The Last Ten Days of Ramadan
We all experience plenty of enthusiasm at the beginning of Ramadan but as the days pass by, our eagerness is replaced with tiredness and we lose our drive to accomplish the many goals we set at the start of the holy month. The last ten days of Ramadan are the most important, and so it is a great time to remind ourselves of our intentions and try and revive them.
Why the last 10 days are so important?
The last ten days of Ramadan hold great importance, as it is when our Prophet (saw) exerted the most in devotion. It is therefore highly advised we follow in his (saw) example.
Another significance of the last ten days is the presence of Laylatul Qadr or the Night of Power, which the Quran tells us is ‘better than a thousand months’ (97:3). The exact date of Laylatul Qadr is unknown but we do know that it falls on an odd night in the last ten days which is why we should make extra effort to increase our worship and make the most of every one of these nights.
Abu Huraira (ra) reported that the Messenger (saw) said: ‘Whoever stands (in prayer) during Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation and whilst expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven’ (Bukhari).
Five things you should do during the last ten nights of Ramadan
1. Perform i’tikaf
I’tikaf is a spiritual and personal retreat into seclusion, that requires total devotion to Allah SWT. It is performed in a Masjid where there is little distraction but if that is not possible then you can find a secluded spot in your home, where you will be least distracted.
During I’tikaf you can perform extra Salah, Dhikr, recite and reflect on the Holy Quran and make abundant Dua for yourself and loved ones. It is ideal for you to spend the entire last 10 nights of Ramadan in I’tikaf but if you are unable to because of work or family commitments, you
can perform a shorter one for three days, starting from the 27th night of Ramadan.
2. Seek forgiveness
It is narrated that Aisha (ra) asked the Messenger of Allah (saw): ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night the night of Qadr is, what should I say during it?’ and he replied that you should say: ‘O Allah, you are pardoning and you love to pardon, so pardon me.’ This transliterates to ’Allahumma innaka ’afuwwun tuhibbul ’afwa fa’fu ‘annee’ (Ahmad).
It is therefore highly recommended to recite this Du’a as much as possible during the last ten days, as we do not know which of these days the night of power falls on.
3. Renew your relationship with Allah SWT
Spend a few minutes after every Salah reading over a new surah. Read the English translation alongside it to get a better understanding of its meaning and then try and memorise it. Once you have done this, you can reap even more benefits by teaching the surah you’ve learned to a friend or a family member. This is because our Prophet (saw) said: ‘The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Quran and teach it.’ (Bukhari)
Another easy way to gain extra rewards during the last ten nights is by making extra Dhikr (supplications) after each prayer. A practical way to include these important supplications in your busy schedule is by reciting while performing your daily chores. It is far more beneficial to read some Dhikr and attain reward in the hereafter in the time that would have otherwise been wasted.
4. Make plenty of Dua
We often have so many wishes and needs that we require Allah’s SWT help and guidance with, and there is no better time to make Dua for them, than now in the last ten days of Ramadan. One helpful way to ensure that you don’t forget to ask for what you want, or need is to make a list. However, we must not become idle after making Dua and waiting for Allah’s SWT provision. It is essential that we also make any effort on our part as illustrated in the following hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik (ra):
‘A man had asked the Prophet: “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I untie her and trust in Allah?” The Messenger of Allah (saw), said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.”’ (Tirmidhi)
5. Give charity
The Quran tells us that the reward for any righteous act performed on Laylatul Qadr is equivalent to that of having performed the same act for over 83 years. As we don’t know what night Laylatul Qadr will fall on, it is best to donate your Sadaqah and Zakat on every odd night during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
We have a wide variety of projects you can give your Zakat and Sadaqah towards: from building water wells in remote villages, to providing essential aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey, to supporting orphans and assisting the poorest worldwide through our Where Most Needed fund- we ensure your charity reaches the poorest and most deserving globally.
By following these short but simple steps, we can try and have a more productive last ten days of Ramadan. Even if the month didn’t start off as you had planned, now is the time to reap as many beneficial rewards as possible to earn the pleasure of Allah SWT. After all, the Prophet (saw) narrated, “Ramadan is a month, the first part of which brings Allah’s mercy, the middle of which brings Allah’s forgiveness, and the last part of which brings emancipation from the hellfire” [Bukhari].
