Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle said, "Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan." (Bukhari, 1896)

Shaykh Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen al-Albani

Laylat ul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing person is zealous to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.

Praying Qiyaam

It is recommended to make a long Qiyaam prayer during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many hadeeths, such as the following:

Abu Tharr (radhiallahu `anhu) relates:

"We fasted with Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) in Ramadaan. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven (nights of Ramadaan) left. Then he stood with us (that night - in prayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, 'Allah's Messenger! Wouldn't you pray with us the whole night?' He replied:

'Whoever stands in prayer with the imaam until he (the imaam) concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.'…" [Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi (who authenticated it), an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, at-Tahawi (in Sharhu Ma`an il-Athar, Ibn Nasr, al-Faryabi, and al-Bayhaqi. Their isnad is authentic.]

[Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: "I heard Ahmad being asked, 'Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during Ramadan?' He replied, 'Pray with the people' I also heard him say, 'I would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the imaam and to pray witr with him as well, for the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: "When a man prays with the imaam until he concludes, it is recorded that he prayed the rest of that night." [Masaa'il]]

Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu `anhu) narrated that the Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah's reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the addition "and it is facilitated for him" is recorded by Ahmad from the report of `Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.]

Making Supplications

It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. `A'ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported that she asked Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), "O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?" And he instructed her to say:

"Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuh.ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee - O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me." [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi. Verified to be authentic by Al-Albani]

Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship

It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah. `A'ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported:

"When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) would tighten his izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer), and wake up his family." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

And she said:

"Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights." [Muslim]

Source: www.islaam.com

Narrated Aisha: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari, 1903)

Posted by Yaser Birjas

Red tags are everywhere, 25% off, 50% off, 75% off and more. Everything must go. It's the end of the season, it's the end of Ramadan, and the blessed last ten nights of Ramadan. The pious predecessors used to say, and it was narrated from the Prophet as a hadith, that "Ramadan is nothing but a marketplace, which was established, reached its prime and then came to an end. For some it was profitable and for others was a great loss." In Ramadan's marketplace, the last ten nights, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala trades with all merchants: "Allah has purchased of the Believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise)" (At-Tawbah 9:111)

[10] O you who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?

[11] That yeou believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: that will be best for you, if you but knew!

[12] He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the supreme Achievement. (As-Saff 61:10-13)

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala supplies commodities for merchants to choose from, and as much as they pay and sacrifice they will get their reward. Aisha may Allah be pleased with her, narrated: "When the last ten nights of Ramadan begin, the messenger of Allah would stay up at night in worship, wake his family up, and tighten his lower garment." She also narrated: "The messenger of Allah used to show his utmost devotion in worship, the most of which, nothing like any other month of the year, would be during the month of Ramadan. And was most devoted in Ramadan during the last ten nights from it." (Muslim)

Ramadan's marketplace, according to hadith Aisha, is opened for all merchants who fulfill the following conditions:

1. All merchants must stay vigilant, in worship, during these blessed nights.
2. All merchants must wake their families up to help managing this trade and participate in this sale. 
3. All merchants must abstain, temporarily, from sexual pleasure until the end of the season. 
4. All merchants must do their utmost, nothing less is accepted. The competition is too furious. 
5. No room for laziness; if you snooze, you lose. 
6. All merchants must be sincere in their work, no showing off is accepted. 
7. All merchants must do their transactions according to the manual, the Qur'an and Sunnah. No innovations are accepted. 
8. As a merchant, you are allowed to walk around Ramadan's marketplace and explore many different things to choose from for trading. You will have the opportunity to choose from different commodities. You can pick one, two or more and you can also mix and match, all is permissible. No limits; merchants can take as many goodness as they desire as long as they pay for it from their time, effort and wealth. It is all about how much you're willing to give and how much you're willing to give up.

Here are some of the events, scheduled to take place on Ramadan's sale season, and let the competition begin.

1. Reading the manual: The Qur'an

The Qur'an is the divine manual that includes all the operating instructions. All merchants are required to read the manual and follow its instructions. This manual was revealed during this blessed season, and in commemorating this event, the reading of the manual was highly encouraged.

Narrated Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "The Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was the most generous of people, and he was even more generous during Ramadan when Jibreel met him. Jibreel used to meet him every night in Ramadan until it was over and the Prophet would go through the Qur'an with him. The Messenger of Allah was more generous with good things than the blowing wind (which brings rain and welfare)." (Bukhari)

2. Black Friday, Qiyamul-Layl

Have you ever stayed late at night to see the lines outside retailer and department stores right after Thanksgiving Day? Black Friday, which follows Thanksgiving Day, is known as the mother of all sales, for its huge bargains and door buster deals. In the last ten nights of Ramadan though, every night is sale season. While people stay awake overnight by the doors of national suppliers to get cheap commodities; praying in hope and anxiety, fearful for losing their chances and sacrificing their sleep, the merchants of the ten nights of Ramadan will be vigilant, standing at night by the doors of the Most Merciful, the True Supplier -Ar-Razzaq. They will be standing there in prolonged prayers and qiyam hoping to buy al-Jannah -Paradise- for a very cheap price; the sincere worship of one night.

