Does the story of Moses (peace be upon him) mentioned in the noble verse: "And We appointed for Moses thirty nights and We completed them with ten, so the appointed time of his Lord was forty nights. And Moses said to his brother Aaron: 'Succeed me among my people and act righteously and do not follow the way of the mischief-makers'" indicate the permissibility of retreat (khalwa) in isolated areas for forty days?

There is no evidence in the story of Musa (peace be upon him) for the permissibility of secluding oneself in the wilderness, because the law of those before us is not a law for us if it contradicts our law. It has been established in the Usul (principles of Islamic jurisprudence) that the law of those before us becomes a law for us by consensus if it is confirmed by our law that it was so, and then it is explained to us in our law that it is a law for us. And it is agreed that it is not a law for us if it is not established in our law at all, or if it is established that it was a law for those before us, and it is explained to us in our law that it is not permissible for us. Innovative seclusion in the wilderness leads to the loss of good. From our law is I'tikaf (seclusion for worship) in mosques with adherence to the Muslim community, because Satan takes hold of the three among whom prayer is not established. Therefore, adhering to this type of seclusion is adherence to an abrogated law.