Lailatul-Qadr

Bismillähir-Rahmänir-Rahïm. In the Name of God, most Merciful, most Compassionate.
Allah! Creator who gave us integrity! Bestower of tranquillity and peace! Allah, Giver of true sustenance (rizq) and grace (rahmat).
Within man You placed everything of this world and the world of souls: the throne of God (‘arsh), the gnostic eye (kursï), the pen (qalam), heaven, and the preserved tablet (al-lauhul-mahfüz), which is destiny.
One who is Lord, You gave us everything: You gave us completeness, long life, and death. Allah, You are the One who made us complete.
You gave us every wealth, You gave us Your rahmat and the supreme treasure of the three worlds. In making us human, You have given us greatness, glory, and wisdom.
Allähu ta‘älä, the Singular One who rules and sustains, You gave us the certitude, the reverence, and the resolute faith (ïmän) to worship You.
Allah, Bestower of all gifts, You are the One who gave us a life without death and a life with death. You gave us a perfect heaven, an imperfect body, and an imperfect hell. You gave us resplendent wisdom and ïmän. You also gave us the darkness of ignorance and desire.
You gave us undiminishing wealth, the grace-wealth of all the universes, the Rahmatul-‘älamïn. You gave us this most perfect wealth of faith, conviction, inner patience (sabür), contentment (shakür), trust in God (tawakkul), and total surrender to God (al-hamdu lilläh).
You gave us this wealth which brings contentment. You gave us this fortune of grace and made us complete. You gave us the imperfect world and its hypnotic fascinations. You gave us ignorant desire and attachments. You gave us the darkness of sensory enticements that bring about bold, restless, base desires with their connections to the world.
You also gave us the light of love and grace. You gave us this perfection. O Giver of all things, Allähu, Lord of all universes, we have abandoned Your gifts of perfection, and joyously desiring things that are imperfect, we walk on the path of destruction.
We follow our minds and desires, let go of completeness, and reach out to death. We follow our base desires and roam the world, falling prey to sensory enticements, the darkness of illusion, torpor, lust, anger, and hatred.
Allähu, please protect us who walk the path of evil. Please destroy arrogance, karma, and maya. Help us to walk the straight path and bring us peace. Destroy our fecal arrogance. Destroy our differences and lead us on harmonious paths of peace.
Enable us to do charity and to fast. Give us the faith, the prayer, and the proper way to pray to You. Charity, fasting, and the pilgrimage of Hajj—these duties will be realized by wisdom, feeling, faith, and awareness, by actions that realize You, and by the wisdom that trusts others as one trusts oneself.
Since the fast is suitable for and will be understood by feeling, awareness, and intellect, [the first three wisdoms] this fast was revealed to the Rasül; may peace and blessings be upon him. God revealed the fullness and reverence of this faith to the Rasül (Sal.) and said, “O Muhammad, make your followers understand this. Tell them to do this task, this ordained duty. For those who have declared the affirmation of faith (kalimah), and have resolute faith, this will be an ordained duty.
For those who realize this, and for those who know Me, this will be rahmat. If man understands and fulfills this, if he understands and does his duty to all lives, I will give him My wealth, I will give him My grace, I will give him the perfection of Imän— the rahmat of all the universes.
If man lives like Me, with unity, tolerance, and equanimity, this will be the greatest of fasts. It will be rahmat. It will be the attainment of My throne. It will be the attainment of union with Me (äkhir). An undiminishing wealth! Paradise! A treasure that will bring happiness!
O Muhammad, understand, and ask your followers to do this. Direct them on the straight path of divine knowledge (‘ilm). Tell them to study the divine knowledge that is My rahmat.
Make them understand this mysterious divine knowledge. It will make them silent and patient with everyone. And when man understands himself through divine knowledge, he will know himself and Me. Make them understand the Wisdom within wisdom. Make them understand Resolute Faith within resolute faith. Make them understand Worship within worship and perform it. Make them understand Charity within charity and do it. Make them understand the Fast within fasting and accomplish it.
Through divine knowledge, make them think about the Pilgrimage within the pilgrimage, the Hajj within the hajj, and undertake this task with understanding. Make them understand the True Man within man. Make them realize the One who exists as Perfection within perfected man (insän kämil).
