What is lawful seclusion (al-khalwa al-shar'iyya)?

The majority of scholars hold that valid seclusion (al-khalwa (definition) al-ṣaḥīḥah) with the wife has legal implications, but they differ in its definition. The Hanafis believe it is seclusion free from impediments to intercourse (whether real, legal, or natural). The Malikis define it as seclusion that leads to consummation, such as drawing curtains or closing the door. As for the Hanbalis, they consider it seclusion away from a discerning child or an adult, provided that both the husband and wife are capable of intercourse, and that there is no impediment preventing him from it.