A GUIDE TO MY LAST TEN NIGHTS

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The guidance of the Messenger Muhammad shows


us that the last ten nights of Ramadan have a


special place in our faith, Islam. The month of


Ramadan in general is a virtuous month with great


potential for many rewards. The last ten nights


increase these opportunities manifold. The last ten


nights are primarily virtuous due to one of them


being the Night of Special Status and Virtue. God


says in the Quran, "We sent it down on the Night of


Special Virtue. What will explain to you what that


Night of Special Virtue is? The Night of Special


Virtue is better than a thousand months; on that


night the angels and the Spirit (the Angel Gabriel)


descend again and again with their Lord's


permission on every task; protection throughout


that night until the break of dawn."


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What further shows how much emphasis the


Messenger Muhammad and his disciples placed on


these ten nights is the narration that describes the


Messenger Muhammad’s routine during these


nights. He is described as “tightening his belt” (an


expression meaning being very keen for devotion),


spending the night in vigil and worship and


encouraging his family to do the same. “Tightening


the belt” symbolizes the extra effort and


seriousness with which the Messenger Muhammad


approached these ten nights. He would also awake


his family for these nights, something which he


would not ordinarily do.


The Messenger Muhammad would seclude himself


in the mosque as a retreat for these ten nights to


ensure that he spent all his time in devotion and


worship. His disciples did likewise, and after his


death, his wives would continue this practice. Until


this day, you will find Muslims throughout the world


spending these ten nights of Ramadan in seclusion


in mosques.


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A night better than a thousand months is more than


83 years of worship and reward in a single night.


God revealed a whole chapter in the Quran to show


the significance of this Special Night. The best acts


of worship to be performed on these nights are


those that directly revolve around the Quran and


remembrance of God. Salah is one of the best


deeds to perform during these nights. The


Messenger Muhammad informed us that whoever


stands the nights in extra Salah during Ramadan


with conviction and seeking the reward from Allah,


will be forgiven for their sins.


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The Messenger Muhammad would spend much of


his nights in Salah. You can pray as many units of


two as you wish. There is no limit to the units one


can perform. Salah is an act of worship that


includes within it many other virtuous deeds. It is


recommended because it also consists of Quran


reading, remembrances, and supplications. You


can prolong your bowing and praise and thank God


therein. You can invoke God and supplicate to Him


in these positions, asking for all your needs, both


worldly and for the Hereafter.


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Reading the Quran is also extremely rewarding.


The Quran was revealed on the Night of Special


Status and Virtue and so reading as much as you


can is highly recommended. The early Muslims


would focus on the Quran in Ramadan and try to


complete its reading as many times as possible.


Each word is worth ten good deeds. You can mix up


your Quran reading with other forms of Quran


study. For example, you can listen to the recitation,


you can read the translation, listen to lectures on


the Quran and its study, and read the explanation


of certain passages and chapters.


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It is important to try to understand the Quran as


well as reading it in Arabic. In particular, the


passages and chapters that you read most often,


such as the opening chapter and the smaller


chapters towards the end of the Quran, are good to


study. To read the translation, study the


explanation of these chapters, listen to lectures on


them and read books on them will be greatly


helpful to you, both during Salah and outside of


them. You can also listen to Quran recitation on


YouTube or by streaming the audio. You can follow


along with your own copy of the Quran, or simply


listen to it while resting.


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In between night Salah and Quran reading,


remember God with general expressions of


glorification. For example, praise God by saying,


‘Alhamdulillah’ [All praise, glory and thanks are for


God], ‘Subhan Allah’ [God is perfect and free from


flaws and deficiencies], ‘Allahu Akbar’ [God is


greater than everything and everyone], ‘La ilaha illa


Allah’ [God alone is worthy of worship and all other


gods are false] and ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa


billah’ [There is no might or power except that


given by God ]. These and other statements of


glorification of God are easy to read while sitting


and resting in between Salah and Quran reading.


You can also use some of your time in making


supplications and praying. This can be done in any


language at any time.


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You can rest as you need, and break up your


worship with eating and drinking. You can read


other Islamic books if you wish. The point is to


engage in worship throughout the night as much as


you can and to the best of your ability. Remember


that the Messenger Muhammad said that whoever


spends the Night of Special Status and Virtue in


prayer, having true faith and hoping for God’s


reward, will have all of their sins forgiven.


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