When can I make ittikaf?

Fasting after the 15th of Shaʿbān is not prohibited in the Hanbali school. What is disliked is singling out one or two days immediately before Ramaḍān without a valid reason. Fasting earlier than that

Q: When can I make iʿtikāf? Are there any preferred times? A: You can perform iʿtikāf at any time of the year. As established by...

Q: How long do I have to stay in the masjid to be in i’tikaf? A: The minimum duration of iʿtikāf (seclusion in the masjid) is any amount...