10 Steps to
Maximising the Last Ten Days of Ramadan
The last ten days of Ramadan are very precious indeed:
Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights
to a greater extent than at any other time."
(Muslim).
Hazrat Aishah (Ra) reported that
during the last ten days of Ramadan; the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives
up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts
of worship).
(Bukhari)
Hazrat Aisha (Ra) reported that
with
the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (Saw) 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.
(Bukhari)
So we need to tighten all of our belts especially in these last ten days and do
as much as we can to thank Allah and worship him and ask him for forgiveness.
Here
are some ways that we can all make the best of these precious last ten days of
this most blessed month:
1. Make a timetable for oneself for the last ten days
One should make a timetable for oneself so that one can make the best of these
last 10 precious days.
One can include the times that one will read the Qur’an and how much one will
read like one juz (Chapter) or half a juz etc as well as certain Nafil prayers
one will do throughout the day and night and any worship that one will do etc.
One should strive to make time the to worship on at least the last odd nights of
the last ten days as these are the nights where it is said that it is most
likely to be Laylat ul Qadr (The night of power).
Making a structured timetable may help one to better organise oneself especially
in these precious days 10 days.
2. Spend the last 10 days in I’thikaaf
I`tikaf is the seclusion and staying in the Masjid with the intention of
becoming closer to Allah by doing constant remembrance, glorification and
worship of Allah Ta’aala.
One should perform as many Nafil prayers as possible and recite much of the
Qur’an and its meanings, read books on Islam and keep ones lips moist with the
constant glorification and remembrance of Allah ta’aala.
`Aishah radhiya Allahu `anha reported that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi
wa sallam,
"Used
to perform i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah the Mighty and
Majestic, took him.
(Bukhari
and Muslim)
Abu Said reported that the Prophet (S) said:
"Whoever makes I`tikaf with me is to make I'tikaf during the last ten [nights]."
(Bukhari)
We can also do what’s called Nafil I’thikaf where one can obtain reward for as
long as one is in the Masjid even if it is for a short while.
So every time we enter the Masjid we should make intention of doing Nafil
I’thikaf for as long as we are in the Masjid we will get rewarded inshallah
depending on how long we stay. If we don’t stay at the Masjid for the full ten
days then we should at least strive to stay at the Masjid as much as possible
during the odd nights or last 5-7 days.
3. Recite the Qur’an abundantly
Az-Zuhri used to say upon the coming of Ramadan,
“It
is only about reciting the Qur’an and feeding the poor.”
Ibn Al-Hakam said,
“With
the advent of Ramadan, Malik would completely forsake studying Hadith and having
sessions with other scholars [so that he can concentrate on reading the Qur'an].”
Abdur-Raziq said,
“When
Ramadan came, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would give up all acts of (voluntary) worship
and devote himself to the recitation of the Qur’an.”
Both fasting and recitation of the Qur’an in Ramadan act as intercessors with
Almighty Allah for the true believer who observes them.
In this respect, the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said,
Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede on behalf of Allah’s servant on the Day
of Judgment. Fasting will say,
“O my
Lord! I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so accept my
intercession for him.”
And the Qur’an will say,
“O my
Lord! I prevented him from sleeping by night, so accept my intercession for
him.”
The intercession of both will thus be accepted. (Ahmad)
This is the month of the holy Qur’an so we should strive to recite as much of it
as we can especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan as there is a special
merit to reciting the Qur'an in the nights of Ramadan. For indeed, the night
brings an end to the busy daily affairs, the enthusiasm is roused and the heart
and the tongue mount upon reflecting. And Allah is the one in whom we seek
assistance.
Hazrat Anas radhiyallahu anhu reports that Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi
wasallam said:
"Whoever reads the Quran, Allah grants that person ten good deeds for every
letter. And for one who hears the Qur’an being recited, Allah grants a good deed
for every letter, and such a person will be resurrected among those who will
recite and ascend the stages of Jannat."
