Farrukh Paasha, Author at ProductiveMuslim.com https://productivemuslim.com/author/farrukhpaasha/ Meaningful Productivity That Connects This Life With The Hereafter Thu, 23 Apr 2020 13:27:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/favicon-180x180.png Farrukh Paasha, Author at ProductiveMuslim.com https://productivemuslim.com/author/farrukhpaasha/ 32 32 Four Things to Do on the Blessed 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah https://productivemuslim.com/blessed-10-days-of-dhul-hijjah/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blessed-10-days-of-dhul-hijjah https://productivemuslim.com/blessed-10-days-of-dhul-hijjah/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2016 05:00:40 +0000 https://productivemuslim.com/?p=7496 Allah the Most High & Exalted says: “By the Dawn; By the ten nights” [Surah Al-Fajr:1-2] This oath substantiates the greatness and sacredness of these ten nights in the eyes of Allah. This is an extraordinary oath; it is very reliable and significant and the wise men can understand that by this oath, Allah too

The post Four Things to Do on the Blessed 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

]]>
Four Things to Do on the Blessed 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah | ProductiveMuslim

Allah the Most High & Exalted says: “By the Dawn; By the ten nights” [Surah Al-Fajr:1-2]

This oath substantiates the greatness and sacredness of these ten nights in the eyes of Allah. This is an extraordinary oath; it is very reliable and significant and the wise men can understand that by this oath, Allah too attaches great importance and value to the ten nights of Dhul Hijjah.

The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) has said regarding these blessed days:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked , “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah), and came back with nothing.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

It is clear then that these 10 days possess tremendous blessings and excellence. Therefore we should spend these 10 blessed days and nights in intensive worship and virtuous acts. Therefore we cannot possibly afford to miss out on such immense rewards otherwise we will definitely be in utter regret in the Hereafter!

The following are recommended acts to do during the blessed 10 days and nights of Dhul Hijjah.

1. Fasting the 9 days of Dhul Hijjah

It is recommended to fast on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah, especially on the 9th which is the blessed day of Arafah. Allah’s Messenger ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) encouraged us to do righteous deeds in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah; and indeed fasting is one of the best of deeds.

Almighty Allah says, “All the deeds of the son of Adam are for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.”’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Note: The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is the day of Eid ul Adha and it is prohibited to fast on this day.

Forgiveness for 2 years of sins (minor sins) for fasting on the day of Arafah:

Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (the 9th of the month of Dhul Hijjah). He replied, “Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.” He was also asked about fasting on the day of Ashura (the 10th of the month of Muharram). He replied, “Fasting on the day of Ashura is an expiation for the preceding year.” The Messenger of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was also asked about fasting on Monday, and he replied, “This is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was sent (with the Message of Islam) and the day on which I received revelation.” [Muslim]

Therefore we should try our utmost to fast all the blessed 9 days of Dhul Hijjah – particularly the 9th of Dhul Hijjah which is the day of Arafah. If not then we should at least fast as many as we can possibly can as we may not get this opportunity again next year as life is uncertain and we should never procrastinate on doing good actions.

Tip: Eat light and hydrate well. If you will be staying up until Fajr, then the more you eat, the harder it will be for you to stay up and the less productive you will be! Keep some water with you at all times during the night. This will help you stay up, feel energised and refreshed and have a clearer mind. Also encourage your family and friends to join in!

2. Reciting tasbeeh, tahmeed, tahleel and takbeer abundantly

It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (Allahu Akbar), tahmeed (Alhamdulillah), tahleel (Laa ilaaha ill-Allah), and tasbeeh (SubhanAllah) during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. These words should be recited abundantly in the masajid, homes, streets and in every place where it is permissible to remember and glorify Allah.

“That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (reward of Hajj in the Hereafter and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice).” [Surah Al-Haj:28]

Reciting the Takbeeraat-e-Tashreeq from the 9th to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah: 

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd.

Translation: “Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest. There is no deity besides Allah and Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and all praises are for Allah only.”

Men can recite the above after every fardh salaat from Fajr of the 9th of Dhul Hijjah until Asr of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah audibly. Women should recite it silently.

Tip: Remember and glorify Allah no matter what you are doing: This is particularly easy as one can remember Allah anywhere and at any time whether it is during work or any daily activity.

