of Ibrahim, it is a speculative opinion (tahakkum) with no evidence to support it.

Section: As for chronic vaginal bleeding (istihadah), it does not prevent I'tikaf, because it does not prevent prayer or circumambulation (tawaf). 'Aishah said: One of the wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed I'tikaf with him while she was suffering from chronic bleeding; she would see redness and yellowness, and sometimes we would place a basin beneath her while she was praying. Narrated by Al-Bukhari. Once this is established, she should take precautions and bind herself (talajjum) so as not to soil the mosque. If it is not possible to protect it from her, she shall exit the mosque, because it is an excuse and an exit to protect the mosque from her impurity; thus, it resembles the exit to relieve human necessity.

Section: The permissible exit during an obligatory I'tikaf is divided into four categories: First, that which requires neither making up [the days] nor expiation, which is the exit for human necessity and the like of what is unavoidable. Second, that which requires making up [the days] without expiation, which is the exit due to menstruation. Third, that which requires both making up [the days] and expiation, which is the exit for trial (fitnah) and its like, from what one exits for one's own need. Fourth, that which requires making up [the days], while there are two views regarding expiation, which is the exit for an obligatory matter, such as exiting for a military campaign (nafir) or a waiting period ('iddah). According to the statement of Al-Qadi, there is no expiation upon him because it is an obligation for the sake of Allah Almighty, so it resembles the exit for menstruation. The apparent meaning of Al-Khiraqi’s statement is its obligation, because it is an uncustomary exit, so it necessitates expiation just like the exit for trial.

537 - Issue; He said: (And whoever vows to perform I'tikaf for a specific month, he shall enter the mosque before sunset.)

This is the view of Malik and Ash-Shafi'i. Ibn Abi Musa narrated from Ahmad another report, that he