The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan - Don't Miss!
EsinIslam
Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
Various Scholars
The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan - Don't Miss!
By Salman Al-Oadah
The last ten nights of Ramadan are very special.
The first of these nights occurs on the eve of the 21st day of Ramadan. In
other words, it is the night that commences after the completion of the 20th
day of fasting.
Sometimes there are only nine nights, whenever the month of Ramadan lasts for
only 29 days. Nevertheless, they are still traditionally referred to as "the
last ten nights".
The last ten nights of Ramadan are very special. These are the nights that the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would spend in constant worship. Among
these nights is Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) – a night more blessed
than a thousand months.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to single these nights out for worship
and the performance of good deeds. He would exert himself in worship during
these ten nights more than any other nights of the year.
Aisha tells us: "During the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace be
upon him) would tighten his waist belt and spend the night in worship. He
would also wake up his family" (Al Bukhari).
Aisha also says:"I had never known Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) to
read the entire Quran in a single night, or to spend the whole night in prayer
up until the morning, or to spend a whole month in fasting – except in
Ramadan" (An Nasai' & Ibn Majah).
When we say that the Prophet Muhammad spent the whole night in worship, we
should qualify it. This is because he would spend some time eating dinner,
partaking of his pre-dawn meal, and other similar activities. However, he
would spend most of the night in worship.
Waking Up the Family
Aisha informs us that the Prophet used to wake up his family during the last
ten nights of Ramadan. Indeed, he used to wake up his wives for prayer
throughout the year, but that was so that they could pray for a small fraction
of the night.
We know this, because Umm Salamah, the Prophet's wife, relates that the
Prophet woke her up one night and said:
"Glory be to Allah. What has been sent down of trials during this night? What
has been sent down of treasures, so that the denizens of the bedchambers will
be awakened? O Lord! To be clothed in this world by naked in the Hereafter"
(Al-Bukhari).
During the last ten nights of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad would wake up his
wives to pray for a much longer portion of the night than during the rest of
the year.
Exerting Oneself in Worship
Aisha tells us: "The Prophet would exert himself in worship during the last
ten nights more than at any other time of the year" (Muslim).
The great jurist, Al-Shafi'i, declares: "It is Sunnah for one to exert greater
efforts in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadan".
When Aisha tells us that Prophet Muhammad would "tighten his waist belt", she
is speaking figuratively. The phrase means to set about to devote oneself
fully and wholeheartedly to the task at hand.
Seeking Out Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power)
One of the greatest distinctions of these ten special nights is that one of
them is Laylat al-Qadr. This is the greatest night of the year – better than a
thousand months. This means that a Muslim can earn more rewards on the Night
of Power than he would if – excluding this special night – he were to worship
his Lord for eighty-four years straight. This is one of the immense favors
that God has bestowed upon the Muslim community.
Imam Ibrahim Al-Nakha`i says: "Good works performed on this night are better
than those performed consistently for a thousand months".
Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
«من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه»
Translation: «Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer, believing in Allah and
seeking His reward, will be forgiven all of his past sins» (Al-Bukhari &
Muslim).
"Believing in Allah", in this hadith, means not only to believe in God, but to
believe in the reward that we are promised for observing prayer on this night.
Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) is on one of the odd nights. Aisha relates
that Prophet Muhammad said:
«تحروا ليلة القدر في الوتر من العشر الأواخر من رمضان »
Translation: «Seek out Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights during the last ten
nights of Ramadan» (Al-Bukhari & Muslim).
It is most likely one of the last seven odd nights. Ibn Umar relates that
Prophet Muhammad said:
«الْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ - يَعْنِي لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ - فَإِنْ
ضَعُفَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَوْ عَجَزَ فَلاَ يُغْلَبَنَّ عَلَى السَّبْعِ الْبَوَاقِي »
Translation: «Look for it in the last ten nights. If one of you falls weak or
unable to do so, then he should at least try on the seven remaining nights»
(Muslim).
The most likely candidate for Laylat al-Qadr is the 27th night of Ramadan.
This is indicated by the statement of Ubayy ibn Ka`b: ''I swear by Allah that
I know which night it is. It is the night in which Allah's Messenger (peace be
upon him) ordered us to observe in prayer. It is the night on the eve of the
27th of Ramadan. Its sign is that the sun will rise in the morning of that day
white without exuding any rays'' (Muslim).
A Muslim should seek out this special night by spending the last ten nights of
Ramadan engaged in various acts of worship. These include reciting the
remembrances of God, reading the Quran, and begging God's forgiveness.
It is best for us to strive hard on all ten nights, because the Prophet
Muhammad said:
"The way we "look for" Laylat al-Qadr is by engaging in extra worship."
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Look for it in the last ten
nights" he did not mean that we should literally "look for" signs and
indications that distinguish Laylat al-Qadr from other nights. The things that
distinguish this night from other nights are part of the Unseen.
God says:
{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ
فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ }
Translation: {Surely We revealed it on a blessed night. Surely We ever wish to
warn (against evil) – On this night, every wise matter is made
distinct}[Ad-Dukhan:3-4].
God says in the Quran:
{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ
الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ تَنَزَّلُ
الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ سَلَامٌ
هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ}
Translation: {Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and
the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with every
decree. (This night is) peace, until the rising of the dawn} [Al-Qadr: 3-5].
These are the ways in which Laylat al-Qadr is special. They are not things
that we can see with our eyes. No one after the Prophet can see the angels.
Observing a Retreat in the Mosque (I`tikaf)
Observing a retreat in the mosque is of the best things we can do during the
last ten nights of Ramadan. Aisha tells us: "The Prophet (peace be upon him)
used to observe a retreat in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan
up until he died. His wives continued to observe this practice after his
death." (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)
The practice of i`tikaf is a strongly recommended act. It is defined as
remaining in retreat in the mosque for the express purpose of worship. The
purpose of doing so is to devote one's heart exclusively to God. The person
engaging in i`tikaf keeps this intention close to mind and seeks God's
blessings. He should not forget the reason why he is observing this retreat.
A person observing i`tikaf does not leave the mosque except for what is
absolutely necessary (like going to the bathroom). While in the mosque, he
should busy himself with the remembrance of God. He should make sure to offer
the remembrances of the morning and evening and the prescribed remembrances
for the five daily prayers. He should perform all of the Sunnah prayers. He
should read as much of the Quran as he can.
He should spend less time eating and sleeping as little as possible. He should
avoid unnecessary talk. However, he should engage in advising his fellow
Muslims and in enjoining them to truth and to patience.
Generosity
It is encouraged for us to be extra generous during the last ten nights of
Ramadan, without being extravagant or ostentatious in our giving. Ibn `Abbas
relates that: "Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was the most generous of
all people in doing good, and he was at his most generous during the month of
Ramadan. Gabriel used to meet with him every year throughout the month of
Ramadan, so the Prophet could recite the Quran to him. Whenever Gabriel met
with him, he became more generous than a beneficial breeze." (Al Bukhari &
Muslim)
Al-Nawawi, the Muslim scholar, states:
"Generosity and open-handedness are strongly encouraged in Ramadan, especially
during the last ten nights. By doing so, we emulate the example of Allah's
Messenger (peace be upon him) as well as of our Pious Predecessors. Also, this
month is noble, and good works carried out in this month are more blessed than
they are at any other time. Also, during this month, people are preoccupied
with fasting and worship, and this distracts them from their livelihood, so
they might need some assistance during this time."
EsinIslam
Ramadan
Team
©
EsinIslam.Com
Add Comments