The last 10 days and nights of Ramadan-I
We are in a month of magnanimous goodness, great righteousness and abundant blessings. The blessed month of Ramadan is highly praised in the Noble Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is the month of the Holy Quran and goodness, and the month when people return to their Creator in a unique demonstration of faith.
The last 10 days and nights of Ramadan are a time of spiritual cleansing and purification and hold great significance as Almighty Allah shows immense mercy to His creation. These special days and nights are a chance to benefit from the immense blessings of Ramadan and seek salvation before the month comes to an end.
The Noble Quran was revealed in the Night of Power, which falls on any of the last odd nights of the month of Ramadan. About that, Almighty Allah tells us, translated as: “Indeed, We (Allah) sent down (this Quran) on the Night (of Empowering) Decree. And what will make you realize what the Night of (Empowering) Decree is? The Night of (Empowering) Decree is better than a thousand months...” (Al-Qadr – The Night of Power 97: 1 – 3)
Almighty Allah has conferred upon us various blessings on many occasions and especially during the Night of Power or the Night of (Empowering) Decree. Any act of worship that you sincerely perform to seek Almighty Allah’s pleasure will be rewarded as though you performed it more than one thousand months.
Exerting utmost efforts in worshipping the All-Loving Allah: Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, translated as: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan out of faith and expecting rewards from Allah, his past sins will be forgiven. And whoever stands in
qiyam (late night Prayer) in Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Empowering) Decree, out of faith and expecting Allah’s rewards, he will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Al-Bukhari # 38 + Muslim # 760)
Performing i’tikaf (seclusion): Many Muslims choose to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in seclusion (i’tikaf), where one solely focuses on worshipping Almighty Allah, and refrains from involvement in worldly affairs. It is a time to reflect, increase worship and to increase one’s religious knowledge – among others seeking closeness to the Majestic Allah. I’tikaf is a great opportunity to reconnect with Almighty Allah in solitude. It is also a time to implement good religious practices which can be carried on throughout the whole year.
Aisha (RA) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to exert more efforts in devotion to Almighty Allah’s worship to a greater degree during the last 10 days and nights of Ramadan more than any other time. (Sahih Muslim # 1, 175)
In another narration, she said, translated as: “When
the last 10 nights began, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) used to stay awake at night (for prayer and devotion), and would awaken his family. (In the process), he tightened his loincloth, alluding to exerting more efforts in observing prayers and other acts of worship with more vigor.” (Muslim # 1, 174)
From the above-quoted narrations, we understand that we are expected to follow our beloved Prophet’s example, entering these last 10 days and nights of Ramadan with a renewed sense of commitment and unflinching devotion to worshipping Almighty Allah not only in these days but in all aspects of our lives. We can make the most of the last 10 days and nights of Ramadan and show our devotion by exerting ourselves to perform as many good deeds as possible, such reading or reciting the Noble Quran, staying awake at night for optional prayers, giving zakat (compulsory charity), giving zakat al-fitr (fast-breaking zakat for the poor to feast on Eid day), and normal charity and supplication to Almighty Allah – among others.
Our supplications during the last 10 days of Ramadan are exceptionally special. An-Nouman bin Basheer (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, translated as: “Dua (supplication) is the essence of worship.” (Al-Albani rated it as authentic in Sahih At-Tirmidhi # 2, 969)