One Ummah News - 27 Mar 2024
THE LAST ASHRA (10 DAYS) OF RAMADAN The blessed month of Ramadan is a marathon of Ibadah. As it nears its end, the most immense opportunities for worship still remain. The importance of these nights must not be underestimated. They are our chance to sprint towards Allah’sﷻ boundless mercy and forgiveness.
THE LAST ASHRA (10 DAYS) OF RAMADAN
The blessed month of Ramadan is a marathon of Ibadah. As it nears its end, the most immense opportunities for worship still remain. The importance of these nights must not be underestimated. They are our chance to sprint towards Allah’sﷻ boundless mercy and forgiveness.
Quite often, we burn out in the first 10 days of Ramadan by doing more than we’re able to. We don’t remain consistent in our levels of Ibadah and lose out on the blessings of the last 10 nights. This is not to say less effort should be put in at the beginning but to save most of your energy for the last third of the month.
Do on these nights what you do not do for the rest of the year.
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ said
“Whoever stands (in prayer) during the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan with firm faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven.” –[Bukhari & Muslim]."
Bukhari & Muslim
Perfect your Prayer
Evaluate your current Salah practices and increase the standard for the sake of Allahﷻ, even by a little. Add Sunnah and Nafl to your Fard. Pray Taraweeh and Qiyam. When praying Tahajjud, look at the quality of your prayer, not just the quantity. If you aren’t praying your five daily Salah, focus on achieving this as a minimum.
Recite the Qur’an
This is the month of the Holy Qur’an. Try to make Qur’an recitation a part of your daily routine. If you can’t finish the Qur’an, read as much as possible. If you can’t read as much as possible, even reciting 10 minutes daily is better than nothing. Build a habit that extends past Ramadan.
Remember Allahﷻ through Dhikr and Dua
Don’t let a single moment pass without Dhikr and sincere Dua; there is no need for Wudhu or a Qibla. Whether sitting in traffic or between meetings, you can always be engaged in worship. Before Iftar is the most blessed time of dua, and Allahﷻ accepts the Dua of the one who is fasting when he breaks his fast.
Control your Akhlaq
Our beloved Prophetﷺ exclusively linked Ramadan to improving our manners. Look at your weaknesses– where are you weak in your Manners? Is it your tongue? Your temper? Your impatience? We were not created to be perfect; the goal is to try and please Allahﷻ regardless of our imperfections.
Give Sadaqah
The Prophetﷺ was the most generous of people, and during Ramadan, his generosity knew no limits. Plan your Sadaqah and spread your donations across the last 10 days over different worthy causes. Give some to your Masjid, Fuqara and Masakeen, orphans, etc.
This is the month of Ramadan, the month of Rahmah (mercy) and Maghfirah (forgiveness). The only person who won’t be forgiven is the one who doesn’t seek forgiveness. So be sincere in your Niyyah.
Dua can be given against the one who isn’t forgiven during Ramadan; anyone who sincerely wishes for Maghfirah will be forgiven. When the Prophetﷺ climbed the Minbar the day before Ramadan, he said, “Verily, Gabriel came to me, and he said: Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and he is not forgiven, then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away, so say ‘Ameen’. I said ‘Ameen.”–[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 907]
Our dear brothers and sisters, do what you can to attain the mercy and forgiveness of your Creator. Whatever effort you put into this month, Allahﷻ will see your sincerity and reward you abundantly. Master your Salah, Dhikr, Dua and Akhlaq, and give Sadaqah.