3. Offering the Qurbani (sacrifice of a livestock animal)

The qurbani (also known as udh’hiya) is the sacrifice of a livestock animal during Eid ul-Adha. It is the sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim 'alayhi'l-salām (peace be upon him). It is a means of getting closer to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). It is obligatory upon every sane adult who is not a traveller and can afford it (wealth equal to or more than nisab). It is performed on the days of sacrifice which is the 10th, 11th or 12th of Dhul Hijjah. One may sacrifice a thousand animals on days other than these, but it will never be regarded or considered as udh’hiya. Therefore the qurbani is a sacred act which can only be done during the three days of Dhul Hijjah as specified. Regarding the qurbani, Allah says in the Qur’an:

“It is not their meat, nor their blood, that reaches Allah, It is their piety that reaches Allah.” [Surah Al-Haj:37]

Tip: It is best to go about the sacrifice the traditional way and offering it in your locality so that you obtain the lesson from the sacrifice and remind yourself of the emotions and test that Prophet Ibrahim 'alayhi'l-salām (peace be upon him) himself endured. However, where you face logistical issues, nowadays it is much easier for us to fulfil this sacred act by the mere click of a button over the Internet where we can buy an animal to be sacrificed on the various established Muslim charity websites.

4. Doing more good deeds than usual

The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days (Dhul Hijjah).” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Therefore we should increase the amount of good deeds we do in order to take advantage of this blessed time where good deeds are increased significantly.

Tip: Complete as many worldly tasks as possible beforehand and do not waste this precious time: Make arrangements to clear as many of your pending tasks as possible or make a plan for tackling them later. This way, one is free to worship during the 10 days and nights without being distracted by worldly tasks. We must make a firm intention that during these blessed 10 days that we will not take part in idle talk, watch TV, play computer games or spend time on the social media. There are many more days in the year for all that – if you really cannot resist. This is just 10 days! Consider the utter loss and regret for those who waste these blessed 10 days.

The following 7 deeds are amongst the best actions we can do during these blessed 10 days:

  • Reciting the Qur’an abundantly:

“Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that “Alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a letter.” [At-Tirmidhi] So if one letter of the Qur’an is equivalent to ten good deeds then imagine how much reward there is for reading each letter during these blessed 10 days which are said to be the best days of the year! Subhanallah!Abu Darda’ reported Allah’s Apostle ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) as saying: Is any one of you incapable of reciting a third of the Qur’an in a night? They (the Companions) asked: How could one recite a third of the Qur’an (in a night)? Upon this he (the Prophetṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)) said:” He is Allah, One” is equivalent to a third of the Qur’an. [Sahih Muslim] Therefore let us recite as much of the Qur’an as we can during these 10 days and nights and aim to recite it from cover to cover if we can. After that we should continue reciting the Qur’an throughout the rest of the year, for it is one of the excellent forms of worship!Tip: Increase your recitation by adding a few minutes or pages to your usual recitation routine. If you don’t have a routine yet, maybe this is the time for you start forming the habit. Begin by committing to recite at least one or two pages (or for 10 minutes, if you are a slow reciter) and then work to increase on this. Carry a small pocket mus’haf with you or install a reliable Qur’an app on a mobile device so that Shaytan cannot discourage you when you are out and about! Note: It is also very relevant to read the story of Prophet Ibrahim 'alayhi'l-salām (peace be upon him) which will give one a deeper understanding of the rituals of Hajj and the qurbani.

  • Showing exemplary character:

The Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, “Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the Scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.” [At- Tirmidhi] So we must aim to be the best in character during these blessed days and nights and continue to do so for the rest of the year. We must not argue, swear, backbite, slander or gossip.

Tip: Make an extra effort to be good to your friends, family, and neighbours, and especially those of other faiths.

  • Giving much in charity: 

    As the rewards of doing good deeds during these days are increased significantly then we should also give as much as we can in charity.Allah promised forgiveness of our sins if we give in charity and give to the poor and needy. He honoured our charity and described it as a “ beautiful loan to Allah “ to emphasise that we are doing something good that He loves, and that He himself will pay our loan back to us doubled:

    “If ye loan to Allah a beautiful loan, He will double it to your (credit), and He will grant you Forgiveness: for Allah is Most Ready to appreciate (service), Most Forbearing.” [Surah At-Taghabun:17]

    Tip: Have some change with you at all times to hand out when the opportunity arises. If you don’t have the opportunity to give out money in public, go online and resolve to donate a fixed amount every morning! If you don’t have money, remember that even a smile is considered charity – so go on and spread some good cheer!

