Making The Most of Ramadhan In The Last Ten Days

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Many us started off Ramadhan with high goals, to make it better than the last year. But for whatever reason we fail to live up to our expectations, which leaves us regretful.

But Alhamdulillah, our Lord is immensely merciful and highly compassionate, for He has given us a number of opportunities like the last ten days.

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿٢﴾ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴿٣﴾ تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ ﴿٤﴾ سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ ﴿٥

Allah says ‘’ Indeed, we sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn’’ [Quran, Al Qadr 97:1-5]

Let us not waste this golden opportunity.

1. Say NO to socializing: Not at least this time.

2. Resolution

Make a resolution between you and Allah to leave at least one bad habit or a sin that may push you away from Allah. Instead, replace it with a good habit which you find easy, practical and which will drive you closer to Allah, Insha Allah.

3. Dua: Recite this special dua a lot

اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He (ﷺ) replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, you are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).”Book 9, Hadith 205 [At-Tirmidhi]

4. Ask for forgiveness

Narrated by Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with 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 Ramadhan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Bukhari]

5. Charity

Spend money in the way of Allah each day for the rest of the 10 days, without fail. Also, try and associate at least two more people with this activity so that your rewards are multiplied, Insha’Allah.

6. Read and understand Qur’an

Read and understand some portion of Quran daily.

7. Tafseer

Read Tafseer about Laylatul Qadr, ponder and share the knowledge with family and friends.

8. I’tikaaf

Narrated by ‘Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) “The Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I’tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice Itikaf after him.” [Bukhari]

May Allah help us to find Laylatul Qadr and may we come out of this Ramadhan pure, clean and forgiven. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam