LAST 10 DAYS OF RAMADAN

My Respected Brothers and Sisters,

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

All Praise is due to Alláh, We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Alláh, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Alláh, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

O People! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has come with its mercies, blessings and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours.

Now Brothers and sisters Last 10 days of Ramadan!

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam, During these last ten nights of Ramadhán, we feel a special kind of excitement, a special sense of anticipation, because of one very important night. I refer of course to “Lailatul Qadr & Lailatul Mubarakah” the Night of Power.

WHAT IS LAYLATUL QADR? In the Quran this is mentioned in 3 places as

1^st reference Mentioned in Quran Sura 97

2^nd Reference: Surah Dukhan Ayat 1 to Ayat 6

3^rd  Reference:  Surah Baqra : 185

What is so special about Lailatul Qadr? Why does The Holy Qur’án describe it as “better than a thousand months?” If there were no Lailatul Qadr, what would it matter? What difference does it make?

The first Laylatul Qadr: This was the night that changed history. It was the night that the Angel Gabriel, Jibreel alayhis salaam brought the first revelation. The first verses of The Holy Qur’án were brought to us by Prophet Muhammad, sws,  in a cave on Jabal Nur, the Mountain of Light.

Let us consider the world scenario on the day before Lailatul Qadr. Imagine the day before, when the man Muhammad was still deep in meditation, alone in a cave on a mountain near Makka.  His city was a playground for the rich. Might was right. The poor were oppressed. The Arabs worshipped idols made of wood and stone. Women had few rights. Newborn girls were often buried alive.  Arabia was so backward that the Persian and Roman Empires didn’t bother to invade. This land and these people weren’t even worth fighting over!

As the day passed into night, Muhammad became aware of a strange presence in that cave. It was the angel Gabriel (Jibreel alayhis salaam) in the form of a man. Jibreel grabbed him and held him in an ever tightening embrace. Jibreel commanded him, repeatedly, to “READ!” Muhammad was terrified, and he kept saying “I cannot read!” But Jibreel persisted, until Muhammad almost lost consciousness. Then, slowly and painfully these majestic words emerged from his blessed lips:

Let us consider the world scenario on the day before Jibreel alayhis salaam appeared in the Cave on Jabal Nur, to pronounce those majestic words,

“In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. READ, in the Name of your Lord (and Educator}, who created! Created human beings out of a mere clot of congealed blood. READ, and your Lord is most Bountiful. He who taught the use of the Pen. Taught mankind that which he knew not!”

Brothers and sisters last days of holy Month Sincerely praying for forgiveness, reciting the holy Qur’an, sending salawat (blessings upon the Prophet) and offering optional (nafl) prayers are examples of beneficial acts of worship on these nights.

The exact date of Laylatul Qadr is unknown, according to hadith it occurs on an odd night in the last ten days of Ramadan (e.g. the 21^st , 23^rd , 25^th , 27^th  or 29^th night). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Seek it in the last ten days, on the odd nights,” (Hadith, Bukhari and Muslim). There is some hadith regarding sign of Laylatul qadar on 21^st, 23^rd and 27^th night.

Many Muslims choose to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in seclusion (i’tikaf), where one solely focuses on worshipping Allah and refrains from involvement in worldly affairs. It is a time to reflect, increase worship and to increase one’s religious knowledge, seeking closeness to Allah.

The sunnah is to remain in i’tikaf for ten days but as a minimum it can be one day and one night. I’tikaf is a great opportunity to reconnect with Allah in solitude. It is also a time to implement good religious practices which can be carried on throughout the whole year.

This seclusion usually takes place at the mosque but with many mosques closed this Ramadan amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a secluded space within the home can be designated, free from noise and distractions if possible.

My Respected Brothers and sisters: The last ten days of Ramadan are an opportunity to gain multiple rewards by giving sadaqa (charity) to those in need for the sake of seeking the pleasure of Allah.

Let us spend our Night of Power, remembering Alláh, swt, and offering thanks to Him, for his countless blessings that we enjoy each moment of our lives. Let us ask Alláh, Glorified and Exalted is He, to lift the burden of injustice and oppression from so many Muslim communities around the world. Let us ask him for his Divine power to help us become the dynamic, disciplined and balanced community, the Ummatan wasatan, the Witness to the nations, as described in The Holy Qur’án. Let us spend this historic night asking our Lord and Master, to help us become the model Muslims that our children and all future generations would be inspired to follow.

I pray that during this historic time, in this Holy Month, on this Great Night of Power, when His angels are sent by His Command, that Alláh Most Gracious will accept our good intentions and good deeds. May He also help us to purify our hearts, strengthen our faith, and enable us to meet every challenge, overcome every difficulty in our lives. May Alláh allow us to serve Him in our work, in our leisure, in our study, in our business and professions and in our family life and social relations. And when the time comes for us finally to return to Him, may Alláh admit us to the companionship of those whom He loves as His friends.

