1- Deliberate intercourse, while aware of the i'tikaf, and knowing that it is forbidden.

Intercourse nullifies i'tikaf, be it in the mosque or elsewhere for Allah (G. B. H) says:

{And do not associate with your wives while your are in i'tikaf in the mosques. } [Al-Baqara: 187].

2- Engaging in mubashara (all froms of sexual touching: caressing/fondling/foreplay) with desire.

Mubashara without desire does not nullify one's i'tikaf.

3- Apostasy, and drunkenness if one causes it.

Also, insanity and unconsciousness if one causes them.

As well as janaba if one does not rush to purify himself, but if he

rushes, his i'tikaf will not be nullified.

4- Menstruation and postnatal bleeding if the period of i'tikaf normally would not include them.

5- Deliberately going out of the mosque without an excuse, for the above mentioned hadith narrated by Aisha (G. p. H) which says: "... He used to not enter the house, when he was in i'tikaf, except for a need," and because i'tikaf is staying in the mosque, if he leaves, then he commits what contradicts staying without an excuse, thus nullifying i'tikaf, just like eating in fasting.

6- Not going back to the mosque, though being able to, if one left for an excuse and the excuse is gone.

The meaning of nullification is that this time does not count from i'tikaf.

When the interruption is over, one can re-new the intention and build upon the previous period if the i'tikaf is bound by a period-without-continuity.

If the i'tikaf is bound by a period and continuity, the i'tikaf is nullified, and one leaves it and must start over from the beginning.

If the i'tikaf is general, nullification means that its continuity has been

broken.

There is no building upon nor renewal of intention in this case.

The past period counts and fulfills i'tikaf.

I'tikaf is not affected by wearing perfume, making ghusl, cutting one's moustache, combing one's hair, wearing what one does not usually wear in i'tikaf, getting married or performing a marriage.

The person in i'tikaf can eat, drink, or write.

It is not makrooh to profusely write down knowledge, teach it, or recite Quran, because all these are acts of obedience (to Allah).

One can also buy, sell, or talk of permitted things.

However, it is makrooh to do a lot of buying or selling because a mosque is considered above such matters. (pa:315 )