The reward for reading a letter of the Holy Qur’an in this blessed month is also
very much increased so its 70 good deeds or MORE for reading just one letter so
lets make the best use of these precious last few days and read as much of the
Qur’an as we can!
4. Strive to gain forgiveness
One should strive and do their utmost to gain the mercy of Allah in these last
ten days especially. If one leaves Ramadan without gaining the mercy of Allah
then surely they are the most unfortunate ones and are the biggest losers in
this world and the next.
Aisha (Ra) said:
“I
asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the
night of Qadr, what should I say during it?'
He
said:
'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' “
"Allahumma
innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee"
(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).
Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said:
“Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with
self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins
forgiven.”
(Bukhari
and Muslim).
The best times to ask for forgiveness are just before the time of breaking ones
fast and before Sehri after one reads the Tahajjud prayer. These are the times
we should concentrate on repenting the most as these times duas are more readily
accepted.
We should sincerely repent for past and present sins with the intention of not
repeating them again and ask of Allah Ta’aala to help us prevent ourselves from
doing them again and ask Allah to perfect our characters and to help us improve
ourselves in everyway possible.
5. Do Parents Khidmat (Help)
We should always be the best towards our parents at all times and not even say
“uff”
to them and in Ramadan and in particular the last ten days we should increase
ourselves in helping our Parents and being the best towards them and making them
happy and smile.
A man asked Prophet Muhammad "What kinds of deeds are best in the sight of
God?" He replied,
"To
pray on time, to be good and kind to parents, and to struggle in the path of
God"
(Al-Bukhari).
The reward for being good and kind toward one's parents was mentioned on several
occasions by Prophet Muhammad (Saw), emphasizing that those who are obedient to
their parents and to God also will be in the highest places in Paradise.
Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) mentions in Noble Qur'an:
"And
your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to
your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them
(so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word. And make
yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: O my Lord! Have
compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little."
Noble Qur'an (17:23-24)
A man asked Prophet Muhammad(Saw)
"What
kinds of deeds are best in the sight of God?"
He replied,
"To
pray on time, to be good and kind to parents, and to struggle in the path of
God"
(Al-Bukhari).
Prophet Muhammad (Saw) also indicated that the pleasure or anger of Allah is in
the pleasure or anger of parents, and that Muslims who are kind to their parents
earn forgiveness from Allah. The importance of gaining the pleasure of one's
parents was also emphasized by Prophet Muhammad (Saw) when he said that the
earnest prayers of parents for or against their child are always answered by
Allah.
So if our parents are angry or unhappy with us then how do we expect our fasts
and deeds to be accepted? How do we expect to gain the mercy and forgiveness
from Allah? Now is the time to ask our parents to forgive us for any wrongs we
have done towards them and any unhappiness we have brought towards them and
start from now to make them the happiest so that Allah may be the happiest with
us.
6. Do much Superogatory Prayers (Nafil)
Superogatory prayers(Nafil) are one of the best ways to get close to Allah
Ta’aala as well as filling up our good deed accounts. We have to invest as much
as we can into the hereafter to just to this world.
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said:
"The
first thing that the people will be called to account for on the Day of
Resurrection will be the prayers. Our Lord will say to the angels although He
knows better: 'Look into the salah of my servant to see if he observed it
perfectly or been negligent in it. So if he observed it perfectly it will be
recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in any way, Allah
would say: See if My servant has any supererogatory prayers. Then if he has any
supererogatory prayers, Allah would say: Make up the deficiency in My servant's
obligatory prayer with his supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all his actions
will be examined in like manner"
(Abu Dawud).
Rabi'ah ibn Malik al-Aslami reported that the Prophet sallallahu alehi
wasallam said:
"Ask
(anything)."
Rabi'ah said:
"I
ask of you to be your companion in paradise."
The Prophet said:
"Or
anything else?"
Rabi'ah said:
"That
is it."
The Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said to him:
"Then
help me by making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers)."
