Ramadan Journal 2013: Day 22 – Prayer/Free.

We are hardly used to being in fasting mode when we find ourselves already in the third and last portion or Asharah (ten days) of Ramadan.  The last ten days of Ramadan are signified by increasing devotion to worship and increased good deeds.

For this reason I have taken these last days of Ramadan off of work and I am trying to spend the time at home and rest and reflect insh’Allah.  This is the asharah when Muslims hope to be granted with freedom from fire:

In a Hadith reported by Salman Al-Farisi: "...The first third of the month of Ramadan is the time for mercy, the second third is for forgiveness, the third is for release from Hellfire…" (Ibn Khuzaymah)

Jabir (RA) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said :"In every day and every night, during the month of Ramadan, there are people to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and will be granted". (al-Bazzaar, Ahmad and Ibn Majah; Saheeh)

This is also the part of the month which contains Lailatul-Qadr, the night of power worth a thousand months.

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr). And what will make you know what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit (the angel Jibreel) by Allah's permission, on every errand. Peace.... until the appearance of dawn! ~ Quran (97:1-5)

We understand it to be one of the odd nights in the last part of Ramadan, so I am trying to encourage the kids to engage in a little bit of worship and dhikr every night insh’Allah, to get a sense of the importance and specialness of this night.  Other small things that we can do together insh’Allah include adhering to the sunnah (traditions) of our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) and getting the children to give a little in charity each day in the hope they catch the special night insh’Allah.

It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah, that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: “Whoever stood in prayer on the night of Al-Qadr, in faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, he will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Imam Suhaib Webb has a very beautiful and lengthy Ramadan dua posted here as a gift.

Sheikh Muhammad AlShareef is sharing his search for the Night of Power (and the signs of the morning after) on his Facebook page here.

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