The messenger of Allah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: "Whoever stands (in the night prayer) during Ramadan with faith and expecting reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven" (Bukhari and Muslim)

3. Du'aa auction

Place your offer, and get your reward. If you know that Ar-Razzaq subhanahu wa ta'ala is coming to you and opening the gates of heavens for you, what would you ask for and how much will you give for it?

Abu Hurayrah narrated, the messenger of Allah said: "In the last third of every night our Lord descends (in the manner that suits His Majesty) to the lowermost heaven and says: "Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that I may grant him? And who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?". (Bukhari and Muslim)

4. For serious du'aa shoppers only A one-hour special sale is offered every night, for serious du'aa shoppers only. Are you one of them?

Jabir may Allah be pleased with him narrated, the Messenger of Allah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: "There is an hour at night, no Muslim attends it, asking Allah for the goods of this life and the hereafter, except Allah will meet his demands. And this happens every single night." (Muslim)

5. End of season lockout event, I'tikaaf

Have you seen the merchants of Makkah during the peak of the hajj or umrah season? They literally sleep, of the little sleep they get, in their stores, ready to sacrifice their family time, go with the minimum social interaction they can, and lock themselves up in their stores days and nights just for the sake of their business and financial gain. Now, here is your chance.

Lock yourself up in a masjid where Jumu'ah is prayed regularly, sleep little at night and do worship more. After securing them nicely, bid your family goodbye for few nights, carry with you the minimum of this dunya, and make your focus the trade for the akhira. Put yourself into spiritual hibernation, seclude yourself from this world and get yourself a good taste of the Islamic monastic practice, I'tikaaf.

Aisha may Allah be pleased with her narrated"Allah's Messenger used to practice I'tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died, and then his wives used to practice I'tikaaf after him." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Hurayrah may allah be pleased with him narrated: "Allah's Messenger would make I'tikaaf for ten days in every Ramadan. But when it was the year in which he died, he made I'tikaaf for twenty days." (Bukhari)

6. Clearance night, Laylatul Qadr

One of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten in Ramadan hosts the most generous bargains of all nights; Laylatul Qadr or the Night of Power. It is a clearance night, all sins must be cleared, and fresh you come back from this trade.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: (Al-Qadr 97:1-5)

[1] We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:

[2] And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?

[3] The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

[4] Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand:

[5] Peace!… This until the rise of Morn!

During this special night, there is the best bargain ever: one night of worship is equivalent to more than 83 years of worship. No one can give an offer more generous than this. No one can beat that.

7. Final offer: antivirus software - Tawbah

As the Messenger of Allah said, your heartware is the most important part of your body; if the heart was sound the body will be sound too, and if it was damaged everything will fall apart as well. Without securing it with the Tawbah software, it will always remain longing to commit the haram. Tawbah or repentance can clear all diseases of the heartware, for repentance clears all sins. It also amends all bad sectors in your heart, and brings them back positive and clear. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:

"Unless he repents, believes and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Al-Furqaan 25:70)

Your Tawbah is your filter, through which you come out from the month of Ramadan fresh and clean. In order to make sure the software works properly with your heartware, minimum system requirement are needed to be met.

1. If you find yourself in a hole, first thing to do is: stop digging. Quit the sin.
2. Reminisces of sin should bring tears not cheers. Regret the sin.
3. Make a decision to be free, and stand your ground. No return to the sin.
4. If you happen to have messed up with somebody, remedy the relation. Stay clear with humans.

Ramadan sale is reaching its peak, and merchants are competing for the best and final bargains of the season. With many discounts offered on deeds, you can do little and earn a lot. The most the successful merchants are those who plan their bargains and capital wisely. May the best merchants, worshipers, of this season win the greatest reward; forgivness.

Source: www.muslimmatters.org

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, without nothing being reduced from the fasting person's reward." [At-Tirmidhi. 1992]

Narrated 'Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) The Prophet used to practice Itikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice Itikaf after him. (Bukhari, 1905)

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah says (rahimahu Allah): "Since the hearts' rectitude and firmness upon the path towards Allah the Most High, rests upon directing it solely upon Allaah and causing it to turn and give all its attention to Allaah the Most High. Since the disorder of the heart cannot be rectified except by turning to Allaah the Most High, and its disorder will be increased by eating and drinking too much, mixing with the people excessively, speaking profusely and sleeping too much. These will cause it to wander into every valley, and cut it off from its path to Allah, weaken it, divert it or put a halt to it.