Make them understand and realize the Resplendence within Perfection, the Qutb, Make them understand the one who is the Qutb within the qutb. Make them realize the Resplendent Perfection who is the Nür within the Nür. Make them realize Allah, the Treasure within the Nür.
One who understands the rahmat, that all of everything is contained in Allah, will be one of pure faith, a mu’min. This one of pure faith will be perfected man, the resplendence of absolute faith (dïnul-Isläm). He will never see hell, never see death. He will have received the rahmat of eternal life. He will live with the compassion that is life to all lives.
With the name ‘Abdulläh, he will be a slave to God and serve Him. Once he realizes the proper ways of ïmän, he will need none other; he will remain as God’s slave. Make them realize this state. When man realizes and looks within, I will be the Rahmat. If he understands true man, I will be the True Man within man— the Insän within insän.
I will be the Perfection within perfected man— the Kämil in insän kämil. I will be Divine Knowledge within divine knowledge, I will be Resolute Faith within resolute faith, I will be Charity within charity, I will be the Fast within the fast, I will be the Pilgrimage within the pilgrimage, and I will be the Affirmation within the affirmation of faith—the Kalimah within the kalimah.
I will be Worship within worship, I will be experienced as Belief within belief. I will also be the Eye within the eye, I will be Wealth within wealth, and I will be the Light within the Light of God—the Nür within the Nür.
I will be the Inner Heart within the inner heart, I will be the Resplendent One within divine knowledge, I will be the Qutb within the qutb, I will be Allah within the Nür, and as Allah within Allah, I will serve and be known as the Rahmat of all universes.
O Muhammad, make your followers understand this. To those who have wisdom, those who have ïmän, those who have certitude, and those who have become slaves, tell them this, and explain it to them. And even those who do not comprehend this, tell them to do the five ordained duties and attain understanding. Preach wisdom to them, and through wisdom, make them understand.”
Furthermore, God, the Singular One who rules and sustains, gave these explanations ( ahädith)— these words that will be known as the inner meanings of the Qur’an and as words of divine knowledge—to the Rasül, may peace be upon him. He explained the meanings of the fast to the Rasül (Sal.), saying, “O Muhammad, even as I sent down the first sürat  to you on Mount Hira, I sent down this light and rahmat. I sent it to you as Lailatul-Qadr.
When I sent it to you that day, the first light which descended embedded itself in your inner heart. I sent down the light known as Lailatul-Qadr and kept your inner heart open. I made the heart of an ummï into a heart of ‘ilm— the heart of an unlettered one into a heart with sacred knowledge. I made it into rahmat. I made it remember. I made it into light. I made it so that you would be understood. And to you I revealed the rahmat that is Allähu as the light, the Lailatul-Qadr. I fed this light to your inner heart. O Muhammad, if man climbs the black rocky mountain of his heart and goes beyond, if he opens the bismin-käi, the minute morsel of flesh, goes within, climbs beyond, and worships Me with a melting heart, I will send down the divine knowledge known as Lailatul-Qadr. I will send this into his inner heart.
O Muhammad, I will send down the same divine knowledge, the same Lailatul-Qadr, to anyone who opens his melted inner heart and offers worship. This qadr, this ray, will resplend. It will resonate in the inner heart. I made the angel Gabriel hold you tight, three times. Then after you had crushed the three desires, earth, woman, and gold,  after you had crushed arrogance, karma, and maya, desire, anger, sin, and hell, after you had crushed all these black stones that arise from the bile, I sent down the light known as Qadr.
I made it descend and embed itself in your inner heart. That day, that first time, I sent the light, I sent the Qur’an.
All the lights I sent down to you after that were like rays of splendor to your inner heart. Every sentence and every word was a ray of light. All these rays were the Lailatul-Qadr. The Light known as Nür Muhammad accepted each meaning I sent down and made it its own.
Once established, it is revealed on the outside as the Thiru Qur’an, and as the inner Qur’an, the Thiru-Marai. When it emerges, each light is a ray, a qadr. The ray is the soul. The soul is light. The light is rahmat. The rahmat is fullness. This fullness is the light of ïmän, which is resplendent. This resplendence is the dïn, the light of purity. This light of purity is the Life of life, the Hayät. This Hayät is mysterious. And I, as the Mystery within the mystery, will be the One who bestows on all lives the rahmat of Bismillähir-Rahmänir-Rahïm— the limitless grace of God, most Merciful, most Compassionate.
