I'tikaaf means: to stay in the mosque for obedience to God.
And the purpose of i'tikaaf is to make a person completely obedient to Allah, and to stay away from anything that is an obstacle in the way of worship. That is why he set up a tent in the mosque and entered it. They used to sit, just so that the place would be reserved for the devotee and they would not be busy with other people in the mosque, and they would not even see each other.
The devotee should do the same, however, if he talks a little or asks about the situation for a few moments with someone he meets, there is nothing wrong with that.
However, these things should be done very slowly, so that people engaged in remembrance of God, recitation of the Qur'an, and Nawafil do not have difficulty.
In the same way, talk should be done in very small quantities so that the goal of I'tikaaf is not affected.
In Bukhari (2035) and Muslim (2175), Ali ibn Husayn says that Hazrat Safiyya, the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), told him: “Once during the last ten days of Ramadaan, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) Come to meet him, talk to you for a while and then leave. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also stood with him [to say goodbye].
In the explanation of this hadeeth, Ibn Daqiq al-Eid (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Ahkam (2/45):
This hadeeth shows that a woman is allowed to meet a person sitting in i'tikaaf, and it is also permissible to talk to her.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The work of a person who observes i'tikaaf is divided into three categories: permissible work, recommended work and forbidden work.
1- The recommended thing is to be engaged in obedience and worship in order to attain nearness to God. Because this is the purpose and essence of I'tikaaf, therefore I'tikaaf can take place only in the mosque.
2- Prohibited acts are: Matters which are contrary to I'tikaaf, such as: A person goes out of the mosque without any excuse, buys or sells, or has intercourse with his wife, or other similar acts which invalidate I'tikaaf. Yes, because these issues are in conflict with the goal of I'tikaf.
3- The permissible things are: talking to people, and getting acquainted with them, or other similar matters which Allaah has made permissible for them.
"Total Fatwas and Messages of the Ottomans" (20 / 175-176)
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) added:
"The mu'taqif can talk a little with his other i'tikaaf companions, as well as with those who come to meet him."
Derived from: "Ramadan Meetings" (18/15) in the order of Maktab Shamla
And one place says:
What is the purpose of I'tikaaf? Does it mean that some people should gather in one corner of the mosque and start chasing here and there? Or does I'tikaaf mean the worship of Allah? Surely the purpose of I'tikaaf is another matter. Therefore, do not waste your precious time in gossiping with friends, although sometimes a little talk can be done, there is no harm in that, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married his wife, Safiyya bint Hayy. Had a conversation with him at night, and then when she started to leave, he stood up saying goodbye to her at home.
"Al-Laqa Al-Shahri" (70/8) according to the order of the school
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
There is nothing wrong with talking to friends in mosques about worldly affairs if it is normal, insha'Allah, but it is makrooh if it is more than that, because it is makrooh to make mosques a place for worldly talk, because mosques Only remembrance of God, recitation of the Qur'an, the five prayers and other virtues are made, for example: teaching, i'tikaaf, and reciting Nawafil, etc.
Therefore, it is not makrooh to use the mosque for worldly gossip. However, meeting one's brother, one can inquire about his business condition, other matters related to children and family, but if these words are short, there is no harm in it. Not at all
Fataawa al-Noor al-Darb "(2/706)
God knows best.