It’s hard to believe that Ramadan is heading down the final homestretch. The last few days of Ramadan are upon us, as Muslims from all over the world step up their efforts to make the most of every remaining moment. The last ten nights of Ramadan are are the most blessed and we should increase our worship and devotion as they hold the glittering jewel of Lailatul-Qadr, or the Night of Power, which Allah describes it in the Quran as being better than a thousand months.
Allah’s Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time. (Muslim).
Aisha r.a reported: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet s.a.w. used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work harder) and used to pray the whole night, & used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari)
So there is still time for us to redeem ourselves in the last 10 blessed days of Ramadan. We must NOT miss this opportunity otherwise we will regret it forever. We should strive to seek out night of power which is hidden in one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, particularly in the odd numbered nights. So this is our chance to get closer to Allah & to gain his mercy and forgiveness of ALL of our past and present sins! Therefore we should put everything into the last 10 nights & know that we will get so much more in return. But if we waste these nights then we will regret it FOREVER!
How can we maximize these blessed nights?
1. Sitting I’tikaf in the last 10 days
I`tikaf is the seclusion and staying in the Masjid with the intention of becoming closer to Allah by doing constant remembrance, glorification and worship of Allah. I’tikaf is a great Sunnah.
Aishah r.a reported that the Prophet s.a.w.: “Used to perform i’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah the Mighty & Majestic, took him.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Women can also sit I’tikaf
Women can also sit I’tikaf at the Masjid with husbands permission. There is a difference of opinion whether she can sit I’tikaf at home. The Hanafi mazhab states a woman can sit I’tikaf at a designated place in her home.
2. Reciting Qur’an abundantly
What better time to recite the Qur’an than in ones of the very nights it was revealed – The Night of Power. Therefore we should increase our recitation even more during the last ten days & nights. The reward for reciting each letter of the Qur’an during Ramadan is 700 hasanah or more. Subhanallah!
We should try & aim to complete the Qur’an at least once if not more by the end of the last 10 days of Ramadan. Along with recitation we should also read & learn the meanings of the Qur’an. We should contemplate & ponder over the verses & implement what we read & learn into our daily lives.
3. Nawafil (Voluntary) prayers
What better way of drawing closer to Allah during the last 10 days of Ramadan than by praying the voluntary prayers:
Allah says in Hadith Qudsi: "….And My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love him," [Bukhari]
The Most Rewarding Nawafil Prayer of all is Tahajjud. Hadith of Abu Hurayrah r.a that the Prophet s.a.w. said, “If you get up for night prayer, start with two short Rakaats.” [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]
When we make Du'a we should imagine Allah is watching us and so we should call on him, crying to him. If we can’t cry due to the hardness of our hearts then we should at least act & make the face like we are crying. We should ask of Allah sincerely with remorse & intention not to repeat such sins again for forgiveness of our past & present sins.
Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, “I cannot pray at night.” He said, ”Your sins have prevented you.”
4. Making Excessive Dua
Almighty Allah says in the Qur’an: “When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me.” [2:186]
Many of us rush our Dua’s & quite often our hearts are not present whilst we are making dua to Allah. That is why we lose out on much of the benefits & blessings of Du'a. Therefore we should not let our minds wonder whilst in Dua & we should concentrate more, making sure our hearts are present whilst asking of Allah. Whilst we are in dua we should imagine Almighty Allah in front of us & so we should humble ourselves in front of him in a state of meekness & humility.
It may also help if we made a list of what we want to ask Allah during our dua’s. We can then refer to this list as a reminder so that we can cover everything we need to ask him, which may help in making our Dua’s longer & more sincere. This is because we will not always remember everything we want to ask Allah unless we note it down & refer back to it when we need to.
Aisha (RA) said: I asked the Prophet s.a.w. : "O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?" He said, Say: ”Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee" (O Allah, You are pardoning & You love to pardon, so pardon me.) (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, & Tirmidhi).
5. Repentance of past & present sins
We should cry & beg of Allah to give us his mercy & forgiveness especially in the last 10 blessed nights of Ramadan. If we leave Ramadan without gaining the mercy of Allah then surely we are of the most unfortunate and amongst the biggest losers in this world and the next.
Stand in prayer to gain forgiveness for all sins
Abu Hurairah r.a narrated that the Prophet s.a.w. said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim).
Best opportunity for forgiveness of past & present sins:
This is our best opportunity to gain forgiveness of our past ans present sins. Forget the past now, learn from it & take lessons from it. What matters is NOW. So ask of Allah every night especially in the odd numbered nights for mercy & forgiveness.
6. Seeking out Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
"By the manifest Book (the Quran) that makes thing clear. We sent it (this Quraan) down on a Blessed Night (i.e. the Night of Qadr) in the month of Ramadaan.." (The Smoke 44:2-5)
So valuable is the Night of Qadr (Power) that the Quran devotes a special surah to it: “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months” [97:3]
This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. There is NO doubt that if we pray on all of the last ten nights of Ramadan then we will catch this auspicious night & gain the rewards of over 83 YEARS OF WORSHIP! Subhaanallah! Most do not live up to such an age!
Forgiveness of past & present sins on Laylatul Qadr
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet s.a.w. said: ”Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Lailatul-Qadr out of faith and expectation (of Allah’s reward), will have ALL of his previous sins forgiven.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Edited from: muslimvillage.com
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