Leaving the Masjid to take a Bath for Jumu?ah

Q: It'kaaf-18: A person sat in I'tikaaf for the entire month of Ramadhaan with the intention to take a bath every Friday, the bathroom is in the vicinity of the Masjid. can he leave the Masjid for the bath? can he do so if he did not make this intention from the beginning?

Answer: The I'tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadhaan is Sunnah Mu'akkadah alal Kifaayah and it will not be permissible to leave the Masjid during this I'tikaaf for any bath except that which is Waajib (compulsory). The same applies to the I'tikaaf that becomes Waajib because of a vow. The I'tikaaf observed during the first and second ten days of Ramadhaan are Nafl (if not done because of a vow) and it will therefore be permissible to leave the Masjid during such an I'tikaaf to take a Mustahab bath or even to visit a sick person. This ruling remains unaffected by whether or not the person made the intention to take a bath. When returning to the Masjid after leaving for a Mustahab bath, the Nafl I'tikaaf will start anew.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.3