From the Mercy of the Mighty and Most Merciful is that He has prescribed for them fasting , which will cut off the excesses of eating and drinking, and empties the heart of its desires which divert it on its journey to Allah the Most High. He prescribed it in due proportion as will be appropriate and will benefit the servant, with regard to this world and the Hereafter, and does not harm him, nor damage what is beneficial for him.

He also prescribed i`tikaf for them, by which is intended that the heart is fully occupied with Allah, the Most High, concentrated upon Him alone, and cut off from preoccupation with the creation. Rather it is engrossed with Him alone, the One free of all defects, such that remembering Him, loving Him and turning to Him takes the place of all anxieties of the heart and its suggestions, such that he is able to overcome them. Thus all his concerns are for Him. His thoughts are all of remembrance of Him, and thinking of how to attain His Pleasure and what will cause nearness to Him. This leads him to feel contented with Allah instead of the people, so that prepares him for being at peace with Him alone on the day of loneliness in the grave, when there is no one else to give comfort, nor anyone to grant solace except Him. So this is the greater goal of I'tikaf"

I`tikaf is the seclusion and staying in the mosque with the intention of becoming closer to Allah. This was the practise of the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, during the last ten days of Ramadan especially. He would do it during other months as well.

'Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan" [Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah, radiyallahu 'anhu said: "Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, used to perform i`tikaf for ten days every Ramadan, then when it was the year in which he was taken (died), he performed I`tikaf for twenty days. [Bukhari]

The sunnah or preferred i`tikaf has no specific time limit. It can be fulfilled by staying in the mosque with the intention of making i`tikaf for a long or short time. The reward will be according to how long one stays in the mosque. If one leaves the mosque and then returns, he should renew his intention to perform itikaf.

It is preferred for the one who is making I`tikaf to perform many supererogatory acts of worship and to occupy himself with prayers, reciting the Qur'an, glorifying and praising Allah, extolling His oneness and His greatness, asking His forgiveness, sending salutations on the Prophet, upon whom be peace, and supplicating Allah - that is, all actions that bring one closer to Allah.

Permissible Acts for the Mu`takif (the person performing I`tikaf)

1. The Person may leave his place of I`tikaf to bid farewell to his wife and a Woman can visit her husband who is in I`tikaf}
   
   Safiyyah, radhiya Allahu `anha said : The prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, was making i`tikaf [in the last ten nights of Ramadan], so I came to visit him at night [and his wives were with him and then departed]. I talked with him for a while, then I stood up to leave, [so he said: "Do not hurry for I will accompany you",. He stood along with me to accompany me back -and her dwelling was in the house of Usaamah Ibn Zayd [until when he came to the door of the mosque near the door of Umm Salamah], two men of the Ansaar were passing by, when they saw the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, they hastened by, so the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said : "Be at your ease for she is Safiyyah bintu Huyayy." So they said:" 'SubhanAllah, O Messenger of Allah! [we did not have any doubt about you].' He said: "Indeed Shaytan circulates in the son of Adam just as blood circulates, and I feared that he would insert an evil thought" -or he said : "something - into your hearts" [Bukhari and Muslim, in [] are additional narrations from Abu Dawud] 


2. Combing and cutting one's hair, clipping one's nails, cleaning one's body, wearing nice clothes or wearing perfume are all permissible.
   
   'Aishah reported: "The Prophet was Performing itikaf and he would put his head out through the opening to my room and I would clean [or comb in one narration] his hair. I was menstruating at the time." [al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Dawud]. 


3. The person may go out for some need that he must perform.
   
   Aishah reported: "When the Prophet Performed I`tikaf, he brought his head close to me so I could comb his hair, and he would not enter the house except to fulfill the needs a person has." [al-Bukhari, and Muslim]. 


4. The person may eat, drink, and sleep in the mosque, and he should also keep it clean.

Actions that Nullify the I`tikaf

1. Intentionally leaving the mosque without any need to do so, even if it is for just a short time. In such a case, one would not be staying in the mosque, which is one of the principles of I`tikaf.


2. Abandoning belief in Islam, as this would nullify all acts of worship. If you ascribe a partner to Allah, your work will fail and you will be among the losers. 


3. Losing one's reason due to insanity or drunkenness, or the onset of menstruation or post-childbirth bleeding, all of which disqualifies a person for itikaf. 


4. Sexual intercourse. Allah says [in meaning]: "But do not associate with your wives while you are in seclusion (I`tikaf) in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto. Thus does Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint. [al-Baqara; 2:187]

I`tikaf is not restricted to men only, women also can do it :

'Aisha (the wife of the Prophet) reported that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice I`tikaf after him. [Bukhari]

Dear Sister! when reading this do not forget the modesty and the Hijab of the wife of the Prophet (S) that you should observe if you intend to perform I`tikaf.

Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet said, "Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari, 1787) 

O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi).