The last 10 nights of Ramadan are the most virtues nights of the entire year. One of the reasons for this is because amongst the last 10 nights is the Night of Qadr. Now, the Night of Qadr is so virtuous that one night of worship therein is better than a 1000 months. SubhanAllah, so much reward. It is definitely a perfect opportunity to invest for the eternal life [Akhirah].
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Below is a breakdown of the article:
– The Last ten nights of Ramadan
– Performing Esha in congregation attains laylatul Qadr
– Awakening family for worship
– The spiritual retreat [Itikaf]
– The Night of Qadr
المجلس الرابع في ذكر العشر الأواخر من رمضان
The Last Ten nights of Ramadan
The importance and significance of the last ten nights of Ramadan can be understood from the blessed actions of The Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Imam Bukhari narrates a Hadith:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ، وَأَحْيَا لَيْلَهُ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ.
Narrated Aisha [Allah bless her]:
With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.
[Source: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2024]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to exert himself in worship in these last ten nights, more than any other nights of Ramadan:
قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ رضى الله عنها كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَجْتَهِدُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مَا لاَ يَجْتَهِدُ فِي غَيْرِهِ .
‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time.
[Sahih Muslim: 1175]
كان النبي ﷺ يخصّ العشر الأواخر من رمضان بأعمال لا يعملها في بقية الشهر:
The Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to specify the last ten nights of Ramadan for worship, more than any other part of the month.
Such that he would not carry out worship to this extent throughout the month. He صلى الله عليه وسلم used to worship Allah through the entire night.
It is narrated in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad:
قالت: كان النبي ﷺ يخلط العشرين بصلاة ونوم، فإذا كان العشر – يعني الأخير – شمّر وشدّ المئزر
Aisha [Allah bless her] narrated:
‘The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to worship and sleep in the first 20 nights of Ramadan, when it became the last 10 nights, he used to tighten his waist’ [exert himself in worship].
[Musnad Ahmad: 6/146]
Some of the later scholars have said, the meaning is to worship the majority of the night.
من أحيا نصف الليل فقد أحيا الليل
Whoever [worships] half of the night, then indeed he has [worshiped] for the entire night.
Performing Esha in congregation attains Laylatul Qadr
It is narrated in a Hadith from Abu Hurairah [Allah bless him] that the Prophet ﷺ said:
من صلّى العشاء الآخرة في جماعة في رمضان، فقد أدرك ليلة القدر
‘Whoever offers the Esha Prayer in congregation in Ramadan [on the night of Laylatul Qadr], then he has attained Laylatul Qadr’.
[Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah 3/333]
Awakening family for worship
The Prophet ﷺ used to awaken his family for Salah during the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
قال سفيان الثوري: أحبّ إليّ إذا دخل العشر الأواخر أن يتهجّد بالليل، ويجتهد فيه، وينهض أهله وولده إلى الصلاة إن أطاقوا ذلك.
Sufyan Thawri [Allah bless him] states: It is beloved to me when the last ten nights of Ramadan appear, to exert in worship during the night, and to awaken the family & children for Salah, if they are capable of that.
The Spiritual retreat [Itikaf]
It was the noble habit of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to perform Itikaf in the last ten nights, such that he would perform it every year. Imam Bukhari [256 AH] narrates a hadith in his Sahih:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ أَزْوَاجُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ.
Narrated `Aisha [Allah bless her]:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he passed away and then his wives used to practice I`tikaf after him.
[Sahih Bukhari: 2026]
The above hadith elucidates that the noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to perform Itikaf in the last ten days. Now, the following hadith shows us that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to perform it every year, also in the last year of his blessed life, he performed Itikaf for twenty [20] nights.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ فِي كُلِّ رَمَضَانَ عَشْرَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْعَامُ الَّذِي قُبِضَ فِيهِ اعْتَكَفَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا.
Narrated Abu Huraira [Allah bless him]:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform I`tikaf every year in the month of Ramadan for ten days, and when it was the year of his death, he stayed in I`tikaf for twenty days.
[Sahih Bukhari: 2044]
One of the purposes of Itikaf is to seek Laylatul Qadr [The Night of Power]. As we know from authentic Hadith, the night of power is amongst the last ten [10] nights of Ramadan. So anybody worshiping throughout the last ten nights, will attain the reward of Laylatul Qadr.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to perform Itikaf by isolating himself صلى الله عليه وسلم from everyone except Allah. He صلى الله عليه وسلم used to occupy himself with the remembrance of Allah and supplication.
This is why Imam Ahmad has opined that it is preferred [Mustahab] for the person doing Itikaf [Mutakif] not to mix with people, to the extent even if it’s for seeking knowledge! Rather it is better for him to completely isolate himself from everyone except Allah. Keeping himself busy with Quran, remembrance of Allah, supplication and the like.
The spiritual retreat should be performed in the Masjid, so that he does not miss Salah in congregation. This is because to isolate oneself from congregational prayers is prohibited.
سئل ابن عبّاس عن رجل يصوم النّهار ويقوم الليل، ولا يشهد الجمعة والجماعة؟ قال: هو في النار.
