When does the time for I'tikaf begin in the last ten days of Ramadan: is it directly after the Tarawih prayer or during the last third of the night?

Scholars have differed on the start time of I'tikaf (seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadan, holding two views:

1. The First View (the majority): It begins before sunset on the night of the twenty-first. Their evidence is that the last ten days start at that time. They cited the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to perform I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan." 2. The Second View (Al-Awza'i, Al-Layth, and Al-Thawri): It begins after the Fajr prayer on the twenty-first day. Their evidence is the hadith of Aisha: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) intended to perform I'tikaf, he would pray Fajr and then enter his place of I'tikaf."

The preferred opinion is that of the majority. They interpreted the second hadith of Aisha to mean that entering after Fajr is for complete seclusion, not for the actual beginning of I'tikaf itself. Accordingly, the time for I'tikaf begins just before the sunset of the twentieth day.