From the Prophet's Guidance in the Last Ten Days of Ramadan
Allah the Almighty has honored us with a great month in which souls are purified and hearts ascend. We draw closer to Allah the Almighty through many types of acts of obedience and worship to attain the highest ranks and win Paradise.
In the last ten days, blessings are abundant, gifts are magnified, good deeds are multiplied, graces descend, and mistakes are forgiven. How much we need, in light of these ten days and before their departure, to perfect our devotion to Allah the Almighty, to make up for days of negligence, and to compensate for what we have missed. May Allah have mercy on the one who said:
O heedless one, while the nights of fasting have passed, Your sins have increased; stand at the door and weep for them. Repent, so you might attain acceptance; perhaps The soul, with piety, may reach its hopes.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to distinguish the last ten days of Ramadan with specific actions, including:
1. Standing in Night Prayer
When the last ten days would begin, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would stay up all night, awaken his family, and tighten his garment (agreed upon). This is because the night prayer is the custom of the righteous, the trade of the believers, and the action of the winners.
The weepers for the Most Merciful cried at night, And spent their nights prostrating, never tiring. The earth's patches, longing for them, Long to have them prostrate upon them again.
One of the pious predecessors had a servant who used to pray at night. His master said to him: "Your standing at night affects your work during the day, so get some sleep." The servant replied: "What can I do, my master?! When I remember Paradise, my longing for it grows long, and when I remember the Hellfire, my fear of it grows long. How can I sleep while I am between a fear that disturbs me and a longing that worries me?"
Moreover, Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad took the hand of Al-Hasan ibn Ziyad and said to him: "O Hasan, Allah descends to the lowest heaven and says: 'He who claims to love Me has lied, if he sleeps away from Me when the night falls.'"
2. Seeking Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Search for Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan" (agreed upon). It is a blessed night, the crown of all nights, full of blessings and precious hours. A little work on this night is like a lot, confirming the words of Allah the Almighty {which mean}: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months} [Al-Qadr/3]. Great numbers of angels and the Spirit (Jibril) descend from the heavens to witness this night: "The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter." [Al-Qadr/4]. He who stands in worship during it has his sins forgiven if he purifies his intention for Allah the Almighty. The Chosen One (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever stands for Laylat al-Qadr with faith and hope for reward, his past sins will be forgiven" (agreed upon). On this night, gates of paradise are opened, and supplications are heard. Aisha, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are a Pardoner who loves to pardon, so pardon me'" (Narrated by Ahmad).
So, be keen, O servant of Allah, that this night is in the balance of your good deeds:
O suitor of the Hoor in her chamber, And seeker of that which is according to her value, Arise with diligence; do not be lazy, And strive against the self in its patience. Stand when the night's face appears, And fast during the day; for that is part of her dowry.
3. I'tikaf (Spiritual Retreat)
This is the act of staying in the mosque for worship, emptying the heart for contemplation, reflection, and devotion to Allah the Almighty. Be sure to spend these moments in obedience to Allah, in His remembrance, and in the recitation of His verses, just as the predecessors of this Ummah used to do:
So resemble them if you cannot be like them, For resembling the noble is a path to success.
The prize is in these noble days; there is no substitute for them and no price. Whoever is granted freedom from the Hellfire in these days has won the great reward and the immense gift. O you whose Master has freed you from the Fire, beware of returning to the bondage of sins after you have become free. And say, O servant of Allah:
O eye, be generous with tears of sorrow, For the parting of nights of light. For nights of the month of fasting were not made, Except to purify sins and burdens. How wonderful we were when we were all together, Some of us praying, some devout, and some reciting. So weep for what has passed in the month, and seize What remains, my brothers, of the blessing of your lives.
It is narrated that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to call out on the last night of Ramadan: "O, I wish I knew who is accepted so I may congratulate him, and who is deprived so I may console him?!"
We ask Allah the Magnificent, the Lord of the Noble Throne, to free our necks and the necks of our fathers, mothers, and children from the Fire, and not to deprive us of the reward of Laylat al-Qadr. Indeed, He is near, All-Hearing, and the Answerer of prayers.