O Muhammad, explain the meaning of ïmän to your followers, give them divine knowledge, open their inner hearts, and break down the rocks of darkness, the black rocks of sensory enticements. Break down earth, fire, arrogance, karma, maya, anger, lust, selfishness, pride, and jealousy. When man breaks down these black rocks and crushes them with his wisdom, when man breaks the hard rocks with the light of läm (Nür), the form of mim that comes into being will be Muhammad.
When this sürat, this form of Muhammad, comes into being, when this state dawns, worship with a melting heart will grow. When this worship begins to thrive, the first sürat will dawn in his inner heart as Lailatul-Qadr.
When man becomes one of pure faith and one whose heart is filled with the resplendence of God (Ïmän-Isläm), his heart, aham, will open. When all the darkness is destroyed, the light known as Ahamad will dawn. This light will imbibe each word spoken by Me. When the words are absorbed and then revealed, they will be the power of My attributes, My wiläyat. They will be the Asmä’ul-Husnä of the Qur’an, the ninety-nine wiläyat.
One who has propriety, good conduct, modesty, good qualities, patience, inner patience, contentment, trust in God, total surrender to God, and the righteousness, certitude, and completeness of ïmän, one who becomes a light within this and acts with My actions is my slave.
He is one of pure faith, and he is Muhammad. He is the light, and the Light of God—Nür. He will be rahmat, He will be My wealth of patience, He will practice patience.
O Muhammad! Say this to those who come with ïmän, seeking to realize Me. Of the ordained duties and everything I revealed to you, the first thing I sent down was the light, the Lailatul-Qadr.
When your followers reach this state, My words, My explanations (ahadïth), and the letters of the Qur’an will be like souls (rüh) and rays of light. Life will be perfection. It will be rahmat. He who understands this will be one of pure faith. He will be ïmän. He will be perfected man. He will be qutb. He will be Nür. He will be Nür Muhammad.
He will have received Allah’s rahmat by being Allah’s slave. When he receives My rahmat he will understand My divine knowledge (‘ilm). His inner heart will be ever resplendent. His heart and face will have the beauty of having seen Me. He will do My duty.
O Muhammad, tell your followers this. Tell them this, show them the explanations of divine knowledge, and make them realize. Make them follow this path of wisdom and reach Me. Through determination, certitude, and patience, make them see Me. Only then will man achieve good results. Only then will he understand this fast.”
Thus spoke God to the Rasül; may the peace of God be upon him.
May all of us understand this. May we understand faith, worship, ïmän, prayer, charity, fasting, and the pilgrimage of Hajj. When we understand the five outer duties and the inner duties and establish resolute faith, we will become Muhammad.
Then, when we come out of the cave and perform prayers with a melting heart, the light known as Lailatul-Qadr will descend. When this resplendent ïmän and sürat are sent down, the three desires will have been broken down, and the religions will have been destroyed. Our inner heart will be filled with divine knowledge and we will be ummï, forgetting everything but replete with Allah’s divine knowledge.
Only God’s qualities, His divine knowledge, and His words will be absorbed by the inner heart. And when they are revealed on the outside, they will be words of life. They will be light. We must understand this divine knowledge, this ‘ilm.
My brothers and sisters, children born with me, Allähu ta‘älänayan, the Singular One, who rules and sustains, bestowed this rahmat on the Rasül (Sal.). In many ways, in the ahadïth and the Qur’an, He has placed His divine knowledge (‘ilm) as an inner mystery and has provided the explanations.
We should understand this and worship Allah inwardly. If we do, we can attain the treasure and rahmat. We will receive that rahmat. Each child must use insight. We must search for wisdom. We must study ‘ilm inwardly.
Ämın, O Lord of the universes. Please bestow on us Your benevolence and Your rahmat, and so grace us.
Please fill these children with resolute faith. Please keep open the hearts of each of my children. Please keep darkness away from their inner hearts. Break down the black rocks of darkness and delusion. Send down the light of Lailatul-Qadr into their inner hearts.
O Allah! Please give them the intention to worship on Your path and offer prayers with a melting heart, and so grace them.
Amın, O Lord of the universes. May the peace, the beneficence, and the blessings of God be upon you.
Go and fulfill your fast.

