How to invest the last ten days of Ramadan?
The last ten days of Ramadan have more virtues than the other days and nights of this honoured month.
- Categories: Fiqh of Fasting -
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah who answers invocations and fulfills His servant’s needs. And prayer and peace be upon who has distinguished the last ten days (of Ramadan) with the different kinds of obedience.
The last ten days of Ramadan have more virtues than the other days and nights of this honoured month.
Some of their virtues:
The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) used to strive in these days more than any other day.
‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Messenger (prayer and peace of Allah be upon him) used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time.” (Reported by Muslim)
«كان رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يجتهد في العشر الأواخر، ما لا يجتهد في غيره» رواه مسلم
‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that when the last ten nights began Allah’s Messenger (prayer and peace of Allah be upon him) kept awake at night (for prayer and devotion), wakened his family, and prepared himself to observe prayer (with more vigor).” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«كان النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إذا دخل العشر شد مئزره، وأحيا ليله، وأيقظ أهله» رواه البخاري
‘A`isha also narrated that the prophet (all the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in the first twenty days of Ramadan was combining between sleeping and praying at night but in the last ten days he was making every effort in worship and keeping awake at night (for prayer and devotion).
The forgoing Ahadith indicate the virtues of these ten days, as the Prophet (prayer and peace of Allah be upon him) used to exert himself in devotion during them to a greater extent than at any other time. This endeavor includes all kinds of worship such as prayer, reciting Qur`an, remembrance of Allah and paying charity and others.
Al-Hafez Ibn Rajab said: the Prophet (prayer and peace of Allah be upon him) distinguished the last ten days of Ramadan with some righteous deeds include the following:
1- keeping awake at night for praying, it is possible that he was keeping awake the whole night.
2- He woke his family to offer prayer during the last ten nights and not at any other nights.
3- He was isolating himself from (having sexual intercourse with) his wives and performing I’tikaf (retiring into a Masjid for devotion).
One of the virtues of these ten days is that they include laylat-ul-Qadr (the night of Decree) which is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months), the Prophet (prayer and peace of Allah be upon him) said “Whoever prayed at night in laylat-ul-Qadr (the night of decree) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed upon]
«من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه» متفق عليه
Some people commit a mistake in these ten days when they gradually decrease their endeavor in worship until they nearly end their endeavor in these ten days, but this completely contradicts the Prophet’s sunnah as he was making every effort in worship in these ten days. Therefore, the believer should be patient in Allah’s obedience in these little days and nights in which the winners win (the great rewards) and the losers loose (Allah’s favor).
Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen said: “it is a kind of great deprivation and heavy loss to see a lot of Muslims spend these precious times in what gives them no benefit as they stay up all the night in null and void things and when the time of Tahajjud (night prayer) comes, they go to bed and loose a great reward which may not be attained later. The Shaitân (Satan) juggled with them, deceived, seduced and turned them away from the way of Allah. The Almighty Allah says {certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghâwûn (Mushrikûn and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evil-doers} [Surat Al-Hijr 15:42]
{إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ إِلا مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ} الحجر: 42
Transliteration: ‘Inna `Ibādī Laysa Laka `Alayhim Sulţānun ‘Illā Mani Attaba`aka Mina Al-Ghāwīna
The sane man doesn’t take the Shaytan (Satan) as Wali (protector and helper) instead of Allah because he knows that Satan is an open enemy and taking him as Wali contradicts faith and mind.
Dear Muslim brother: You should fear Allah and don’t miss the chance of these ten days and think deeply about these ten days which include one night, worshipping Allâh in it is better than worshipping Him a thousand months,( i.e. 83 years and 4 months), so where are you from this great favor and prevailing grace ?