Last 10 days of Ramadan!!!

Assalamualikum,

I hope you are enjoying the benefits of the month of Ramadan.

1. Last 10 days of Ramadan
As you are aware we are in the last 10 days of Ramadan. It is not uncommon to find brothers and sisters taking the month of Ramadan or the last 10 days of Ramadan off as holiday. Take a vacation for Allah - We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator. I did this last year and it was the best 10 days I spent.

If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing Itikaf. It was a practice of the Prophet (pbuh) to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf. Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet.

2. Laylatus Qadr
Although there are different reports in different traditions regarding the exact night, it is almost unanimous that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan and more probably in one of the last ten odd nights i.e. 2lst, 23rd, 25th 27th or 29th night. The popular opinion is, however, in favour of the 27th Night of Ramadhaan but that is not absolutely certain.

Hazrath Aisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reported that the Apostle of Allah said: "Search for the Blessed Night in the odd (nights) from the last ten (nights) of Ramadhaan" (Bukhari).

Hazrath Aisha has narrated another saying:"I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me if I were to find a Night of Power, what should I recite therein?" Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised her to recite:

Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee
O Allah! You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me. (Bukhari).

Special attention should therefore be given to the excessive recitation of this dua on the blessed night. Furthermore one may engage in lengthy rakaats of Tahajjud salaat, Tilaawat of the Qur'an, Dua, Zikr, etc.

Surah Al-Qadr (97) - To Listen (Click Here!)

Bismi Allahi arrahmani arraheem

1: Transliteration: Inna anzalnahu fee laylatialqadr
Muhsin Khan: Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)

2: Transliteration: Wama adraka ma laylatualqadr
Muhsin Khan: And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?

3: Transliteration: Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahr
Muhsin Khan: The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, (i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
4: Transliteration: Tanazzalu almala-ikatu warroohufeeha bi-ithni rabbihim min kulli amr
Muhsin Khan: Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees,

5: Transliteration: Salamun hiya hatta matlaAAialfajr
Muhsin Khan: Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.
It is best to utilise the last 10 days as much as possible. More information about the Night of Power can be found below...(please read these two articles)

- Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power)

- 16 things you can do on the Night of Power

3. Holy Qur'an
Ramadan has a special relationship with the Qur'ân, of course: "The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'ân was sent down, a guidance for mankind, clear proofs for the guidance, the Criterion; so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it." (Soorah al-Baqarah 2:185)

Ibn 'Abbaas( R.A) narrates "That the Messenger of Allah(SAW) was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because Jibreel would come to him every night and he would rehearse the Qur'ân with him." (Bukhari)

This Ahaadeeth contains recommendation of the following: * Studying the Qur'ân in Ramadhaan * Coming together for this purpose * Checking (one's memory/knowledge of) the Qur'ân with someone who has preserved it better * Increasing recitation of the Qur'ân in Ramadan * Appreciating that the night time is the best time to recite, when other preoccupations decrease and it is easier to concentrate, as in (Soorah Al-Muzzammil 73:6).

Further, Fatimah(Ra) narrated from her father(SAW), who told her that Jibreel would rehearse the Qur'ân with him (in Ramadan) once every year, and he did so twice in the year of his death. (Bukhari 6/485)

There are various website you can read, listen and learn to read about the Holy Qur'an. One of the best websites is ...

http://www.quranexplorer.com/Quran/Default.aspx

For those who want to start learning Arabic again - this site is a good start...
http://www.searchtruth.com/arabic/lessons/unit1_writing.php

I have put many other links on the blogsite (right hand side) - so do check it out.


If you have found any of this information useful please make Dua for myself and my family, and all those who contributed to this article, as well as those who contribute to this blogsite and the Ummah in general.