Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is not obligatory for the person observing i'tikaf to fast, except if he makes (fasting) obligatory upon himself, then the ruling will be different." The Shaykh has transmitted this narration as a marfu' hadith, whereas other narrators have not transmitted it as a marfu' hadith.