The last, most blissful ten days of Ramadan

AssalamuAlaikum!This week’s talk focuses on the last ten days of the Holy month of Ramadan. We shall discuss how the Prophet (pbuh) used to observe these days for us to emulate.The last ten days of Ramadan have been described by the Prophet (pbuh) as the most blissful of all Ramadan days.A’isha (RA) said in a […]

AssalamuAlaikum!
This week’s talk focuses on the last ten days of the Holy month of Ramadan. We shall discuss how the Prophet (pbuh) used to observe these days for us to emulate.
The last ten days of Ramadan have been described by the Prophet (pbuh) as the most blissful of all Ramadan days.
A’isha (RA) said in a hadith reported by Bukhari and Muslim that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) preoccupied himself during the last ten days of Ramadan with the worship of Allah, stayed awake at night, and woke up his entire family.
From the foregoing, it is strongly recommended that Muslim faithful should preoccupy themselves with voluntary prayers, recitation of the Holy Qur’an, supplications (Zikr), among other acts of worship in these last ten days of Ramadan.
The importance and blessings that Allah grants to those that stand to perform voluntary prayers (Tarawih or Tahajjud) cannot be over emphasised. On account of these prayers one’s previous sins are absolved and forgiven, provided that in performing them one has complete and absolute faith in Allah’s reward.
The Prophet (pbuh) is reported by Bukhari and Muslim in a hadith as
saying: “He who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and desire for his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.
Therefore Qiyamul-lail (praying in the night) should not be done for the purpose of merely showing off, but with intention of seeking Allah’s blessings and rewards.”
The supererogatory prayer or Ramadan Tarawih or Tahajjud, which is highly recommended in the last ten nights of Ramadan, is eleven raka’at. A’isha (wife of the Prophet, pbuh) was reported by Bukhari and Muslim as saying that Allah’s messenger (pbuh) never offered more than 11 (voluntary) raka’at during Ramadan or any other month.
Some scholars, however, have sought to provide reasons for considering 13 raka’at as the maximum.
The Surahs (chapters of the Holy Qur’an) to be recited in the Tarawih or Tahajjud depend on one’s ability to stand and one’s memorisation of the Holy Qur’an. But long recitation, especially in Tahajjud, is recommended for those who have the ability to do that. That according to the Prophet will increase one’s reward.
Long recitation is not all that matters in the supererogatory prayers of Tarawih and Tahajjud. Dhikr (glorifying Allah), with prescribed recitations, is also recommended especially in Sujud (prostration) and Ruku’u (bowing) and all intervals of the prayers where dhikr is stipulated as Sunnah.
In voluntary prayers like Tarawih and Tahajjud one is allowed to look up the Qur’an while reciting especially for those who cannot memorise the Holy Qur’an.
 
LaylatulQadr(Night of Decree)
It is in the last ten days of Ramadan that Allah blesses mankind with a night called Lailatul-Qadr (Night of Decree), which Allah (saw) described as a night that is better than a thousand months. That is to say that worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him for a thousand months or 83 years and four months. (Qur’an 97:3).
The Night of Decree (LaylatulQadr) is the most virtuous night of the year. Allah (the Most High) says in the Qur’aan: “We revealed it (the Qur’aan) on the Night of Decree (Qadr). What will tell you what the Night of Decree is? It is better than a thousand month” (Q97: 1-3).
The Prophet (pbuh) trove his best in seeking the night during the last ten days of Ramadan as reported by Bukhari and Muslim.
Scholars hold different opinions as to in which day the night usually occurs. This is due to different Hadeeths reported from the Prophet (pbuh). Some are of the opinion that it is the 21st, some say 23rd, some 25th, some 27th, and others say 29th. Another group says it varies from year to year but it is always among the last ten nights of Ramadaan. Most Scholars, however, vouched for the 27th.
The night of 21st, for example, comes up after the iftar (breaking of the fast) of the 20th day of Ramadan; night of 23rd comes up after the iftar of 22nd day of Ramadan etcetera.
It is recommended that one should spend the night in various forms of worship. A Muslim is advised to wake up his family to join him in the observances to earn the pleasure of Allah. The Prophet used to put in his best in seeking the Night of Qadr and he wakes up his family (Bukhari and Muslim).
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever prays during the Night of Qadr with faith and hoping for reward will have all his previous sins forgiven (Bukhari and Muslim).
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) when asked by his wife A’isha the supplications to be made on the night of Qadr, he said you should continuously recite Allahummainnakaafuwwuntuhibbulafwafa’afu annee; meaning, O Allah mercy is with you, and you love forgiveness, forgive me – all my sins, related by Tirmidhi and IbnMajah.

