Ramalan Article - Divine Gifts in the Last Ten Days of Ramadan

We are in a month of munificent goodness, great righteousness and
abundant blessings. It is praised abundantly in the Noble Book of
Allaah The Almighty and theHadeeths of His Messenger,. It is the month
of the Quran and goodness, and the monthwhen people return to their
Lord in a unique and matchless manifestation of faith.
This month is granted a privilege that is not granted to any other
month, which is ten blessed days – the last tendays when Allaah The
Almighty sends His bounty upon His slaves bysaving them from Hell.
Thus, we should make the best use of them by means of the following:
- ObservingI'tikaaf)staying in seclusion for worship( in one of the
two Holy Mosques or any other mosque if you cannot observeI'tikaafin
the two Holy Mosques.I'tikaafis very important for those who devote
themselves to the Lord and get rid of many endless worldly
engagements. When someone observesI'tikaaf, he refrains from many
issues in which he usually indulges. This is witnessed and widely
known. If one cannot observe completeI'tikaaf, he should stay in one
ofthe two mosques or spend long hours in it or in any other mosque.
- Reviving all or most of the night by prayers andThikr)remembrance of
Allaah The Almighty(. With the start of the last ten days ofRamadan,
theProphet,, used to keep his family awake for the prayers, pray all
night and tighten his waist belt )i.e. did not approach women(.
Praying at night is a great opportunity for whoever is engaged in
worldly affairs –the majority of people– and cannot
performQiyaam)voluntary night prayer(; so the least thing people can
offer in the last ten days ofRamadanis increasingQiyaamand reviving
the night. It is very strange that some righteous people are in one of
the two Holy Mosques but they do not pray except eightRak'ahs)units of
prayer( depending upon some proofs. They have forgotten that the
Companions and the predecessors performed long prayers with
manyRak'ahsand they were the first generation which knew Islam and
applied its rulings in the best way. The state of theProphet,, was
known to them, along with the interpretation and understanding of his
nobleHadeeths in the nearest possible meanings and the best
interpretations.
- We should not forget that the last ten days include a night that is
thegreatest night in the whole year namely the Night of Al-Qadr)Night
ofDivine Decree(, which is better than a thousand months. How great is
thisdivine bounty! The one who wastes it has wastedsomething great.
The majority of Muslim scholars agree that this night is one of the
odd nights in the last ten nights ofRamadan. Somescholars adopt the
opinion that it is the night of the twenty-seventh day. Ubayy ibn
Ka'bswore that it is the night of the twenty-seventh day as mentioned
inSaheeh Muslim.
- Increasing reading, reflecting on and understanding the Quranalong
with increasingThikr. There is no doubt that these days are the right
time for this.
- It is very strange that in spite of the great virtues and ample
rewards, somepeople like to spend theirvacations that coincide with
the last ten days, abroad. Hence, they are deprived of great benefits.
What they will do abroad except spending their time in picnics and
recreation at a time when recreation ispointless? Rather, this time
should be devoted to worship. A wise person is he who directs his
capacities and time tobenefit the most from these days of happiness.
- We should not forget in these ten days that we have brothers in the
trenches ofJihaad)striving in the cause of Allaah The Almighty(. The
enemies have surrounded them and they are suffering from great
calamities. We should not forget them, even if the least we can do is
to make sincere supplication from a heartdevoted to Allaah The Exalted
and charity. In this way, we will be the first to win its reward.
Lastly, we should not forget the poor and the needy, especially when
'Eedis approaching.