As we approach the final days of Ramadhan, we eagerly expect the good news of ‘Itqum min naar’, freedom from the fire. How do we spend this blessed and rewarding time? What are the best practices? Here I suggest three sunnahs that will enrich the spiritual atmosphere of the final days of this ‘spring of righteousness’.
The beloved Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “the first ten days of Ramadhan are the days of Allah’s kindness, the second ten are designated for forgiveness and the last ten for the freedom from Hellfire” (Bukhari). This hadith reminds us about spiritual progression, nothing stands still, there is upward movement, ascension and rising above the base desires. Our journey through Ramadhan starts with Allah, the Loving Lord showing compassion, treating us with care and respect. This switches to forgiveness, overlooking our weaknesses and shortcomings, our sins erased. Now we have the freedom to serve the Lord and His creatures.
Here are three effective spiritual exercises that you can tug into comfortably in the last ten days of Ramadhan:
- Reading the Quran to refresh and revive the heart:
Malik Ibn Dinar, was a pious scholar and a student of prominent disciples, he said, “people of the Quran, do you know what the Quran does to your heart? It’s like the rain that revives the dead earth.” The daily chores and conflicts take their toll on our emotional well-being, the study of the Quran is an effective way of refreshing and reviving oneself. The best way we can achieve a change in our lives, in people around us is to bond with Allah through the Quran. This is how the disciples did it before us. By helping individuals transform their personal relationships with the Quran and live a Quranic lifestyle. We dream of not only contributing to positive change but to kindle a revival in our religious society “This Majestic Quran guides to the straight path, it gives good news to believers who perform excellent deeds; they’ll have a great reward” (Al-Isra: 9). You know what joy and buzz you get when something sparks hope in you or fills your heart with peace or encourages you. Readers of the Quran tell us about insights they get when reading the Majestic Quran. Often the section they’re reading lines up with something happening in their lives. So, whenever you experience one of those ‘a-ha’ moments share it. You can share all kinds of things from the Quran with your friends. Here is what I do: Open the Majestic Quran randomly, I read the section in front. I listen to its message, think and put it on. That’s the advice from Allah for me, the solution for my problem today. This will free me from fear, nurtures a frame of mind that’s godly and trusts the Lord. Now I can give others that same great feeling.
2. Sitting the I’tikaf:
This is a spiritual retreat when the fasting person stays in the Masjid or for women to stay in their room at home. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “the Messenger used to retreat during the last ten days of Ramadhan, he did this regularly and after him, I do it too”. The retreat is an effective means for spiritual development, since you temporarily disassociate yourself from worldly affairs, spending day and night immersed in remembrance of Allah and meditating. It’s a highly charged spiritual state, ‘when the heart becomes attached to Allah, you get inner peace. The preoccupation with the mundane things of life ceases and absorption in the eternal reality takes its place, and the state is reached in which all fears, hopes and apprehensions are taken over by the love for Him and every thought and feeling is blended with the eagerness to gain His nearness. Devotion to the Almighty is taught instead of devotion to the world, it becomes the provision for the grave, where there will be neither a friend nor a helper. This is the lofty purpose of iʿtikaf’ (Zaad al Maad).
3. Looking out for the ‘Night of Power‘:
During the odd nights of the last ten nights look out for this blessed night. This night of Ramadhan is better than a thousand months of worship. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Seek Lailat ul-Qadr, the night of power among the odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadhan” (Bukhari). Spending this night in worship, seeking forgiveness and Divine nearness marks the climax of Ramadhan.
A gentle reminder about Zakat and Sadaqah
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