I’itikaaf (seclusion in the mosque)
A’isha (RA) is reported in Bukhari and Muslim’s hadiths as saying that it was the habitual practice of the Prophet (pbuh) to carry out a private devotion (I’itikaf) in the last ten days of Ramadan.
“The prophet used to engage in private devotion in the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah, the Great and Glorious, took his soul and his wives followed his practice after his death.”
I’itikaaf is the seclusion and staying in the mosque with the intention of becoming closer to Allah. It is a meritorious act of worship that could be done in any month of the year.
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was reported to have done I’itikaaf in the Islamic lunar month of Shawwaal (Bukhari and Muslim). It is however most recommended in the month of Ramadaan and in particular the last ten days of Ramadaan (Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet of Allah (pbuh) use to perform I’itikaaf for ten days every Ramadaan. In the year he died, he performed it for twenty days (Bukhari).
The objective of I’itikaaf is for the heart to become fully preoccupied with Allah (the Most High), concentrated upon Him alone, and cut-off from being preoccupied with the creation.
I’itikaaf is only done in the mosque. There is a difference of opinion among Islamic scholars about the mosque that I’itikaaf can be performed. However, a hadith of the prophet said I’itikaaf can only be observed in one of the three sacred mosques of Makkah; the Prophet’s mosque in Madeenah; and the al-Aqsa mosque.
It is most ideal for one, who is observing the I’itikaaf, to perform many supererogatory acts of worship, that is to occupy himself with voluntary prayers, reciting the Qur’aan, glorifying and praising Allah, extolling His oneness and greatness, asking His forgiveness, sending salutations on the Prophet (pbuh) and any other act that brings one closer to Allah.
It is permissible for one who is observing I’itikaaf to leave his place of I’itikaaf to bid farewell to his wife or any other person who visited him as the Prophet (pbuh) did to his wife, Safiyyah (RA), (Bukhari and Muslim). The I’iitikaf person may also go out for some needs like answering the call of nature, getting food for himself, performing the Janaba ritual bath etcetera.
The person performing I’itikaaf can eat, drink, and sleep in the mosque but the mosque should be kept clean while doing all that. He may engage in marriage contract, buying, selling, and so on, in the mosque. A Muslim woman can perform I’itikaaf with the consent of her husband or guardian provided there is no entertained fear.
However, when the person observing I’iitikaf is involved in any of the following acts, his I’itikaaf is nullified:
– Leaving the mosque without any acceptable reason, even if it is for a short time.
– When the person converts to another religion other than Islam, as this would nullify all acts of worship.
– Losing one’s reasoning due to insanity or drunkenness.
– Onset of menstruation or post child-birth bleeding –       And sexual intercourse.
Some of the excerpts on I’itikaaf were extracted from an article of Dr. Ahmad Bello Dogarawa of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria

 More briefs on Ramadan
Menstruation (hyd) and post-natal bleeding (nifas) by women break the fast. The woman should make up for the missed days after the month of Ramadan.
 Suppositories, eyes-drops, ear drops, brushing the teeth, having a tooth extracted, and treating wound do not break the fast.
 Puffer for treating asthma does not break the fast because it is just
compressed gas and goes directly to the lungs. It is not food.
Moreover it is needed at all times, including the Ramadan period.
Having a blood sample taken does not break the fast. It is permissible.
Medicines for gargling do not break the fast so long they are not swallowed. Late Sheikh AbdulazeezbnBaaz (chairman, world council of Islamic scholars during his days) on account of a Prophet’s (pbuh) hadith said that the fast is not broken if a person has his tooth filled and feels the taste of it in his throat.
Ear syringes, nose drops and nasal sprays do not break the fast so long one avoids swallowing.
Tablets that are placed under the tongue to treat angina and similar conditions do not break the fast, provided one avoids swallowing anything that reaches the throat.
Passerines, douches, scopes, fingers, etc inserted into the anus or vagina on medical grounds does not break the fast.
Insertion of a scope or intra-uterine devices (IUD or “coil”) and the like into the uterus do not break the fast, neither do other medical treatments that do not proved food and are not taken through the mouth.
(The above briefs were extracted from Siffatu-Soumun-Nabiyi – the way and manner the Prophet, pbuh, fast – authored by Salem Hilali and Abdulhamid). The book can be consulted for more insights.