How to Spend the Last 10 Days of Ramadan

 Here is the month of mercy laying its last 10 days, waving us a good bye and leaving us with a new chapter in our lives. Ramadan is almost over, and this is a sign for us to work hard and benefit from the remaining days. Coming one time per year, this month is a spiritual opportunity to purify our hearts from all bad deeds & negative feelings and to revert back to Allah; and those who did not benefit right from the month, shall focus on the last 10 days that are intensely spiritual and full of blessings.   

Allah chose the last 10 days of Ramadan to make them a status for Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree). It is a night of Power in which the Quran was revealed. 

To make your best in the best 10, we prepared for you a list of things to consider in the last 10 days of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

1. Seek to Attain the Night of Decree

Allah said in the Quran:

Allah tells us that *Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months*, and this is a huge statement meaning that the reward on that night is better or multiplied by 1000 months.

Allah did not reveal the secret of which exact night will be the Night of Decree to his servants, because He wants them to be diligent in seeking for it, by making more effort and earning more Ajer, especially on the odd nights.

So, treat every night in the last 10, as it is Laylatul Qadr, and work hard with persistence to earn the reward, because whatever you do, even if you think it is a very little act, it will be multiplied thousands of time. And if you feel like it was a rough Ramadan, and you did not do that well, then do not miss the last week of the month.

2. Work Hard

 The Prophet (ﷺ) would exert himself and strive in the last 10 nights, as he would never do throughout the year. He would tighten his lower garment, as a sign to his hard work in his Ibadat, and as a refrain from having physical relation with his wife (although it is allowed after Iftar), yet the Prophet (ﷺ) always wanted to dedicate the last 10 Nights for worship.

He would also encourage his family to work hard on these days too, by waking them up for Qiyam prayer. We should as Muslims revive his Sunnah and do the same as he did because this is not a chance to miss. Sunnah is to wake up your family from spouse to children and let everyone make the effort for worship, whether by praying, reading Quran or making Thikr.

3. Increase your Prayer's Rakats

The majority of us pray Tarawih on the nights of Ramadan, yet it is desirable to increase your prayer Rakats in the last 10 days.

  1- Pray Ishaa and Fajr in congregation (Jamaa)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said “He who observed the 'Isha' prayer in congregation, it was as if he prayed up to midnight, and he who prayed the morning prayer in congregation, it was as if he prayed the whole night” (Muslim)

   2- Do not miss on your Tarawih prayer

And for those who pray 8 Rakats, try to make them 20 on odd nights.

   3- Pray Tahajjud and Qiyam al layl especially on odd nights

It is recommended to make time for private worship, between you and Allah, such as in Qiyam (standing in prayer in the last third of the night), and in Tahajjud (a voluntary night prayer, usually performed in the time between Ishaa and Fajr).

4. Make Dua’a and Thikr

Remember Allah all the time, and do not limit it to the last 10 days of Ramadan. Keep your tongue busy in reciting Durood (Sending greetings to the Prophet) and istighfar (Seeking Forgiveness).

Plant palm trees in Jannah with “Subhan Allah wa bihamdih, Subhan Allah Al’Azim.”

Make sincere dua’a to Allah, The All-Hearing & The Responsive, and ask him for guidance and direction in your life. Supplicate him to grant you the highest rank of Jannah, Al Firdaws, and seek emancipation from Hell.

We are asking for the forgiveness of The Forgiver, so this is a beautiful dua’a that we should keep reading throughout the last ten nights of Ramadan to secure the forgiveness of Allah, The Almighty.

For more details on Dua’a and its significance, check our previous blog post 10 Dua’a to make in Ramadan.

5. Pay Zakat al Fitr

Zakat al Fitr (Fitrana) is the obligatory charity paid by every Muslim to poor people at the end of Ramadan, before the Eid prayer. Usually, the head of the household pays the amount for himself and all the family members, including children and babies. It is a form of thanking Allah for completing the month of fasting and sharing happiness in the hearts of the poor.

According to the Hadith, Ibn Umar narrated:

 

6. Give Charity - Sadaqah

Sadaqah erases sins, extinguishes the anger of the Lord, and is a reason for Barakah (Blessing) in money and provision. The reward in Ramadan is multiplied, so make sadaqah every day, even if it was in little amounts, to guarantee that you make it on the Night of Decree as well.

This is the month of generosity, in the heart and in the materials. So, be generous with your heart by forgiving and pardoning others, to get the reward of the pious, forgiving people.

Consider making Sadaqah Jariya (lasting charity) that keeps rewarding you Ajer. For example, you can participate in building a mosque, help in an orphan’s education, or teach people Quran. Remember that Allah is the only Provider and that his Messenger promised us “Sadaqah does not decrease wealth” (Muslim).

The Guide of a Woman on her Period on the last 10 days of Ramadan:

• Your menstrual period is not prevention from the remembrance of Allah nor his mercy, so spend time in making Istighfar, dua’a and Tawbah
• Gaining Ajer is not limited to your fasting or prayers, yet you can be rewarded for many acts that you can perform during the last 10 days. You can benefit from the tips in this article.
• Listen to the Quran, you will take the same Ajer as if you were reciting
• Sit in your prayer corner after each Athan for 5 minutes and make Durood (send greetings to the Prophet)
• Do not forget that going to your work, taking care of your house & children and preparing Iftar for the family will all be rewarded as well!

I urge you and myself to work hard in the last 10 days of Ramadan, and not waste any minute, because this is a single chance in the year.

Oh, Allah allow us to witness the Night of Decree with full power and energy. Oh Allah accept our worshipping and supplication … Ameen.