(Muslim)
The mother of the believers, Umm Habibah Ramilah bint Abu Sufyan (may Allah
be pleased with him) narrated that she heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) saying:
“A
house will be built in Paradise for every Muslim who offers twelve units of
Prayers other than the obligatory ones in day and night, to seek pleasure of
Allah.”
(Reported by Muslim)
Here are some Nafil prayers we can all do everyday:
The Two Rakat before Fard of Fajr:
`Aishah, the mother of the believers, quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) as saying:
“The
two rak`ah before Dawn (Fajr) Prayer are better than the word and all that which
it contains.”
(Reported by Muslim)
Salaatul Ishraaq (Sunrise prayer-15-20 mins after sunrise) 2 or 2x2 Rakat
of Nafil
Rasulullah is reported to have said,
'He
who performs Fajr Salat with Jamaat and remains seated in the same place while
engaging in Dhikr until after sunrise and thereafter performs 2 Rakaats Nafil
Salat, (Ishraaq), he will obtain the Thawaab of one Hajj and one Umrah.'
(Tirmidhi).
Duha Prayer (Salaatul Chasht-Breakfast prayer to be prayed before
Zawaal(Midday)
'Salat
al-Dhuhaa consists of 2 - 12 Rakaats and it is preferable to perform 8 Rakaats.'
(Raddul Mukhtaar vol.1 pg.505)
The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) is reported to have said that:
Whoever prayed twelve rakaats at the time of Chasht, then Allah will, as a
reward, prepare a palace of gold for him in Paradise.
[Mishkat, Tirmizi, Ibn Majah]
4 Rakah Sunnah before Fard of Zuhr, 2 Rakah Sunnah and 2 Rakah Nafil after
Fard of Zuhr
Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever sticks to the habit of offering four rak`ahs before Noon Prayer and
four rak`ahs after it, Allah will shield him against the Hell-Fire.”
(Reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)
4 Rak'aah Sunnah of Asr
Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"May
Allaah have Mercy on the one who offers four (rak'ahs) before 'Asr prayer."
(Abu Dawud)
If anyone enters a mosque, he should offer two rak`ahs before sitting.
Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) as saying:
“If
any one of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rak`ahs before sitting.”
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
2 Rakat after doing Wudu (Ablution)
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) said to Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him):
“Tell
me about the best of your deeds (i.e. one which you deem the most rewarding)
since your embracing Islam because I heard your footsteps in front of me in
Paradise.”
Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) replied:
“I do
not consider any act of mine more rewarding than that whenever I make ablution
at any time of night or day, I perform Prayer for as much as was destined for me
to do.”
(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)”
The MOST REWARDING Superogatory Prayer of all is Tahajjud
Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has said:
In
Paradise there is a castle reserved for those who read Tahajjud and the Prophet
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) further adds, those who pray at night will enter
paradise without having to account for their acts in this life.
It is recommended that you recite in your prayers as much of the Sacred Quran as
you know. If you happen to know by heart the whole of the Sacred Quran you may,
in at least 3 nights or most 4 nights of Tahajjud effectuate the complete
reading of the Sacred Quran.
Otherwise, you may recite 3 Surah Ikhlas (Qul Hu Allahu Ahad) after your
"Alhamdu..."
in every Rakat and you will thus derive full benefits of the full recital of the
Sacred Quran in every Rakat.
During the month of Ramadan one should awake a little earlier for Sehri and make
time to pray Tahajjud Salaah for the reward is magnified so much more in Ramadan
and duas are even more readily accepted than at any other time of the year. We
should be reading Tahajjud EVERY night in the last ten days of Ramdan for any of
these nights may be the night of POWER.
The dua's at the time of Tahajjud are very readily accepted by Almighty Allah
and one should repent and ask of Allah and try to cry in their dua's at this
time, if one cannot cry due to the hardness of ones heart due to sin then at
least one should make the face as if one is crying. Just as a mother tends to
her baby quickly and promptly when it cries the same way Allah attends to his
servant quicker when they are crying.
Salaatul Tasbih
Our beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had taught this Nafil
prayer to his Uncle, Hazrat Abbas (RA) and told him;
He
who performs this prayer will have his past and future sins forgiven.