10 ways to Maximize the Last 10 Days of Ramadan

The last 10 days of Ramadan are the most blessed & we should increase our Worship & Devotion:

Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim).

Aisha (Ra) reported: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work harder) and used to pray the whole night, & used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari)

So there is still time for us to redeem ourselves in the last 10 blessed days of Ramadan. We must NOT miss this opportunity otherwise we will regret it forever. We should strive to seek out night of power which is hidden in one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, particularly in the odd numbered nights.

So this is our chance to get closer to Allah & to gain his mercy and forgiveness of ALL of our past and present sins! Therefore we should put everything into the last 10 nights & know that we will get so much more in return. But if we waste these nights then we will regret it FOREVER!


The following are 10 ways which we can maximize these blessed nights:


1. Sitting I'tikaf in the last 10 days



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. I'tikaf is a great Sunnah:

Aishah (RA) 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 & Majestic, took him." (Bukhari & Muslim)

Abu Said reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Whoever makes I`tikaf with me is to make I'tikaf during the last ten [nights]." (Bukhari)

Women can also sit I'tikaf

Women can also sit I'tikaf at the Masjid with husbands permission. There is a difference of opinion whether she can sit I'tikaf at home. The Hanafi madhab states a woman can sit I'tikaf at a designated place in her home.

Nawafil I'tikaf:

If a person cannot sit I'tikaf for the full 10 days & nights then they should try & sit I'thikaf on as many days & nights as they possibly can.

They can make intention of doing Nawafil I'tikaf everytime they enter the Masjid so a person will be rewarded for the duration of their stay in the Masjid as long as they did not commit any sins or indulge in idle talk.

Immense rewards for sitting I'tikaf

Ali Ibn Hussain (RA) narrates from his father that Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “He who observes the ten days I’tikaf during Ramadhan will obtain the reward of two Hajj & two Umrah.” (Bayhaqi)

Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) reported that Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: “Whosoever for Allah’s sake did even one days i’tikaf, Allah would keep him away from Jahannam by trenches.” (Tabarani)

What an amazing opportunity for us to gain such immense & abundant rewards aswell as closeness to Allah. We can also take this opportunity to strengthen & boost our imaan (faith) for the rest of the year.


2. Schedule & Monitor Daily Worship




What better way to maximise our worship during the last 10 days of Ramadan than to plan & schedule our time so that we can spend it as effectively as possible. By setting ourselves daily targets we can ensure that we are more likely to achieve them.

Below are links where you can download an hourly scheduler where you can set yourself hourly worship targets & schedule your daily worship. There is also a daily worship check where you can check & monitor your daily worship throughout the last ten nights:





3. Exerting oneself in worship during last 10 night's



We should make more effort during the last 10 days:

Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim).

Aisha (RA) reported: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work harder) & used to pray all the night, & used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari)

The last ten days & nights of Ramadan are the most blessed. Therefore we should exert themselves in worship even more during each of the last 10 days and nights, particularly the last ten odd numbered nights: 21, 23, 25, 27, 29.

By worshipping the last 10 nights we would be most likely to catch the night of power & gain the reward of over 83 years of worship! Subhanallah thats longer than the average human life expectancy!



4. Reciting Qur'an abundantly


What better time to recite the Qur'an than in ones of the very nights it was revealed - The Night of Power.

Therefore we should increase our recitation even more during the last ten days & nights. The pious predecessors used to increase the amount of Qur'an they recited during the last ten days & nights.

Remember: The reward for reciting each letter of the Qur'an during Ramadan is 700 hasanah or more. Subhanallah!

So we should make a target during the last 10 days using the scheduler provided above in point 4 and put down a target of how much Qur'an we will recite each day & night. We should try & aim to complete the Qur'an at least once if not more by the end of the last 10 days of Ramadan.

