Ibadah in the last part of Ramadan

The last part of Ramadan covers the last ten days, which in essence, is the most crucial period of the month when Muslims are required to engage more in diverse acts of worship (ibadah) including seclusion in a mosque (i’tikaf). It is a period during which Allah (SWT) emancipates His righteous servants from Hell fire. […]

The last part of Ramadan covers the last ten days, which in essence, is the most crucial period of the month when Muslims are required to engage more in diverse acts of worship (ibadah) including seclusion in a mosque (i’tikaf). It is a period during which Allah (SWT) emancipates His righteous servants from Hell fire. We pray that Allah (SWT) puts us among those who are not only delivered from Hell fire but also forgiven of all sins. It is in recognition of the significance of this vital part of Ramadan that the story of prophets (AS) that has been featuring in this column since fasting began had to give way this week to enable us remind readers at least about Tahajjud,Laylatul-Qadr and I’tikaf among other forms of ibadah.
Imams Bukhari and Muslim both relate on the authority of Aisha (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) did not only keep awake at night in the worship of Allah (SWT) when Ramadan enters the last ten days but also woke up his family members for the same purpose. Although there is no compulsion in religion, it is desirable that we convince our wives and children to observe tahajjud by waking them up at night to worship Allah, the Lord of Mercy. It is no favour if, as head of our families, we refuse (out of petty love and needless care) to sensitize and encourage our family members to benefit from the gains of tahajjud in the last ten days of Ramadan; the most valuable period of the Islamic lunar year.
One exceptional virtue of Ramadan lies in the night called Lailatul-Qadr, the “Night of Power”; a night equivalent to a thousand months that are without such a night. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 97:3 “The Night of Power is better than a thousand months”. Given this precious status, it is most desirable that Muslims re-organize themselves, re-direct and focus their attention on the search for this particular night which according to the Prophet (SAW) is concealed within one of the odd-number days in the last ten days of Ramadan.
Scholars are divided in their opinions as to the exact day on which Lailatul-Qadr falls. While some scholars believe it falls on the 21st, 23rd or 25th day of Ramadan, majority opine that Lailatul-Qadr is on the 27th day of Ramadan. In any case, we are encouraged by the sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) to engage in acts of devotion on each of the nights of the odd-number days of the last ten days of Ramadan. Muslims are encouraged to diversify their devotion on these nights. This may include recitation of the holy Qur’an, glorifying Allah (SWT) with appropriate words of remembrance (dhikr), giving gratitude to Him (SWT), and observing nafilat prayers or similar acts of worship. Imam Ahmad, IbnMajah and Attirmidhi all relate on the authority of Aisha (RA) that she asked the Prophet (SAW) about what to say or rehearse on the Night of Power. The Prophet (SAW) replied that she should keep reciting the following supplication, “Allahummainnaka‘afwun, tuhibbul-afwafa’afuanni” meaning “O Allah! You are indeed Most-Pardoning; You cherish pardon; so pardon me”.
Another important spiritual activity in the last ten days of Ramadan is the religious sojourn called seclusion (i’tikaf) which is traditionally observed in a mosque where Jum’ah congregational prayer holds every Friday so that the worshipper observing the i’tikaf would need not leave the premises of the mosque in which he is secluding in order to observe Jum’ah prayer in another mosque. While we cheer Muslims to observe i’tikaf, where possible along with their family members, the rules and regulations governing it must strictly be adhered to.
Discussions about worldly affairs must be shunned while in i’tikaf. One other basic rule of i’tikaf is that conjugal relationships must be avoided as long as the seclusion lasts. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 2:87 “Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your wives…But do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits set by Allah: Approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint”We pray that Allah (SWT) guides us against deviating from the path of righteousness which act could make vulnerable the integrity of our Ramadan fast, amin. We also take advantage of this opportunity to thank Allah (SWT) for the rains so far even though we actually need more of blessed rain if some of the crops we planted are to survive and mature for harvesting. May Allah (SWT) forestall storms and floods that will destroy farmlands, crops, houses, lives and property, amin.

Israeli aggression on Gaza:
In spite of the call by the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Ban Ki-moon  for a ceasefire, hostilities (up to the time of filing this piece) have continued to escalate in the Israeli-Hamas conflict. The announcement of a cease fire by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was being expected.
The current war was triggered by the abduction and killing of three Jewish teenagers on the West Bank allegedly by members of Hamas faction of the Palestinian struggle. Israelis retaliated by killing a Palestinian teenager. The crisis soon developed into a full blown war with Palestinian being the worse hit as indicated by the over 200 death toll as against zero fatality on the Israeli side; probably because most of the rockets fired by Hamas in to Israel were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system. Against Israeli’s claim that missiles were targeted at ‘terrorists’, most of those killed in Gaza are innocent civilians. Given its obvious military strength that is strongly backed by some western powers, Israel succeeded in provoking Hamas in to an unequal war. We commiserate with Palestinians who were dragged into war in Ramadan, a holy month.
UK and Canada are among other countries that declared support for Israel in its cutrent aggression against Gaza. We fault the passivity of Arab leaders in their opprobrious failure or refusal to forestall the escalated violence by convincing both parties in the crisis to accept a ceasefire proposal. Life has become very miserable in Gaza as a result of power outage and water scarcity. For any peace process to be successful in the Middle East, the UN, which has the universal mandate of ensuring that Palestinians like their fellow citizens in other parts of the world live in peace in their home land, must be seen to be fair; maintaining an unprejudiced position in all mediation deals.