Thursday, July 17, 2014

Recommended Tips for the Last 10 Nights

Presented by: Sister Safiyyah

Below are just some tips on what is recommended for a Muslim to do during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
1. Take a Vacation for Allah

We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshipping and thanking our Creator.

If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra acts of worship, not having to worry about getting to work the following day. This will also make I`tikaf easy.

2. I`tikaf

It was a practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the mosque for I`tikaf.

In I`tikaf one makes a spiritual retreat in the mosque all the time, performing various forms of dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Qur’an. One does not go outside the mosque except in case of emergencies. I`tikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

3. Make This Special Du'a

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni' "

'Say: O Allah, You are Oft-Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.'"
[Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmidhi].
4. Recite the Qur’an

Perhaps one can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran which one has heard in Taraweeh this past Ramadan to recite.

On attending a class for Qur’anic recitation, this is a great time to put one’s knowledge into practice.


5. Get Your Sins Wiped Out

Abu Hurairah quoted Allah’s Messenger as saying: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim].


6. Evaluate Yourself

Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when invoking Allah and supplicating to Him in these blessed nights.


7. Make Long, Sincere and Deep Du'as

One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) quoted the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) as saying: “When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims: Is there anyone supplicating to Me, so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything so that and I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness, so that I forgive him?”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim].
This means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) time to invoke Allah for anything and everything is something recommendable. This can be done using the Du`as (supplications) recorded in the Sunnah, but one is also allowed to say Du`a in one’s own language, with sincerity and conviction.


8. Have Iftar with the Family

If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.


9. Take the Family to Taraweeh

Have your spouse and kids missed Taraweeh most of Ramadan because you weren't there to drive them to the mosque, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favor and bring everyone for Taraweeh in these last ten nights.


10. Attend the Du'a After the Completion of the Qur’anic Recitation

Almost all the mosques where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Qur’an in Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan will now be approaching the end of the task in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Du`a’ at the end of reading the Qur’an. Attend this particular night's Taraweeh prayer with your family. See if you can attend different mosques’ Taraweeh prayers the night they finish reading the Qur’an.





Dua Plan for the last 10 nights of Ramadan

Presented by: Sister Winnie

The last 10 nights will soon be here.  



If you haven’t been realising the blessings of this month, now is the time to dedicate yourself to these remaining days and focus on doing your best.  


If you have already been doing your best, go into overdrive now and finish out this month on a real high.  


If you’re in a lull, then, just regroup and refocus. The best is yet to come, in sha Allah.


Having a plan of Duas will in sha Allah, help you


Find time each night to read through your duas, praying sincerely to Allah, and from your heart, know that Allah, Most High, is listening to you and will respond.


Try to read some Dua’s in arabic, and the translation as well.  Remember though that you can make Dua in any language, as Allah is All-knowledgeable.


Here are some Dua’s which will in sha Allah, get you started if you don’t already have a list. Add in your own personal duas, and those for your family, friends and Ummah.  Top them all off with some Dua’s from the Qu’ran and Sunnah.  Finally, make the Dua from our “learn a dua” section over and over.  


Asking for Allah’s bounty and protection



Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire
[2:201]
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
[البقرة :201]


Asking for guidance:



Our Lord! (they say), Let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thine own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure
[3:8]
Rabbana la tuzigh quloobana ba'da idh hadaytana wa hab lana milladunka rahmah innaka antal Wahhab
رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
[8: آل عمران]


Asking for strength and patience (sabr) during tough times:



Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith
[2:286]
Rabbana wala tuhammilna ma la taqata lana bihi wa'fu anna waghfir lana wairhamna anta mawlana fansurna 'alal-qawmil kafireen
رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
[البقرة :286]


Trusting in Allah and Repenting:



Our Lord! In Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal
[60:4]
Rabbana 'alayka tawakkalna wa-ilayka anabna wa-ilaykal masir
رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
[الممتحنة :4]


Seeking health:

O Allah! Grant me health in my body. O Allah! Grant me good hearing. O Allah! Grant me good eyesight. There is no god but Thou.



(Allahoumma ghafini fii badani, Allahoumma ghafini fii samghi, Allahoumma ghafini fii basari,  La illaha illa ant).



To have good relations:



Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet taught him to say this supplication: “O Allah, bring our hearts together and make our relations good. Guide us to the paths of peace and bring us out of the darkness and into the light. Keep us away from lewdness, both hidden and open. O Allah, bless us in our hearing and our sight, in our hearts, our wives and our offspring. Turn unto us, for You are the Oft-Turning, the Oft-Merciful. Make us thankful for Your blessings and complete it upon us.” (Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 1, #161


Seeking knowledge:



The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say: “O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from four things: Knowledge which does not profit, a heart which is not submissive, a soul which has an insatiable appetite, and a supplication which is not heard.
Source: Narrated Abu Hurayrah in Sunan Abu Dawud, hadith 614.


Comprehensive Dua seeking Allah’s help as well victory and guidance:



The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to supplicate Allah: “My Lord, help me and do not give help against me; grant me victory, and do not grant victory over me; plan on my behalf and do not plan against me; guide me, and made my right guidance easy for me; grant me victory over those who act wrongfully towards me; O Allah, make me grateful to Thee, mindful of Thee, full of fear towards Thee, devoted to Thy obedience, humble before Thee,or penitent. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sin, answer my supplication, clearly establish my evidence, guide my heart, make true my tongue and draw out malice in my breast.”
Source: Abdullah Ibn Abbas, in Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith #595


Sources:
http://theislamicworkplace.com/helpful-duas/  (this site has a great comprehensive write up on Duas and  also contains duas in spanish and french)