The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has recommended to read this prayer
daily on each Friday or once a month or once a year, in case of this not being
possible, to read it even once in one’s life. This Nafil prayer provides
limitless benefits both in the material and spiritual life.
Ibn al Mubarak says:
“The
tasbih prayer is a greatly desired act and it is desirable that one should
punctually observe it and never neglect it.
How to perform this Salaah
‘Ikrimah reports from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah said to ‘Abbas
ibn ‘Abdal-Mutalib:
“O
‘Abbas, O Uncle, shall I not give you, shall I not present to you, shall I not
donate to you, shall I not tell you ten things which, if you do, Allah will
forgive your first and last sins, past and present sins, intentional and
unintentional sins, private and public sins? The ten actions are: pray four
rak’at, reciting in every rak’ah al-Fatihah and a surah. And when you finish the
Qur’anic recitation of the first rak’ah, say, while standing, ‘Subhanallah, al-hamdulillah,
wa la ilaha illallah, wa Allahu Akbar‘ ['Glory be to Allah. All praise is due to
Allah. There is no God except Allah. Allah is the greatest.'] Fifteen times.
Then make ruku’, and while you are in ruku’, say the same ten times; then stand,
and say the same ten times. Then go down and make sajdah, and while you’re in
sajdah, say the same ten times. Then sit after the sajdah, and say the same ten
times. Then make sajdah, and say the same ten times. Then sit after the second
sajdah, and say the same another ten times. That is seventy-five [repetitions of
the phrases] in each rak’ah. Do that in each of the four rak’at. If you can pray
it once a day, do so. If you cannot, then once every Friday. If you cannot do
that, then once a year. And if you cannot do that then once in your life. “
We should try to read it EVERY night in the last ten days of Ramadan and get
COUNTLESS rewards inshallah
Also
don’t forget that the Reward of Salaah multiplied 70 times or more by use of
Miswaak
‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) has reported that,
“The
prayer before which the Miswak is used is seventy times more excellent than that
before which it is not used.”
7. Increase in Dhikr (Rememberance of Allah)
We should glorify Allah night and day, especially in these last ten days of the
blessed month of Ramadan. Remembering Allah much through acts of dhikr brings
much peace and tranquillity to the heart. It also gives us a sense of taqwa
(fear of allah), a consciousness that makes us realise that Allah Almighty is
ever near and that we should always strive to please Him.
"…Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest."
(13:28)
Remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue.
(29:46).
Here are some beneficial Dhikr and glorification we can do throughout the
last ten days and nights of this blessed month and throughout the year Inshallah:
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
"Is
anyone of you incapable of earning one thousand Hasanah (rewards) a day?"
Someone from the gathering asked,
"How
can anyone of us earn a thousand Hasanah?"
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
"Glorify Allah a hundred times by just saying “Subhanallah”
and a
Good deeds will be written for you, or a thousand sins will be wiped away.”
(Muslim 4:2073)
Hadhrat Abu Dharr [Ra] narrated that Rasulallah [Saw] said:
“Should I not tell you of one treasure of the unlimited treasures of Paradise?”
I replied spontaneously
“Oh
Rasulallah (Saw) that would be an honour indeed!”
Rasulallah (Saw) said:
“That
rare treasure is LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH.”
(“The strength to do good and to refrain from evil comes from the grace and
mercy of Allah!”) - (Ibn Majah)
Hadhrat Jaa'bir [Ra] narrated that Rasulallah [Saw] said:
“For
the person who recites
SUB-HAN'ALLAH
HIL AZEEM WA BI-HAM'DIHI,
[Pure and perfect is Allah in his glory and praise], -
A
date palm will be planted for him in Paradise”
(Tirmidhi)
The Virtues of reading the First Kalimah: The word of purity or the
kalima-e-tayyabah.
