Virtues of the Last Ten Nights and Laylat-Al Qadr

Presented by: Sister Safiyyah

Though all parts of Ramadan are full of blessings and rewards, the last ten days hold a special status reflected in the recommendations and practices of the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, and his companions.

1. Increasing worship in the last ten nights of Ramadan

It is mentioned that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam) would stay up during the last ten nights, would wake his wives and then would remain apart from them in worship.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from 'Aishah that during the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship). A narration in Muslim states: "He would strive [to do acts of worship] during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time."

Aisha radiyallohu’ anha narrated that with the start of the last ten days of Ramadhan, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e work hard) and used to offer Salat (prayer) all the night, and used to keep his family awake for Salat.

About the night of Qadr:

• It is the night when the Qur'anic revelation (the Final and seal of all messages) started  
• It is the night when the light, that would illuminate mankind to the end of life, started
• It is the night when every matter of ordainment is decreed

In Surat ad-Dukhan:

Allah says what can be translated as :

We sent it (this Qur'aan) down on a blessed Night.

Verily, We are ever warning (mankind of Our Torment).

Therein (that Night) is decreed every matter of ordainment.

Amran (i.e. a command or this Qur'aan or His Decree of every matter) from Us.

Verily, We are ever sending (the Messenger).

(As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. [44:3-6]

In Surat al-Qadr:

Allah says what can be translated as :

Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'aan) down in the Night of Decree (Lailatul-Qadr).

And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is?

The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.

Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (ie. Jibreel [Gabriel]) by Allaah's Permission with all Decrees,

Peace! until the appearance of dawn." [97:1-5]

Narrated Abu Huraira

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam) said, “Who ever observes Saum (fast) in the month of Ramadhan with sincere faith and hoping for the reward from Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala), then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood the night of Qadr with sincere faith and hoping for the reward from Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala), then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

A person who misses the blessed night of Laylatul-Qadr is a deprived person since Laylat-Al-Qadr is the greatest night of the year, as Arafat is the best day of the year. Therefore it is recommended that the Muslim who is eager to be obedient to Allaah should stand in Prayer during this night out of Eemaan and hoping for the great reward, since if he does this, Allah will forgive his previous sins.

When is Laylat-Al Qadr?

It is known from the Sunnah, that knowledge of the exact night upon which Lailatul-Qadr falls was taken up because the people argued, 'Ubaadah ibn as- Saamit, radiyalloahu 'anhu, said: The Prophet came out intending to tell us about Lailatul-Qadr, however two men were arguing and he said: "I come out to inform you about Lailatul-Qadr but so and so, and, so and so were arguing, so it was raised up, and perhaps that is better for you, so seek it on the (twenty) ninth and the (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth.'[Bukhari]

Some of the ahadeeth indicate that Lailatul-Qadr is in the last ten nights, while others indicate that it is in the odd nights of the last ten, so the first are general and the second more particular, and the particular has to be given priority over the general. Other ahadeeth state that it is in the last seven - and these are restricted by mention of one who is too weak or unable. So there is no confusion, all the ahadeeth agree and are not contradictory.

Therefore, the Muslim should seek out Laylat-Al-Qadr in the nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan and if he is too weak or unable to seek it out in all the odd nights: the night of the twenty-first, the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth.

Evidences:

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam) said, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan ,' on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan (i.e. 21, 23, 25, respectively)." [Bukhari]

Aisha radiyallohu’ anha narrated that Allah’s messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam) said, “Search for the night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadhan.”

Be Sincere, quality not quantity…

Sisters, our righteous predecessors used to exert maximum effort in perfecting their acts of worship and had grave concerns regarding their acceptance or rejection. ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib warned: “Have a greater concern for the acceptance of your deeds than you do for the amount of deeds you have performed. Do not you hear the saying of Allaah: ‘Indeed, Allaah accepts only from the righteous” (Al Maa’idah: 27).

Fudhaalah ibn ‘Ubayd said, “To know that Allaah has accepted a single act of righteousness from me would be dearer to me than this world all that it contains.” Therefore, let us be sincere in our deeds so that they be accepted and not miss this opportunity in the remaining blessed days of Ramadhan when the gates of Jannah are open and the Gates of Jehennem are closed.

We pray to Allah All Mighty, Most Merciful, Glorified and Exalted be He (subḥānahu wa ta'Ala) to hasten us to do good deeds in these last ten days of Ramadhan and accept our repentance. And may Allah Almighty accept our worship and devotions and bless us this Ramadan by witnessing Laylatul-Qadr.

Ameen