Along with recitation we should also read & learn the meanings of the Qur'an. We should contemplate & ponder over the verses & implement what we read & learn into our daily lives.

Note: We should try & recite Surah Ya-sin everyday particularly after Fajr time. We should also recite Surah Mulk before we going to sleep & Surah Kahf every Jumma. Other very rewarding Surahs we can recite much of are Surah's Zilzalah, Al Kaafirun & Al Ikhlas

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas & Anas Ibn Malik (RA) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah Zilzilah (99) would get the reward of reciting half the Qur’an. Whoever recited Surah al Kaafirun (109) would get a reward as if reading a quarter of the Qur’an. Whoever recited Surah al Ikhlas (112) would get a reward as if reading one third of the Qur’an’. (At-Tirmidhi 2818/A)



5. Nawafil (Voluntary) prayers



What better way of drawing closer to Allah during the last 10 days of Ramadan than by praying the voluntary prayers:

Allah says in Hadith Qudsi:

....And My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love him, [Bukhari]

Does anyone want the company of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in Jannah? Then increase in praying the Nawafil prayers:

Rabi'ah Ibn Malik al-Aslami reported that the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam said: "Ask (anything)." Rabi'ah said: "I ask of you to be your companion in paradise." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Or anything else?" Rabi'ah said: "That is it." The Prophet Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam said to him: "Then help me by making many prostrations (i.e., Nawafil prayers)." (Muslim)

The reward for praying fard prayers outside of Ramadan is the greatest a Muslim can gain but in Ramadan we get the same reward for praying a Nawafil prayer. Subhaanallah! What other time of the year are Nawafil prayers rewarded equal to that of a fard prayer?

Therefore we should strive to pray as many Nawafils as possible during the last 10 days & nights of Ramadan, so that we can get closer to Allah & gain the company of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in Jannah. On top of that each Nawafil prayer carries the reward of a fard prayer!


Sunnah & Nawafil prayers to pray during last 10 days:


1. Pray 12 Raka'ahs of Sunnah daily: - 2 Sunnah of Fajr, 4 Sunnah & 2 Sunnah of Dhuhr & 2 Sunnah of Maghrib

Umm Habibah Ramilah bint Abu Sufyan (RA) narrated she heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying: “A house will be built in Paradise for every Muslim who offers twelve units of Prayers other than the obligatory ones in day & night, to seek pleasure of Allah.” (Muslim)


2. Salaatul Duhaa (Can be prayed from 20 mins after sunrise up until 20 minutes before Dhuhr begins)

So we should remain seated after Fajr prayer & recite the Qur'an or do Dhikr up until 20 minutes after Sunrise & pray Salaatul Duhaa. If not then we can pray it anytime before midday.

'Salat al-Dhuhaa consists of 2 - 12 Rakaats & it is preferable to perform 8 Rakaats.' (Raddul Mukhtaar vol.1 pg.505)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: Whoever prayed twelve rakaats (before midday), then Allah will, as a reward, prepare a palace of gold for him in Paradise. (Mishkat, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

3. 4 Sunnah, 2 Sunnah & 2 Nawafil of Dhuhr

Umm Habibah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever sticks to the habit of offering four rak`ahs before Noon Prayer & four rak`ahs after it, Allah will shield him against the Hell-Fire.” (Abu Dawud & At-Tirmidhi)

4. 4 Raka'ahs Sunnah of Asr

The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi wa sallam) said:"May Allaah have Mercy on the one who offers four (Raka'ahs) before 'Asr prayer."(Abu Dawud)

5. Two Raka'ahs Sunnah after entering Masjid

Abu Qatadah (RA) narrated the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as saying: “If any one of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rak`ahs before sitting.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

6. Tahiyyatul Wudu - 2 Raka'ahs Sunnah after doing Wudu (Ablution)

Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying to Bilal (RA): “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 (RA) 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.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)”


7. The MOST REWARDING Nawafil Prayer of all is Tahajjud

Allah Most High said: “Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of the night, & (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn is ever witnessed. And some part of the night awake for its recital, as voluntary worship for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised estate.” (Qur’an, 17: 78-79)

Imam Abu Sa'id al-Khadimi said, "There is scholarly consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous acts is the night vigil prayer." [al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]


The scholars derived the following in regards to Tahajjud from the Qur'an & Prophetic Hadiths:

1. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 Rakaats. [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

2. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 Rakaats, because this was the general practice of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

3. Lengthier recitation of Qur'an is superior to a larger number of Rakaats prayed. [Durr al-Mukhtaar, Radd al-Muhtar]

If one has not memorized much of the Qur'an then one should recite whatever they know or recite Surah Ikhlas 3 times after Surah Faathiha in each rakah to gain reward of reciting entire Qur'an.

4. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short Rakaats, because of the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "If you get up for night prayer, start with two short Rakaats." [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

We should pray Tahajjud every night in the last 10 nights for one of those nights could be Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power). If we cannot do all 10 nights then we should at least try to pray Tahajjud in as many nights as we possibly can particularly in the odd numbered nights: 21,23,25,27,29.

We should wake up a little earlier for Sehri, make Wudu & pray a minimum of 2 Raka'ahs of Tahajjud but try to aim for at least 8 Raka'ahs.

Abu Hurayrah (RA), related that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth & proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, & I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything & I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, & I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).

The last third portion of the night is the most blessed & dua's are readily accepted at this time. So by praying Tahajjud it gives us the best opportunity to get closer to Allah & to make sincere dua, repenting for our sins past & present & to crying & asking of Allah for whatever we want.

If we cannot cry due to the hardness of our hearts then we should at least make the face as if we are crying. Just as a mother tends to her baby quicker & more promptly when it is crying in the same way Allah tends to his servants quicker when they are crying.

Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "I cannot pray at night." He said, "Your sins have prevented you."






6. Excessive Remembrance of Allah




We should increase our remembrance of Allah during the last 10 days of Ramadan, keeping our lips moist in his glorification & praises.

Surely we will have utter regret in the hereafter for each second wasted without remembering Allah:

Mu`adh Ibn Jabal (RA) said that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "The People of Paradise will not regret anything except one thing alone: the hour that passed them by in which they made no remembrance of Allah." Narrated Bayhaqi in Shu`ab al-iman (1:392 #512-513)

The highest rank in Jannah are for those who remembered Allah the most:

Abu Sa`id (RA) narrates the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was asked, "Which of the servants of Allah is best in rank before Allah on the Day of resurrection?" He said: "The ones who remember him much."I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what about the fighter in the way of Allah?" He answered: "Even if he strikes the unbelievers & mushrikin with his sword until it broke, & becomes red with their blood, truly those who do Dhikr are better than him in rank." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, & Bayhaqi)

What better time to start remembering Allah more than during the blessed last 10 days od Ramadan.

The following are 11 Dhikr, supported by Hadith that we can recite throughout last 10 nights:


Note: We should try & aim to recite each of these 10 Dhikr a 100 times each which makes a total of 1000 a day minimum.

1. Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee - Recite this abundantly during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

2. Subhaanallah

3. Alhamdulillah

4. Allahu Akbar

5. Laa ilaaha illallah

6. LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH-HIL ALIYYIL ADHEEM

7. Asthaghfirullah-halladhee Laa ilaaha illa-huwal Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay

Or short version: Asthaghfirullah

8. SUB-HAAN'ALLAAHi WA BI-HAM'DIHI SUB-HAAN'ALLAH-IL ADHEEM

Or short version: SUB-HAAN'ALLAAHi WA BI-HAM'DIHI

9. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm

10. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr

Or the shortened version:

Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer

11. Radeetu billahi Rabban Wa bil Islami deenan Wabi Muhammadin Nabiyyan

We should also recite much of durood e Ibrahim which is the durood that is recited towards the end of Salaah.

Or the shortest durood is: Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim





7. Making Excessive Dua



Almighty Allah 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 Dua is so high in front of Allah, that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim) has said: "Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than Dua." [Sahih al-Jami` no.5268].

Allah loves repentance & loves those who turn to him in sincere repentance, so repent unto him sincerely as much as possible:

Truly Allah loves those who turn [to Him] in repentance... (Qur'an 2:222)

Many of us rush our Dua’s & quite often our hearts are not present whilst we are making dua to Allah. That is why we lose out on much of the benefits & blessings of Dua. Therefore we should not let our minds wonder whilst in Dua & we should concentrate more, making sure our hearts are present whilst asking of Allah. Whilst we are in dua we should imagine Almighty Allah in front of us & so we should humble ourselves in front of him in a state of meekness & humility.

