Spiritual Retreat: Leaving the Place of Iʿtikaf to Attend Congregational Prayers

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani

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.

-Ayatullah Sistani, Practical Laws of Islam, Spiritual Retreat (Iʿtikāf)