Making The Best Out Of Last Ten Days Of Ramadan

The entire month of Ramadan is the time period of receiving great blessings of Allah SWT and His Mercy in terms of forgiveness of one`s wrongdoings and a means of protection from hellfire. It consists of adaption of such a sanctified routine in the life of a Muslim that it leads to opening of new avenues of productivity and betterment in light of the teachings of the Religion of Peace. The Almighty Lord says in the Holy Quran regarding the tremendous importance of this sacred phase of the Islamic Calendar:

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” [Quran, 2: 183]

The above mentioned Ayah is the testimony to the fact that the Gracious God has always chosen the act of “Soum” (Fasting) for His servants being better in their own favor. The reason behind prescribing this great deed of virtue to the believers has always been the same, i.e. to make the believers more righteous and steadfast on the commandments of the Creator of the universe.

Ramadan is divided into three Ashras (Phases): first 10 days are of seeking mercy, middle ones are about forgiveness and the last ones are meant for attaining protection from the torment of hellfire. Although the whole month is a highly revered period but the final days are of even greater significance in lives of the devotees. Since it represents the end of Ramadan, and the “Night of verdict” (Lailatul Qadr) falls in it, therefore, it calls for greater efforts from every one of us to live upto its true spirit. Our Holy Prophet ﷺ used to increase the intensity of worship during this blessed interlude:

Allah’s Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time.” (Muslim)

Acting upon the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ, many true disciples of Islam also dedicate their time and effort solely to worshipping Allah SWT in the form of “Itikaf” and look for His pardon by praying and concentrating on Quranic instructions.

Now let us discuss how one can make the best out of last ten days of Ramadan:

Praying in the Nights of Last Ashra

Salah is a great means of becoming closer to the Almighty Lord in general, and during Ramadan, this act of uprightness yields even more benefits for the believers. Fard (Obligatory) Namaz is equal to Sawab (Return) of 70 times of that of performed in normal days and Nafl (Supererogatory) one is on par with that of compulsory prayer carried out in normal days. Hazrat A`ishah (R.A) narrated:

“With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet PBUH used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari)

Every Muslim should also submit to the Messenger`s ﷺ way and pray all night long during the nights of last Ashra of this sanctified month of the Islamic Year.

Carrying Out Itikaf in the Mosque

Itikaf is highly blessed form of religious action which calls for maximum condition of quiet and isolation in Masjid from rest of the world including family and friends. The basic aim behind this deed is to achieve the blessings of Lailatul Qadr and Allah`s forgiveness. It is the Sunnah of Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ which is why it has great importance in lives of the believers. Reported by Hazrat A`ishah (R.A):

“The Prophet PBUH used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice I`tikaf after him.” (Bukhari)

It means that this act of virtue is not limited to Muslim men only but women can also perform it at their homes. It is also worth noting that there is no restrictions on fulfilling one`s daily needs and leave the place of worship for some time. Narrated by Hazrat A`ishah (R.A):

“When the Prophet PBUH Performed I`tikaf, he brought his head close to me so I could comb his hair, and he would not enter the house except to fulfill the needs a person has.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

This previously Hadith clearly suggests that we should not make things difficult during Itikaf rather take an example from life of the Apostle ﷺ of God in this matter. Thus, one is allowed to take short breaks in between worship process, sleep regularly etc. in order to stay fit throughout the process.

Searching the Night of Ruling (Lailatul Qadr)

The importance of last ten days of Ramadan significantly enhances due to presence of the greatest night of the nights in this time period. The night which is of such high virtue that Allah SWT has dedicated a separate Chapter in the Holy Quran, i.e. Surat Al-Qadr (the Power).

“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” [Quran: 97: 1-5]

It means that only one night of Qadr is a thousand times superior to others and that it encompasses a state of complete tranquility and blessings from the Gracious God leading to one`s pardon over transgressions. Narrated by Abu Hurrairah (R.A):

“Whoever stands (in prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Eemaan (faith and sincerity) and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven”. (Bukhari)

It is better to start from the very first odd night to seek Lailatul Qadr, but if not possible last seven nights should be the target. Hazrat Ibn Umar (R.A) reported the Holy Prophet ﷺ saying as:

“Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)

This shows that the last seven odd nights are must for every believer to perform veneration of Allah SWT in order to receive His unlimited blessings as a result of finding the Night of Power.

In short, the last part of Ramadan is the time of obtaining tremendous amount of favors from the Almighty Lord as a result of praying both obligatory and Nawafil Salah, learning about Quran, constant memory of Allah SWT, supplicating to Him excessively, looking for Lailatul Qadr through Itikaf and repenting on one`s sins in the past. May the Almighty Lord give us all will and desire to make the best out of the last ten days of Ramadan in the most rightful way! Aameen!