It may also help if we made a list of what we want to ask Allah during our dua’s. We can then refer to this list as a reminder so that we can cover everything we need to ask him, which may help in making our Dua’s longer & more sincere. This is because we will not always remember everything we want to ask Allah unless we note it down & refer back to it when we need to.

The times when Dua's are most accepted during the last 10 days are:

1. The third portion of the night shortly before sehri ends. 2. Whilst fasting. 3. Between Asr & Maghrib. 4. Just before fast opens. 5. On Jumma before & after khutba. 6. Between Adhan & Iqamah. 7. After Qur'an recitation. 8. The Night of Qadr 9. Whilst it is raining.

Let us not be of those who pass by Ramadan without gaining any forgiveness:

Rasullullah (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam) said: ...the angel Jibra’il appeared before me & said: Destruction to him who found the blessed month of Ramadan & let it pass by without gaining forgiveness...’ Upon that I said: ‘Amin.’ (Al-Bukhari, Al-Tabrani)

What better opportunity to make long & sincere dua's to Allah than in the last 10 days & nights of Ramadan. If we make dua every night then we may be lucky enough to have made dua in the night of power where all dua's are accepted.



8. Practising the Sunnah



Following the Sunnah is a command from Allah:

"Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Quran & the Sunnah), Allah will love you & forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran: 3:31)

Almighty Allah says: “There certainly is an excellent example in Allah's messenger for he who fears Allah & the last day & remembers Allah abundantly” (al-Ahzaab 21)

By following the Sunnah in every aspect of our daily lives, everything we do will become worship, even going to the toilet, having a bath, dressing & undressing etc.

Annas (RA) reports the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) advised: “Whoever cherishes my Sunnah, indeed he cherishes me & whoever loves me will be with me in Jannah.” (Tirmidhi: 2678: Ibid)

We should practise & implement the Sunnah throughout the last 10 days of Ramadan for eg the Sunnah's of awakening, using miswak, of eating, drinking, going to the toilet, before sleeping etc. Then EVERYTHING we do during the last 10 days of Ramadan will become worship & immense reward!

REMEMBER: Doing voluntary good deeds in Ramadan carries the reward of FARD! Subhanallah!


Reviving the Sunnah:

Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” (Tirmidhi)


The following free E book contains complete daily Sunnah's & dua's from waking up in the morning until going to sleep at night:


9. Repentance of past & present sins


We should cry & beg of Allah to give us his mercy & forgiveness especially in the last 10 blessed nights of Ramadan. If we leave Ramadan without gaining the mercy of Allah then surely we are of the most unfortunate and amongst the biggest losers in this world and the next.

Best dua for gaining mercy & forgiveness in the last 10 days & nights:

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: "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee" (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, & Tirmidhi).

Stand in prayer to gain forgiveness for all sins

Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) 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).

Best opportunity for forgiveness of past & present sins:

This is our best opportunity to gain forgiveness of our past ans present sins. Forget the past now, lear from it & take lessons from it. What matters is NOW. So ask of Allah everynight epecially in the odd numbered nights for mercy & forgiveness.

When we make Dua we should imagine Allah is watching us and so we should call on him like a begger, crying to him. If we can't cry due to the hardness of our hearts then we should at least act & make the face like we are crying. We should ask of Allah sincerely with remorse & intention not to repeat such sins again for forgiveness of our past & present sins.



10. Seeking out Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)


{By the manifest Book (the Quran) 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..(The Smoke 44:2-5)


So valuable is the Night of Qadr (Power) 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, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29. It may also occur on any of the even nights.

Therefore we should strive to stay up & worship on all of the last 10 nights of Ramadan. If we can't do that then we should at least worship on the odd numbered nights of the last ten days. If we still can't manage that then let us pray on whatever nights we can, minimum on the 27th night.

There is NO doubt that if we pray on all of the last ten nights of Ramadan then we will catch this auspicious night & gain the rewards of over 83 YEARS OF WORSHIP! Subhaanallah! Most do not live upto such an age!

