The last ten nights of Ramadan are very special. These are the nights that the Prophet Muhammad would spend in constant worship. Among these nights is the Night of Power – a night more blessed than a thousand months.
Prophet Muhammad 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 night of the year.
Aisha tells us that during the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet would tighten his waist belt and spend the night in worship. He would also wake up his family. (Al Bukhari)
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 in his pre-dawn meal, and other similar activities. However, he would spend most of the night in worship.
Waking Up the Family
During the last ten nights of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad would wake up his wives to pray for a much longer portion of the night…
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.
Exerting Oneself in Worship
Aisha tells us that 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
One of the greatest distinctions of these ten 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 favours that Allah 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 said: Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer, believing in Allah and seeking His reward, will be forgiven all of his past sins. (Al Bukhari and Muslim)
“Believing in Allah”, in this hadith, means not only to believe in Allah 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: Seek out Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights during the last ten nights of Ramadan. (Al Bukhari and Muslim)
It is most likely one of the last seven odd nights. Ibn Umar relates that Prophet Muhammad said: 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)
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 Allah, reading the Quran, and begging Allah’s forgiveness.
We should 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.
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 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 and 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 i’tikaf is to devote one’s heart exclusively to Allah. And the person engaging in i’tikaf keeps this intention close to mind and seeks Allah’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 Allah. 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 and 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.”
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.”