Laylatul Qadar in the light of Authentic 13 Hadith.

1. Mishkat al-Masabih 1958 (PAST SINS being FORGIVEN)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:1958

2. Mishkat al-Masabih 564 (in connection with 1958 need to avoid Major Sin)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ لَمَّا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتُنِبَتِ الْكَبَائِر» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.” Muslim transmitted it.

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:564

3. Mishkat al-Masabih: 2083 (Search in the Odd nights)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْوِتْرِ مِنَ الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ من رَمَضَان» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “Seek lailat al-qadr on an odd number night among the last ten in Ramadan.” Bukhari transmitted it.

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2083

4. Mishkat al-Masabih 2086 (21 night) -2087 (23 night) (Hadith regarding sign of Laylatul qadr on 21^st or 23^rd

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اعْتَكَفَ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَّلَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوْسَطَ فِي قُبَّةٍ تُرْكِيَّةٍ ثُمَّ أَطْلَعَ رَأسه. فَقَالَ: «إِنِّي اعتكفت الْعشْر الأول ألتمس هَذِه اللَّيْلَة ثمَّ اعتكفت الْعَشْرَ الْأَوْسَطَ ثُمَّ أُتِيتُ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهَا فِي الْعشْر الْأَوَاخِر فَمن اعْتَكَفْ مَعِي فَلْيَعْتَكِفِ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَاخِرَ فَقَدْ أُرِيتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ ثُمَّ أُنْسِيتُهَا وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ مِنْ صَبِيحَتِهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ وَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي كُلِّ وِتْرٍ» . قَالَ: فَمَطَرَتِ السَّمَاءُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ وَكَانَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَلَى عَرِيشٍ فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ فَبَصُرَتْ عَيْنَايَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَعَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ أَثَرُ المَاء والطين وَالْمَاء مِنْ صَبِيحَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْمَعْنَى وَاللَّفْظُ لِمُسْلِمٍ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: ” فَقِيلَ لِي: إِنَّهَا فِي الْعشْر الْأَوَاخِر “. وَالْبَاقِي للْبُخَارِيّ

وَفِي رِوَايَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُنَيْسٍ قَالَ: «لَيْلَة ثَلَاث وَعشْرين» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri said: God’s messenger spent the first ten nights of Ramadan in devotion, and spent the middle ten nights in devotion in a round Turkish tent, after which he raised his head and said, “I have spent the first ten nights in devotion seeking this night, then I spent the middle ten nights in devotion, and after that I had a heavenly visitant and was told that it is in the last ten, so he who has engaged in devotion along with me should do so during the last ten nights, for I was shown this nights, then was caused to forget it, but I have seen myself prostrating in water and clay on the morning following, so seek it among the last ten and seek it in every night with an odd number.” He said: Rain fell that night, the mosque which was a thatched building dripped, and my eyes saw God’s messenger with traces of water and clay on his forehead on the morning after the twenty-first night. Bukhari and Muslim agree on the subject-matter, the wording being Muslim’s up to “and was told it is it the last ten”, the remainder being Bukhari’s. In the version of ‘Abdallah b. Unais he said it was the twenty-third night. Muslim transmitted it.

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2086

5. Mishkat al-Masabih 2091 Dua Lail tul Qadr Zaif

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَلِمْتُ أَيُّ لَيْلَةٍ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَقُولُ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ: ” قُولِي: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعَفُ عَنِّي “. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَابْن مَاجَه وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَصَححهُ

‘A’isha said she asked God’s messenger to tell her what prayers to say on lailat al-qadr if she knew which night it was, and he told her to say, “O God, Thou art forgiving and lovest forgiveness, so forgive me.” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi declared it to be sound.)

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2091

6. Mishkat al-Masabih 2088 ( Imminet sign of laylatul qadr on 27^th night)

وَعَنْ زِرِّ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أُبَيَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ أَخَاكَ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَقُمِ الْحَوْلَ يُصِبْ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ. فَقَالَ C أَرَادَ أَنْ لَا يَتَّكِلَ النَّاسُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّهَا فِي رَمَضَانَ وَأَنَّهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ وَأَنَّهَا لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ ثُمَّ حَلَفَ لَا يَسْتَثْنِي أَنَّهَا لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ. فَقُلْتُ: بِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ؟ قَالَ: بِالْعَلَامَةِ أَوْ بِالْآيَةِ الَّتِي أَخْبَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَا شُعَاعَ لَهَا. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Zirr b. Hubaish said: I questioned Ubayy b. Ka’b about a statement by his brother [not actual brother] Ibn Mas’ud to the effect that anyone who gets up for prayer every night in the year will hit upon lailat al-qadr, and he replied, “God have mercy on him! He meant that people should not content themselves [with that might alone]. He knew that it was in Ramadan among the last ten nights and that it was the twenty-seventh.” He then swore without any reservation that it was the twenty-seventh, and when I asked, “On what ground do you state that, Abul Mundhir? [Ubayy’s kunya]” he replied, “By the indication (or sign)* of which God’s messenger informed us, viz. that the sun rises on that day without rays.” *An alternative, the transmitter not being sure which word was used. *An alternative, the transmitter not being sure which word was used. Muslim transmitted it.

