فِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَ خَيْرَهَا قَدْ حُرِمَ
Allah has made a night during Ramadan that is better than a thousand months, so whoever is deprived of it is truly deprived.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 7108, Grade: Sahih
The exact date of the Night of Decree is unknown to us, but it occurs on some day during the last ten nights of Ramadan. The wisdom of not knowing the night encourages us to strive hard in worship during all of the last ten days. Even if we miss it due to illness or another reason, perhaps Allah will reward us for our intention to seek it.
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ يَعْنِي لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَإِنْ ضَعُفَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَوْ عَجَزَ فَلَا يُغْلَبَنَّ عَلَى السَّبْعِ الْبَوَاقِي
Look for the Night of Decree in the last ten nights of Ramadan, but if one of you is weak or frustrated then do not be overcome during the remaining seven nights.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1165, Grade: Sahih
Aisha reported:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَجْتَهِدُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مَا لَا يَجْتَهِدُ فِي غَيْرِهِ
The Prophet would exert himself in worship during the last ten nights more than at any other time.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1175, Grade: Sahih
It is recommended to perform a retreat (i’tikāf) inside the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan to help us strive in worship. This practice can ensure that we will not miss the blessings of the Night of Decree and the blessings of Ramadan in its final days.
Aisha reported:
النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ أَزْوَاجُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ
The Prophet used to retreat in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan until Allah the Exalted took him. His wives continued to observe this practice after him.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1172, Grade: Sahih
Ash-Shafi’ee said:
وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الِاقْتِدَاءَ بِالنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الِاعْتِكَافِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ لَيْلَةَ الْحَادِي وَالْعِشْرِينَ مِنْهُ
Whoever desires to follow the example of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, should seek seclusion in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan. Let him enter the mosque before the setting of the sun on the twenty first night.
Source: al-Majmū’ Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab 6/501
In general, we want to utilize the blessings of this month to improve ourselves overall. Besides pray and fasting, Muslims want to greatly increase their other good deeds such as as reciting the Quran, forming good habits, and generously giving in charity.
Ibn Abbas reported:
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ بِالْخَيْرِ وَكَانَ أَجْوَدُ مَا يَكُونُ فِي رَمَضَانَ حِينَ يَلْقَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ وَكَانَ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ يَلْقَاهُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى يَنْسَلِخَ، يَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْقُرْآنَ فَإِذَا لَقِيَهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ أَجْوَدَ بِالْخَيْرِ مِنَ الرِّيحِ الْمُرْسَلَةِ
The Prophet was the most generous of the people and he was even more generous during the month of Ramadan when Gabriel visited him. Gabriel, upon him be peace, would meet with him every night of Ramadan until the end of the month and the Prophet would recite the Quran to Gabriel. When Gabriel met him, he would be more generous than a swift wind bringing rain.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1803, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
An-Nawawi said:
قَالَ أَصْحَابُنَا وَالْجُودُ وَالْأَفْضَالُ مُسْتَحَبٌّ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَفِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ أَفْضَلُ اقْتِدَاءً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَبِالسَّلَفِ وَلِأَنَّهُ شَهْرٌ شَرِيفٌ فَالْحَسَنَةُ فِيهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ
Our companions said that being generous and performing favors are highly recommended during Ramadan, specifically during the last ten nights. By doing so, we emulate the example of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, as well as our righteous predecessors (al-salaf al-ṣaliḥ). This month is honored and good works carried out in this month are more blessed than they are at any other time.
Source: al-Majmū’ Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab 6/424
We ask Allah to allow us to reach this blessed month and to benefit from its virtues in this life and in the Hereafter
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