Ibn Abbas [Allah bless him] was asked regarding a person who fasts during the day and stands in prayer during the night, yet he would miss the congregational prayers? He replied ‘He is in the fire’.
The Night of Decree [Laylatul Qadr]
Allah declares regarding the night of decree:
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ [١] وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ [٢] لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ [٣] تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍۢ [٤] سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ [٥]
We have sent it (the Qur’ān) down in the Night of Qadr. And what may let you know what the Night of Qadr is? The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend in it, with the leave of your Lord, along with every command. It is all peace until the break of dawn. [97: 1-5]
Laylatul Qadr as we know from the above verses is a virtuous night and one night of worship therein is better than a thousand months. SubhanAllah!
One of the reasons why we were gifted this blessed night is recorded in the following hadith, mentioned in the Muwatta of Imam Malik [179 AH]:
عَنْ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ مَنْ، يَثِقُ بِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُرِيَ أَعْمَارَ النَّاسِ قَبْلَهُ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَكَأَنَّهُ تَقَاصَرَ أَعْمَارَ أُمَّتِهِ أَنْ لاَ يَبْلُغُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي بَلَغَ غَيْرُهُمْ فِي طُولِ الْعُمْرِ فَأَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ .
Ziyad [Alllah bless him] related to me from Imam Malik [Allah bless him] that he had heard a man he trusted of the people of knowledge say, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was shown the lifespans of the people (who had gone) before him, or what Allah willed of that, and it was as if the lives of the people of his community had become too short for them to be able to do as many good actions as others before them had been able to do with their long lives, so Allah gave him Laylat al- Qadr, which is better than a thousand months.”
[Muwatta Imam Malik: pg-213]
Along with being better than a thousand months of worship, anybody worshiping in Laylatul Qadr will have his sins forgiven. A hadith narrated by both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ، وَمَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira [Allah bless him]:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
[Sahih Bukhari: 1901]
A similar hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad [241 AH] in his musnad:
عن عبادة بن الصّامت، عن النبي ﷺ، قال: «من قامها ابتغاءها، ثم وقعت له غفر له ما تقدّم من ذنبه وما تأخر
Narrated by Ubadah Ibn Samit [Allah bless him]
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever establishes prayer on the night of Qadr, seeking it, then the night of power coincides [with his worship] for him, then all his previous and future sins are forgiven.
[Musnad Imam Ahmad: 5-318]
There are many virtues of worshiping on the Night of Qadr such as:
- Worship on this night is better than a thousand months of worship.
- Forgiveness of sins.
- Not being deprived of great reward.
So while virtues have been mentioned regarding the night of Qadr, there is also a warning for those who are negligent of this night:
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ قَدْ حَضَرَكُمْ وَفِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مَنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ
Anas Ibn Malik [Allah bless him] told of God’s Messenger [Allah bless him] saying when Ramadan began, “This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, but only those who are denied prosperity are deprived of it.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah: 1644]
إخواني، المعوّل على القبول لا على الاجتهاد، والاعتبار ببرّ القلوب لا بعمل الأبدان. ربّ قائم حظّه من قيامه السّهر؛ كم من قائم محروم، ومن نائم مرحوم؛ هذا نام وقلبه ذاكر، وهذا قام وقلبه فاجر.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali [795 AH] states:
My beloved brothers, reliance [on attaining reward] is on acceptance not exerting oneself, and consideration is given to the piety of the heart and not doing righteous actions with the body.
How many people are they who worship during the night yet they only attain tiredness; How many people are they who worship yet they are deprived, and how many people are they who are asleep yet attain mercy; This is because the person sleeping, his heart is in the remembrance of Allah, and the person staying awake, his heart is sinful.
[Therefore a person should strive to rectify himself and cleanse his heart from all sins]
لكنّ العبد مأمور بالسّعي في اكتساب الخيرات والاجتهاد في الأعمال الصالحات؛ وكلّ ميسّر لما خلق له. أمّا أهل السعادة فييسّرون لعمل أهل السعادة، وأمّا أهل الشّقاوة فييسّرون لعمل أهل الشقاوة،
However the servant is commanded to be hasty in doing righteous actions and exerting himself, and everything is made easy for what he was created for.
As for the righteous, it has been made easy for them to do actions of the righteous people. As for the wrongdoers it has been made easy for them to do actions of the evildoers.
As Allah states:
﴿فَأَمّا مَنْ أَعْطى وَاتَّقى (٥) وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنى (٦) فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرى (٧) وَأَمّا مَنْ بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنى (٨) وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنى (٩) فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرى﴾ [الليل: ٥ – ١٠].
As for the one who is charitable, mindful ˹of Allah˺, and ˹firmly˺ believes in the finest reward, We will facilitate for them the Way of Ease. And as for the one who is stingy, indifferent ˹to Allah˺, and ˹staunchly˺ denies the finest reward, We will facilitate for them the path of hardship.
فالمبادرة المبادرة إلى اغتنام العمل فيما بقي من الشهر، فعسى أن يستدرك به ما فات من ضياع العمر.
