By Khizra Noor
The month of Ramadan brings countless blessings and gives Muslims around the globe the opportunity to increase sincerity, patience, Iman, and come closer to our Lord, the Most-Merciful, the Most-Compassionate. It is also known for being a month of forgiveness; “It is the month [of Ramadan] in which the first of it is mercy, the middle of it is forgiveness and the last of it being liberation from the hell-fire.” (Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahih ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith #1887.)
We enter the month of Ramadan carrying the weight of the Dunya and our worldly sins. We turn away from created things, and instead, turn towards our Creator, Allah (swt). With the Gates of The Garden flung wide open, we seek to clear our slate and be “re-born” like a baby pure of sin. Allah’s mercy purifies our souls, rejuvenates us, makes our hearts lighter and our Iman stronger. It is during this month of fasting that we keep hydrated by uttering the Dhikr of Allah and eliminate our hunger by reaping the rewards of deeds performed while fasting.
“…The Month of Ramadan is its own world, it is the antidote to this one, a kind of Black Hole in which all the matter of this world seems to dissolve.” – Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore
During the other months of the year, we wander through the earth engaging in all kinds of sin during our heedlessness and slumber. Allah (swt) did not create the human void of committing sin. So, He sent upon this Ummah a gift, one month in which we awaken from this slumber and let go of our heedlessness so that we may make sincere repentance. Included in this gift from Allah (swt) are chances for a single good deed to be multiplied, sins to be erased, ranks to be increased, and among everything else, a night better than a thousand months, The Night of Decree – Laylatul Qadr.
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” [Qur’an: 97:3-5]
The companion Anas ibn Malik reported: “Ramadan approached, so the Messenger of God said: ‘This month has come to you, and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it is deprived of all goodness, and no one is deprived of its goodness except one who is truly deprived.’” Sunan Ibn Majah, 1644.
“Our Lord has concealed this powerful night so that we may strive in seeking it and performing worship throughout the month in the hopes of catching it” (Ibn Qudamah,al-Mughni (Dar `Alam al-Kutub), vol. 4, p. 453). In these last 10 days, we must truly strive as hard as possible. We must increase our Dikhr of Allah, recitation of the Quran, good deeds, and sincere prayers. Most importantly, let us fall onto our knees, and let our head fall into sujood to ask for forgiveness, to repent to our Lord, The Most Merciful, The Most Oft-Forgiving.
“O My servants who have transgressed against their souls! Do not despair of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Qur’an 39:53
It is said that during the Night of Decree, a person’s fate or destiny for the upcoming year is decided. Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “It is written in Umm al-Kitab (the Heavenly copy of the Qur’an) during Laylatul-Qadr what shall come to pass in the following year of good and evil, sustenance, and lifespan.” (Tafsir al-Baghawi 7/227-228.)
In search of this Night, we are like a person waiting for the decision of a judge in the courtroom. But, before we are given our judgement, we are allowed to sincerely and truthfully ask for forgiveness from the Ultimate Judge, Allah (Swt). We are given a final opportunity to change our taqdeer (fate). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Nothing averts fate except supplication (la yaruddu al-qadar illa al-du’a).” Sunan Ibn Majah, 1:95.
“The same God who created you with limited years to do good, gives you days and nights that are equivalent to lifetimes of worship. And the same angel, Jibreel, that He sent to honour the Prophet ﷺ that night is sent to the earth that same night annually to honour his nation.” 1
So be diligent, sincere, and faithful in seeking mercy from our Lord. Now is the time, when the gates of heaven are wide open for you and when Allah (swt) is offering His mercy to you if you genuinely seek it. If you feel you haven’t given it your all this Ramadan, don’t despair! This is your chance to strive your hardest in these last 10 nights and to receive forgiveness and increase in spiritual rewards. During these nights you are given an ultimate chance to change your ways before Allah (swt) befalls His decree upon you.
Ramadan may be leaving but don’t let it leave from within you. The constant Dhikr of Allah (swt), the constant seeking of forgiveness, the practicing of patience, self discipline and good character, reciting the Quran and reflecting upon it, donating to charity, should remain with us for the rest of the seasons that come after this beautiful month has departed. Ramadan is life-changing, it sets the direction for the upcoming year to put what you have practised and learned into action.
As we continuously make supplications to our Lord, let’s keep the entire Ummah in our prayers, let’s sincerely ask Allah (swt) to change the current condition of the Ummah, to eliminate the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Let us join in prayer to make Dua so that Allah (swt) protects us. I pray that The Most Merciful, The Oft-Forgiving, Allah (swt) forgives the Ummah of the Prophet ﷺ, that He increases our Iman, and that He brings peace and blessings among us so that we may all stay united. May all your prayers be accepted. Ameen!
Dua’s for the Last Ten Nights
A’isha asked the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul-Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عُفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
O Allah! You are Most Forgiving, and you love to forgive. So forgive me. Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, 3513.
اَللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ
“Allahuma Ajirni minan naar”
“O Allah, save me from the fire (Jahannam).”
رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا (Qur’an 25:65)
“Rabbana isrif ‘anna ‘athaba Jahannam, inna ‘athabaha kana gharama”
“Our Lord avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering”
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ رِضَاكَ وَالجَنَّةَ ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَالنَّارِ
“Allaahumma innee as-aluka Ridaak wal Jannah wa Audhubika min sakhatik wan-naar”
“O Allaah, I ask of Your pleasure and for Paradise, and I seek refuge from Your displeasure and from the Hellfire.”
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ، وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ
“Allaahumma innee as-aluka al – Jannah, wa maa qarraba ilayhaa min qawl aw ‘amal, wa Audhubika min an-Naar wa maa qarraba ilayhaa min qawl aw ‘amal.”
“O Allaah, I ask of You for Paradise and that which brings me closer to it of statements or actions. And I seek refuge with You from the Hellfire and that which takes me closer to it of statements or actions.”
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ (Qur’an 2:201)
“Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil ‘akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-nar.”
“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
1Khan, N., Hindy, I., & Suleiman, O. (2019, September 25). Why Laylatul Qadr? The Significance & Virtues of the Most Important Night of the Year. Retrieved from https://yaqeeninstitute.org/nazir-khan/why-laylatul-qadr-the-significance-virtues-of-the-most-important-night-of-the-year/#ftnt24