The following dua should be recited as much as possible during the last 10 nights of Ramadan:

Aisha (RA) said: I asked the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam): 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said Say:

"Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee

Trans: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning & You love to pardon, so pardon me.' " (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, & Tirmidhi).


Forgiveness of past & present sins on Laylatul Qadr

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (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)



Conclusion


As we fast approach the end of Ramadan we must evaluate ourselves & think to ourselves what we have learnt about ourselves & what good habits we have acquired and what evil and bad habits we have left behind.
We must NOT stop doing the good we aqcuired throughout Ramadan as soon as it finishes. We should continue reciting the Qur'an & making long sincere dua's. We should continue guarding our eyes, ears, tongue and privates away from sin & harm. We should continue to strive to please Allah & get closer to him. We should continue to make effort on our imaan (faith). We must NOT let go of the good habits we acquired & instead go back to our old ways again.

Allah knows our intentions and what is in our hearts and If we go back to the way we are before Ramadan then how can we expect our good deeds and efforts to be accepted? The very purpose of Ramadan is that doing good becomes easier & so it gives us a wonderful opportunity to be able to train ourselves to become better & stronger Muslims. It enables us to let go of the bad habits & to acquire good ones instead. It enables us to strengthen our imaan (faith). Best of all it enables us to get closer to Allah

If we leave all of the good we acquired as soon as Ramadan ends then we will in effect just throw away our Ramadan & risk our good deeds & efforts not being accepted.

This is our chance to change our lives for the better FOREVER. So we must NOT miss this opportunity for we may not be alive next Ramadan.
Therefore let us continue the good we acquired during Ramadan throughout the year & never go back to our old ways.

May Allah enable us to make the necessery changes this Ramadan and for us to continue that way throughout the year. Ameen.

Ramadan Kareem - Useful Info

The Quran and Hadith on Ramadan

THE QURAN ON FASTING
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
(Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know." (2:183-84)
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other days.
Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him" (2: 185).
"It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of the fasts. They are garments for you and you are the same for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you and forgave you. So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your fast till the nightfall.
And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in Itikaf in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah make clear His signs to mankind that they may become Al Muttaqun (the pious)" (2:187).
"Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr.
And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr is?
The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months
Therein descend the angels and the Ruh (Gabriel) by Allah's Permission with all Decrees,
Peace! until the appearance of dawn (97:1-5)
THE HADITH ON FASTING
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven (Bukhari, Muslim).
Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he could not make up for it (Bukhari).
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: Allah the Majestic and Exalted said: "Every deed of man will receive ten to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the other when he will meet his Lord" (Muslim).
Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness (Darimi).
When to start fasting
Ibn Umar related that the Prophet said: Do not start fasting unless you see the new moon, and do not end fasting until you see it. If the weather is cloudy then calculate when it should appear (Bukhari, Muslim).
The Suhoor meal (which is eaten before dawn)
Anas related that Rasulullah said: Take the Suhoor meal, for there is blessing in it (Bukhari, Muslim).
Breaking your fast
Salman ibn Amir Dhabi related that the Prophet said: Break your fast with dates, or else with water, for it is pure (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi).
Fasting during a journey
Aisha related that Rasulullah was asked whether one should fast when on a journey, and he replied: Fast if you like, or postpone it if you like (Bukhari, Muslim).
Behavior while fasting
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: If a person does not avoid false talk and false conduct during Siyam, then Allah does not care if he abstains from food and drink (Bukhari, Muslim).
Forgetfully eating or drinking while fasting
Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his Siyam, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink (Bukhari, Muslim).
Providing for those who are breaking the fast
Zaid ibn Khalid Juhni related that the Prophet said: He who provides for the breaking of the Siyam of another person earns the same merit as the one who was observing Siyam diminishing in any way the reward of the latter (Tirmidhi).
Lailat al-Qadr
Aisha related that the Prophet said: Look for Lailat al-Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).
Anas ibn Malik related that Rasulullah said: When Lailat al-Qadr comes Gabriel descends with a company of angels who ask for blessings on everyone who is remembering Allah, whether they are sitting or standing (Baihaqi)