8 Virtuous Deeds for the Last 10 Nights of Ramadan
Ramadan is the best of months in the sight of Allah, and
within it is Laylat Al-Qadr (the Night of Decree): “And what will make you realize what the Night of Glory
is? The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months. That night the angels
and the ˹holy˺ spirit descend, by the permission of their Lord, for every
˹decreed˺ matter. It is all peace until the
break of dawn.” (Al-Qadr 97:2-5)
Laylat Al-Qadr falls within the last ten nights of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him) and his companions were keen to take advantage of these
last ten nights and strive in worship during them.
What Are the Most Important Acts to Perform During
the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan?
1. Rejoicing in These Nights and Preparing Well for Them
These are days of immense goodness, virtue, and obedience to Allah.
A believer rejoices in acts of worship. The companions of the Prophet (peace be
upon him) used to prepare for these ten nights by bathing, applying perfume,
and wearing their best clothes each night.
Hammad ibn Salamah narrated from Thabit that Tamim al-Dari
purchased a robe for one thousand dirhams and would wear it on the night he
hoped to be Laylat Al-Qadr. (1) Al-Nakha`i used to perform
ghusl every night of the last ten nights, and it was reported from Anas ibn
Malik that when the night of the 24th arrived, he would perform ghusl, apply
perfume, and wear a beautiful garment of izar (lower garment) and ridaʾ (upper
garment). (2)
These reports show how the companions and the righteous Salaf
honored and prepared for these ten blessed nights.
2. Striving in Worship
The Prophet (peace be upon him) would exert himself in worship
during the last ten nights of Ramadan. In Sahih Muslim, Aisha may Allah
be pleased with her reported: “God’s messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the
last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim),
Aisha also said: “With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger
of Allah (peace be upon him) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard)
and used to stay up praying all night, and he would also wake his wives (to
pray and recite Quran etc..).” The phrase “tighten
his waist belt” is a metaphor for his serious commitment and increased
effort in worship. This means that if a person was already reciting Quran,
praying, and giving charity throughout Ramadan, they should increase their
devotion even more during these ten nights.
Abu Bakr used to pray during the first twenty nights of
Ramadan as he did throughout the year, but when the last ten nights began, he
would increase his efforts even more. (3)
3. Seeking Laylat Al-Qadr and Praying in it
In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim,
Aisha may Allah be pleased with her reported that the Prophet (peace be upon
him) said: “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month
of Ramadan.”
The way to seek it is by engaging in acts of worship and
perfecting prayer. Abu Huraira may Allah be pleased with him reported that the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “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.” (Al-Bukhari and
Muslim)
4. Increasing Supplication (Dua)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged Aisha may Allah be
pleased with her to make dua during these nights. In Jami' At-Tirmidhi and Sunan
An-Nasa'i, she asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what do you think I should say in my
supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?” He said: “Say: 'Allahumma
innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Forgiving and
love forgiveness, so forgive me).'” Sufyan Ath-Thawri
said: “Making supplication on that night is more beloved to me than
prayer.” He means that excessive supplication is better than prayer in
which supplication is not made frequently. However, combining both prayer and supplication
is ideal. (4)
5. Forgiving Others and Reconciling Relationships
Holding grudges can prevent a person from receiving blessings.
In Al-Bukhari, `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.”
Thus, whoever wants to make the most of this night and attain
its rewards should strive to reconcile with others and avoid disputes. Laylat Al-Qadr
is a night of forgiveness, and whoever desires Allah’s forgiveness should also
forgive others.
6. Observing I'tikaf (Seclusion in the Mosque)
I'tikaf
means staying in the mosque with the intention of worship. The Prophet (peace
be upon him) practiced it regularly. In Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Aisha may
Allah be pleased with her said: “The Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) used to observe
i'tikif in the last ten days of Ramadan till Allah called him back (to his
heavenly home). Then his wives observed i'tikaf after him.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also explained that he
observed i'tikaf to seek Laylat Al-Qadr. In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih
Muslim, Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace
be upon him) observed i'tikaf during the first ten nights of Ramadan, then he
observed it in the middle ten nights. Then he said: 'I observed i'tikaf in the
first ten nights, seeking this night. Then I observed i'tikaf in the middle ten
nights. Then I was told that it is in the last ten nights. So whoever wishes to
observe i'tikaf, let him do so.'”
It is recommended to observe full i'tikaf by staying in the
mosque continuously, leaving only for necessary reasons. If full i'tikaf is not
possible, one can observe partial i'tikaf by spending as much time as possible
in the mosque with the intention of worship and devotion.
7. Encouraging Family Members to Strive in Worship
The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged his family to make
the most of these nights. In Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Aisha may Allah
be pleased with her reported: “With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger
of Allah (peace be upon him) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. keep away
from his wives) and used to stay up praying all night, and he would also wake
his wives (to pray and recite Quran etc..).” In Al-Bukhari,
Ali ibn Abi Talib may Allah be pleased with him narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (peace
be upon him) used to knock on Fatima and Ali at night and say, 'Will you not get
up and pray?'” In Al-Bukhari and
Muslim, Aisha may Allah be pleased with her reported: “The Messenger of Allah
((peace be upon him)) used to pray in the night and when he observed Witr, he
said to me: O 'A’isha, get up and observe Witr.”
Imam Malik narrated in Al-Muwatta' that Zayd
ibn Aslam reported from his father that `Umar ibn Al-Khattab may Allah be
pleased with him used to pray during the night as much as Allah willed, and in
the last part of the night, he would wake up his family, saying: “Prayer!
Prayer!” Then he would recite: 'And enjoin prayer
upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for
provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of]
righteousness.' (Taha 20:132)”
These examples show that a believer should not neglect their
family but should encourage them to take advantage of these blessed nights
through prayer, supplication, and recitation of the Quran.
8. Giving Zakat Al-Fitr
In Al-Bukhari and Muslim, `Abdullah ibn `Umar
reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made Zakat Al-Fitr obligatory: one sa' of dates or one sa' of
barley upon every free person and slave, male and female, young and old among
the Muslims. He commanded that it be given before people go out for prayer.” Zakat Al-Fitr
purifies the fasting person from idle talk and feeds the needy. The Prophet
ordered it should be given to the needy to enrich them, before the Eid prayer
and can be paid at any time before the end of Ramadan.
Consequently, the last ten nights of Ramadan are blessed,
containing the great night of Laylat Al-Qadr. Every Muslim should strive in
worship and make the most of these days through good deeds.
Read Also:
-
3 Deceptive Ways to Avoid Zakat Nullified by Islam
-
Nurture Your Marriage This Ramadan
-
Ramadan: A Shield Against Vices
-
Self-Purification: A Path to Fruitful Ramadan
-------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
(1) Siyar A`lam An-Nubala’ by Adh-Dhahabi (2/447).
(2) Lata’if Al-Ma'arif by Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali, p. 222.
(3) Ibid., p. 229.
(4) Ibid., p. 230.