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2088

7. Mishkat al-Masabih 2095 (two muslim were fighting) when prophet came to tell about night

عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ قَالَ: خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِيُخْبِرَنَا بِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَتَلَاحَى رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ: «خَرَجْتُ لِأُخْبِرَكُمْ بِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَتَلَاحَى فُلَانٌ وَفُلَانٌ فَرُفِعَتْ وَعَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ خَيْرًا لَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي التَّاسِعَةِ وَالسَّابِعَة وَالْخَامِسَة» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘Ubada b. as-Samit said that the Prophet came out to inform them about lailat al-qadr, but finding two Muslims disputing together he said, “I came out to inform you about lailat al-qadr, but so and so and so and so had a dispute, and the knowledge of it has been withdrawn. That, however, may perhaps be better for you, so seek it on the ninth, the seventh and the fifth.*i.e. the twenty-ninth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-fifth. (Bukhari transmitted it.)

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2095

8. Mishkat al-Masabih 2090 (Akhri Ashra

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ وَأَحْيَا ليله وَأَيْقَظَ أَهله

She said that when the last ten nights began God’s messenger prepared himself for religious exercises, stayed awake at night and wakened his family. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2090

9. Mishkat al-Masabih 2089 : (ITIKAF)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَجْتَهِدُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مَا لَا يَجْتَهِدُ فِي غَيره. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A’isha said that God’s messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time. Muslim transmitted it.

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2089

10. Mishkat al-Masabih 2097 (every year Aitkaf) Sunnat kaffiya.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ أَزْوَاجُهُ مِنْ بعده

‘A’isha said that the Prophet used to engage in private devotions in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan till God took him, and then his wives followed this practice after his death. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2097

11. Mishkat al-Masabih 2102, 2103 (20 days)

عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ عَامًا. فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْعَامُ الْمقبل اعْتكف عشْرين. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَرَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ عَنْ أَبِي بن كَعْب

Anas said that the Prophet was accustomed to engage in private devotion in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan; but one year he omitted it and he engaged in it during twenty nights the next year.(Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ubayy b. Ka’b.) https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2102

12. Mishkat al-Masabih 630 for very lazy person

وَعَنْ عُثْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «مَنْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَامَ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَمَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَلَّى اللَّيْل كُله» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Uthman reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone prays the evening prayer in company, it is as though he had remained awake in prayer half the night; but if anyone prays the Morning Prayer in company, it is as though he had prayed the whole night.”(Muslim transmitted it.)

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:630

13. Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806 (Prophet encouraged family and friends to attend on 27^th night)

Abu Dharr narrated: “We fasted with the Prophet, so he did not pray (the night prayer) with us until seven (nights) of the month remained. Then he (pbuh) led us in prayer until a third of the night had gone, then he did not lead us in prayer on the sixth. Then he led us in prayer on the fifth until half of the night had gone. We said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Wouldn’t you lead us in prayer for the remainder of the night?’ He said: ‘Indeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finished, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.; Then he did not lead us in prayer until three (nights) of the month remained. Then he led us in prayer on the third and he called his family and his women to pray with us until we feared missing the Falah” I (Jubair bin Nufair) said to him: “What is the Falah” He said: “The Suhur.”

https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:806 

My Respected Brothers and Sisters! Please be ready for last 10 days. Do repent to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Allah Almighty looks at His servants with mercy. Allah Answers if they supplicate, responds if they call, grants if He is asked, and accepts if they entreat.

Brothers & sisters: The gates of Paradise remain open during this month. Pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you; while the gates of Hell are closed, pray to your Lord that they never open for you.

It is a blessed Month of opportunity for gaining maximum blessings, forgiveness and developing our resilience; to train ourselves to build our internal capacity to face the daily challenges of life and prepare ourselves for the hereafter

I pray that you and I will be amongst those whom Allah rewards, without limits.

May Allah multiply the rewards of our fasts, grant us forgiveness for our sins and freedom from the Fire, and allow us to drink from the Prophet’s (saw) fountain, Ameen.