Leaving the Masjid to smoke or to Perform an Optional Wudhu

Q: It'kaaf-6: (1) A person in I'tikaaf is already in the state of wudhu and can carry out acts of Ibaadah in this state. He however wishes to perform wudhu again. Can he leave the Masjid for this?

(2) A person in I'tikaaf is not in the state of wudhu and wishes to sleep in the state of wudhu. Can he leave the Masjid to perform wudhu? Zaid says that since a person is unable to leave the Masjid for a Mustahab Ghusl, he may therefore certainly not leave for a Mustahab wudhu.

(3) A person in I'tikaaf is addicted to smoking and smokes a cigarette ten times a night. Is this regarded as a necessity and will the person be allowed to leave the Masjid for this? If he is allowed, will it suffice for him just to cleanse his mouth when returning to the Masjid or must be Perform wudhu?

Answer: (1) When a person in I'tikaaf is in the state of wudhu, he will not be allowed to leave the Masjid to perform wudhu again.

(2) Because it is appropriate for the person in I'tikaaf to be in the state of wudhu at all times, he is allowed to leave the Masjid to perform wudhu if he is not in the state of wudhu before sleeping. He must then perform at least two Rakaahs Tahiyyatul Wudhu salaah before sleeping. It is incorrect to base this ruling on the ruling applicable to the Mustahab and Jumu'ah baths because the Jumu'ah salaah is still valid without a bath.

(3) A person should try to give up smoking before sitting in I'tikaaf. If this is not possible, he must at least reduce the number of cigarettes he smokes While he may not leave the Masjid specifically for smoking, he may smoke when he Ieaves to relieve himself. However, if the need is urgent and it is feared that his disposition may be affected, he will be permitted to leave for a smoke. In such circumstances, the need will fall under necessities and will not nullify his I'tikaat. Fataawaa Rasheediyyah (Vol.3 Pg.57) states that it is permissible for a person in I'tikaaf to leave the Masjid after Maghrib to smoke the Huqqa, after which he may gargle his mouth to get rid of the odour. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.3