Spiritual Retreat: Leaving the Place of Iʿtikaf for Recommended Acts, Funerals, and Visiting the Sick
Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani
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).
-Ayatullah Sistani, Practical Laws of Islam, Spiritual Retreat (Iʿtikāf)