Lâ ilâha illâ-llâh, Muḥammadur Rasűlu-llâh
(There is no god except Allah, Muhammad (Saw) is His Messenger)
Hadrat Zaid bin ‘Arqam (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the
Messenger of Allah ( ) said: “Whoever says
La
ilaaha illal-laahu…
sincerely will enter the Paradise.”
It was said:
And
what is the [sign of] sincerity?
He said:
“That
this kalimah stops him from those things which Allah has forbidden.”
(Tabaraani in Awsat-ul-Kabeer)
The Virtues of reading the Third Kalimah: The word of glorification or the
kalima-e-tamjeed
Subhâna-llâhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llâhi, wa lâ ilâha illâ-llâhu, wa-llâhu akbar. Wa
lâ hawla wa lâ quwwata illâ bi-llâhi-l-aliyyi-l-azîm
Glory be to Allah. And praise be to Allah. And there is no god except Allah. And
Allah is the Greatest. And there is no power and no strength except with Allah,
the Most High, Most Great.
Ibn Mas’ood (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah
( ) said:
“When
I met Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in the night of Mi’raaj he asked me to
convey his Salaam to my Ummah and to tell them that the Paradise has a fertile
soil and sweet water, and is like a vast field. And its plants are [the words
above].”
Another version says:
“Whoever recites the words above, a tree in Paradise is planted for him for each
word he says.”
(Virtues of Dhikr; Tirmidhi)
Virtues of reading the Fourth Kalimah:
The
word of Oneness of Allah or the kalima-e-tawhid:
Lâ
ilâha illâ-llâhu waḥdahu lâ sharîka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa
yumîtu wa huwa ḥayyu-llâ yaműtu abadan abada, ḏű-l-jalâli wa-l-ikrâm,
biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alâ kulli Shay-in qadîr.
There is no god except Allah, Who is Alone and has no partners. For Him is the
Dominion and for Him is all praise. He gives life and causes death. And He is
Living and will never ever die. Owner of Majesty and Honor: In His Hands is all
goodness. And He has power over all things.
Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah
(Saw) said: “A person who recites:
Laa
ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa
‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer,
a
hundred times daily will have reward equal to that of freeing ten slaves and one
hundred good deeds will be written for him, and one hundred of his sins will be
lifted from him, and for the whole day, he will remain immune from the Shaytaan
until the evening, and on the Day of Judgment, no one will exceed him in merit
except one who has done [these phrases] more.”
(Bukhari,Book #75, Hadith #412)
Its
SO easy and quick to Earn 500 good deeds in a few minutes in Ramadhan.
If you were to manage 500 good deeds every day of Ramadan, you would receive
(70 times 500 = 35000) multiplied by 30 days..........1,050,000 deeds! One
million fifty thousand deeds!
Just
say Subhanallah 100 times, Alhamdullilah 100 times, Allahu Akbar 100 times, La
ilaha il Allah 100 times and Astaghfar allah 100 times.
8. Make much dua
We should be very busy in Dua as much as we can especially in the last ten days
and nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. How unfortunate is the one who does
not make use of these last ten nights to supplicate to his lord.
We find many reassurances throughout the Quran for those who make Dua.
Allah the Exalted, has said:
"And
your Lord says: Pray unto me: and I will hear your prayer"
(Quran 40:60),
"Call
upon your Lord Humbly and in secret"
(Quran 7:55),
"When
My servants question thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen
to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me"
(Quran 2:186),
"Is
not He (best) who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who
relieves its suffering."
(Quran 27:62)
Aisha radhiallaahu anha said,
"No
believer makes Dua and it is wasted. Either it is granted here in this world or
deposited for him in the Hereafter as long as he does not get frustrated."
In fact, it is a gaining Allah’s displeasure and anger to never make Dua,
"Whosoever
does not supplicate to Allah, He will be angry with Him."
[Saheeh Jaami`as-Sagheer #2414]
So let us occupy ourselves in much Dua especially the times when it is most
readily accepted like just before we break our fasts and also at Tahajjud time.
Thos who do not make the best of this opportunity has surely lost out greatly.
Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:
"When
my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I
listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186] The place
of duaa is so high to Allah, that the Prophet had said: "Nothing is more
honourable to Allah the Most High than du`a."[Sahih
al-Jami` no.5268].
He also said:
"The
most excellent worship is du`a."
[Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1133];
9. Seek out Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
So valuable is this Night of Qadr that the Quran devotes a special surah to
it
“Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months”
[97:3] This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. The most
authentic account of the occurrence of the Night indicates that it can occur on
any one of the last ten, odd numbered nights of Ramadan. We should strive to
stay up at least on the odd nights of the last ten days because if we pray on
these nights then surely we would have caught this most powerful night and this
would mean we would have a reward of 83 YEARS OF WORSHIP!
Some special prayers and Dhikr for Laitul Qadr
1. Seeking Forgiveness.
Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa asked the Prophet sallalahu alayhi
wasallam that if she happened to get the night sublime what prayer should she
say. The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam replied that she should say the
following prayer :
"Allahumma innaka afuwwun kareemun tuhib-bul af-wa fa-afo anni"
(O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, loves forgiving, so
forgive me.)
2. Reciting Astaghfar.
The following should be recited as much as possible:
"Astaghfirullah hallazi la-ila-ha illa huwal Hayyul Qayyumo wa atu-bu ilaihe"
(I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Almighty; there is no God but He. He is
self-Existent, the Eternal and I return to Him)
3. Reciting Surah `Inna anzalnahu...'
"Inna
anzalnahu fee lailatul Qadr, Wa maa adraka maa lailatul Qadr.
Lailatul Qadri khairum min alfi shahr. Tanazzalul malai-katu var-roohu
fee ha bi izni Rabbihim min kulle amr. Salaamun heya hatta matla-il fajr."
Want all your lifes previous sins forgiven?
Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu `anhu) narrated that the Messenger (sallallahu
`alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr out of faith and expectation (of
Allah's reward), will have ALL of his previous sins forgiven."
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
It is also the Night when all ordainments for the year are decreed. Allah (T)
said, which means:
{By
the manifest Book (the Quraan) that makes thing clear. We sent it (this
Quraan) down on a Blessed Night (i.e. the Night of Qadr) in the month of
Ramadaan. Verily We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torments will reach
those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of
Wordship]. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter (amran) of
ordainment}
(The Smoke 44:2-5)
SO LET US WORSHIP ALLAH EVERY ODD NIGHT (21,23,25,27,29) IN THE LAST TEN DAYS OF
RAMADAN AND GAIN THE COUNTLESS REWARDS AND FORGIVENESS THAT IS PROMISED TO THOSE
PEOPLE WHO STAND IN PRAYER ON THESE MOST IMPORTANT AND BLESSED NIGHTS!
10. Assess and evaluate yourself and make the changes for the rest of the
year!
While the practice of fasting during Ramadan is widely followed, the instruction
about self-evaluation has largely been forgotten.
Self-evaluation means to assess where you are in life, set goals for the future,
and think of what you can do to get there. The process of self-evaluation makes
you pro-active in directing your life. Unless we take the initiative our lives
will be shaped by circumstances.
We need to assess ourselves and since this month made us prevent ourselves from
doing many of the sins we may usually do why should we go back to those sins now
that we have stopped or reduced them?
Let us continue with the good habits that we have gained and acquired in Ramadan
and take them with us throughout the rest of the year.
If we continue the rest of the year with the evil we committed before Ramadan
then know that we are risking the acceptance of all of our fasts and good deeds
because Ramadan is not merely just for abstaining from food and evil for just
one month but is a time to train ourselves to change for the better in everyway
so that we may become god fearing and pious and continue that way the rest of
the year.
We should strive to continue the good we have done in Ramadan throughout the
year and discontinue the evil that we left before Ramadan and NEVER go back to
it.
May Allah guide us all to the right path and make us pious servants of his.
Ameen.
Article taken from:
http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?270448-10-Steps-to-Maximising-the-Last-Ten-Days-of-Ramadan
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