The blessings of the Last 10 days of Ramadan
Ramadan is a holy Islamic month with full of blessings, forgiveness, mercy and worship. This month is superior to all Islamic month. It is a month of to purify our hearts. This month is a month of generosity. In Ramadan each and every moment is full of blessings. Muslims starts the preparation for Ramadan before its coming. In this month the knowledge of Quran and Sunnah get increased because Muslims remain busy all the time to seek the blessings of God.
Basically Ramadan is divided in to three main parts which are also called “Ashras”. Ashra is an Arabic word which means “Ten”.The first Ashra is full of mercy, the second is full of forgiveness and the third and last Ashra is to seek the refuge in Allah from the hell. These ten days are the most blessing days and have a lot of dignity. This is the exact time to take refuge in Allah’s blessing and get rid from the Hell which is the bad place. Dua for the last Ashra of Ramazan is:-
The Holy prophet (PBUH) has said:
“It (Ramadan) is the month, whose beginning is Mercy, its middle is Forgiveness & its end is Emancipation from the fire.” ( Bihar.alanwar Volume: 93, Page No. 342)
This last and third Ashra has greatest value among whole Muslims. A hadith is reported by Muslim about the routine of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that:-
“Allah’s Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time”. (Muslim)
In an Hadith reported by Hazrat Aisha (R.A):
“When the last ten days of Ramadan began the Prophet (P.B.U.H) use to gird up the loins and keep awake in the nights. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) also wakened the members of His family (So that they may spend the night in worship too).” (Bukhari)
Laila tul Qadar is there in this last Ashra of Ramadan which is a night of power. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) said about this night that:-
“Whoever stays up on the Night of Qadar fully believing
and hoping to seek reward he shall be forgiven for his
past sins.”(Muslim)
There are five different acts which should be done in the night of Qadar:-
Should offer Superogatory Prayers (navafils) as much as you can.
Should do Zikar as much as you can.
Should recite Holy Quran
Should pray for forgiveness as much as you can
Hazrat Ayesha Asked from Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) if I come to know that it is the night of Qadar what I should do during this night. Holy prophet (PBUH) told to her a dua which is:-
“اللھم انک عفوآ تحب العفوا فاعف عنی”
“O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me”
The practice of “Itkaf” is there in the last Ashra of Ramadan. It is the best way to get the blessings of this last Ashra is to practice Itkaf. In a Hadith which is narrated by the beloved wife of beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) Hazrat Ayesha Saddiqa (R.A):-
‘Allah’s Apostle used to practice Itekaf 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).
We should be aware the blessings of the last Ashra of Ramadan and should not waste this time which is full of blessings. Every moment of this Ashra is full of blessings. We should try to work hard in order to gather all the blessings. This is the exact time to make able to ourselves best Muslim for the entire year. May Allah give us power to gather the blessings of whole Ramadan specially during Last Ashra. May Allah give us strength to find the night of Qadar in this last Ashra(Amen)
Reference: http://islamicencyclopedia.org/