  • Respecting and honouring our parents:

Islam teaches us that of the most beloved deeds to Allah, having respect for one’s parents is second only to that of prayer and is greater than that of fighting in His cause.It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Mas’ood raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him), who observed: “I asked Allah’s Messenger ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) which deed was the best.” He (the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)) replied: ‘The Prayer at its appointed hour.’ I (again) asked: “Then what?” He (the Holy Prophet) replied: ‘Kindness to the parents.’ I (again) asked: “Then what?” He replied: ‘Earnest struggle (Jihad) in the cause of Allah.’ I refrained from asking any more questions for fear of annoying him. [Sahih Muslim] Tip:

Tip: Make an extra effort to spend time with them during these blessed days. Recite Qur’an with them, read a book together, discuss a lecture you heard, share your plans for the future and seek their input. Drive your father to the masjid if he is unable to walk there and earn reward for doing so, or call them a few more times in the day if they live far away.

  • Doing many nawafil (superogatory) prayers:

Rabi’ah ibn Malik al-Aslami reported that the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:”Ask (anything).” Rabi’ah said: “I ask of you to be your companion in paradise. ” The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Or anything else?” Rabi’ah said: “That is it.” The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said to him: “Then help me by making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers).” [Abu Dawud]

The following are sunnah and nawafil prayers to pray during the 10 days of Dhul Hijjah:-

Pray 12 raka’ahs of sunnah daily along with the fardh prayers. Umm Habibah Ramilah bint Abu Sufyan raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) narrated she heard the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) saying: “A house will be built in Paradise for every Muslim who offers twelve units of prayers other than the obligatory ones in day and night, to seek pleasure of Allah.” [Muslim] Umm Habibah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever sticks to the habit of offering four rak`ahs before Noon Prayer & four rak`ahs after it, Allah will shield him against the Hell-Fire.” [Sunan An-Nasai]

Salaatul Duhaa: The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) is reported to have said: Whoever prayed twelve rakaats (before midday), then Allah will, as a reward, prepare a palace of gold for him in Paradise. [Sunan An-Nasai]

Two raka’ahs sunnah after entering the masjid: Abu Qatadah raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) narrated the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) as saying: “If any one of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rak`ahs before sitting.” [Abi Dawud]

Tahiyyatul wudhu: – 2 raka’ahs sunnah after performing wudhu (ablution). Abu Hurayrah raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) reported the Prophet raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) saying to Bilal raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him): “Tell me about the best of your deeds (i.e. one which you deem the most rewarding) since your embracing Islam because I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) replied: “I do not consider any act of mine more rewarding than that whenever I make ablution at any time of night or day, I perform Prayer for as much as was destined for me to do.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Tahajjud prayer: The most virtuous nawafil (voluntary) prayer is the Tahajjud prayer as it enables one to get closer to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). The best recitation of the Qur’an is done during Tahajjud prayer. You should recite as much of the Qur’an as you have memorised. In the long prostrations, beg Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) for forgiveness and mercy and surely He will never turn away his slaves who beg of him during this prayer.

Note: During the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah we should aim to pray Tahajjud every night. If not then we should pray it in as many nights as we possibly can. When fasting during the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah one should awaken a little earlier for Suhur, make wudhu and pray Tahajjud. The last third portion of the night is the most blessed part of the night in which duas are more readily accepted during this time. So by praying Tahajjud it gives us the best opportunity to get closer to Allah and to make sincere dua, repenting for our sins past and present and to beg, cry and ask of Allah for whatever we want.

Tip: Before you go to bed each night, use the Productive Muslim Taskinator to block out time for these additional acts of worship. You are more likely to get something done if you allocate time for it. As the saying goes – what gets scheduled, gets done!

  • Increase in glorification & remembrance of Allah: 

As His creations we should all remember and glorify our creator as much as we possibly can, but even more so during these blessed days. The following are some easy and very beneficial dhikr and glorification we can do throughout these blessed days and nights.
– Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallahu Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Wa lillahil Hamd
– Subhanallah
– Alhamdulillah
– Allahu Akbar
– Laa ilaha ilallah
– La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
– Asthaghfirullah
– SubhanAllahil azeem wa bihamdihi
– Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm
– Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr or the shortened version Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeerOne can also recite the durood that one recites towards the end of one’s salaah or the shortest durood: Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim.Tip: Have something in your environment or on your person as a reminder for dhikr. It could be a special ring that you wear or a sticker placed on your desk or car wind shield.

  • Making much dua: 

Almighty Allah says in the Qur’an,

“When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me.” [Suratul Baqarah:186]

We should busy ourselves in Dua during these 10 blessed days and nights particularly on the night and day of Arafat which is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. Duas are also readily accepted during fasting, especially just before Suhur ends and just before breaking the fast.

  • Making life changes:

We should make the necessary changes to improve ourselves as Muslims and what better time to make such changes than during these blessed 10 days where we can change our lives forever? We must internalise these changes and make a firm commitment to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), and maybe that he will wipe off our sins until we become newborn babies, In sha Allah.Therefore let us make the best of these blessed days and make the necessary changes so that we may live a life devoted to Allah. We should aim to rectify our condition and live for the Hereafter rather than living for this world which can end at any second for any one of us. Allah tells us In the Qur’an to enter fully into our deen (way of life) and not partly:

“O believers enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, surely he is your clear-cut enemy….” [Surah Al-Baqarah:208-210]

So then will we not make Islam a FULL part of our lives? This is our best opportunity and if we don’t grab it now and death comes to us then surely we will regret it for ETERNITY! Surely there is no logic in putting all of our efforts into a short, temporary life which can end at any second and neglect that which will last forever. Knowing this then why do we put everything into this life and neglect the Hereafter? Time is passing us by and we are blinded by the deception of this life. Time is not on our side. This life is very short indeed. It is like a quick passing phase. It is a short stopover in our journey to the eternal Afterlife. 

This short life is our only one opportunity to build our Hereafter. In the Hereafter we will want to be taken back to this life in order to live it again so that we can worship Allah. But we will not be able to. So let us prepare for the Hereafter and our inevitable death before preparations are made for our funerals.

May Allah enable us to make the best of these blessed days and nights and make it a means of our success in this world and in the Hereafter. Ameen.

The post Four Things to Do on the Blessed 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

]]>
https://productivemuslim.com/blessed-10-days-of-dhul-hijjah/feed/ 169 productivemuslim-Four-Things-to-Do-on-the-Blessed-10-Days-of-Dhul-Hijjah-600 ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) 'alayhi'l-salām (peace be upon him) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) 'alayhi'l-salām (peace be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) 'alayhi'l-salām (peace be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)
Laylatul Qadr – Worship Plan to Maximise the Last 10 Nights of Ramadan! https://productivemuslim.com/laylatul-qadr-worship-plan-to-maximise-the-last-10-nights-of-ramadan/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=laylatul-qadr-worship-plan-to-maximise-the-last-10-nights-of-ramadan https://productivemuslim.com/laylatul-qadr-worship-plan-to-maximise-the-last-10-nights-of-ramadan/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2016 05:00:31 +0000 https://productivemuslim.com/?p=7143 Allah says in the Qur’an: 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 blessed Laylatul Qadr can be found in any of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, which

The post Laylatul Qadr – Worship Plan to Maximise the Last 10 Nights of Ramadan! appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

]]>
Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) says in the Qur’an: 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 blessed Laylatul Qadr can be found in any of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, which are the most blessed nights of the year. As such, we should increase our worship and devotion during this period.

Aisha raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her) reported: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work harder) and used to pray the whole night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. [Bukhari]

Abu Hurayrah raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. And whoever spends the night of Lailat Al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i]

Subhan Allah! Such immense rewards are to be gained during these blessed 10 nights. How can we afford to miss out on them? Who is to say that we will live to see the next Ramadan? We MUST make the best of these 10 nights. If we cannot manage all of the 10 nights, then as many as we can manage, particularly on the odd-numbered nights: 21st, 25th, 27th and 29th.

There is a saying that a person who fails to plan, plans to fail. So I have created a Worship Plan that we can use to maximise these blessed 10 nights of Ramadan. But first, there are a few points to consder:

10 Points to Consider in the Worship Plan

  1. Remain in I’tikaf: The best way of catching the blessed night is to remain in I’tikaf, which both men and women can do. If it is not possible for one to remain in I’tikaf for the whole of the 10 days and nights, then one should try to remain in I’tikaf for as many days and nights possible. It is also possible to make intention of Nawafil I’tikaf each and every time one enters the masjid to gain rewards for the time spent in the masjid.
  2. Worship all the 10 nights: Try to worship the whole of the 10 nights or as many days you can manage as that is the best way to catch the unimaginable and incomprehensible rewards of  Laylatul Qadr. Each and every good deed from Maghrib until Fajr on Laylatul Qadr is rewarded a minimum of at least 83 years’ of worship. Subhan Allah, that is longer than most of us will live!
  3. Best dua of the last 10 nights: اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
    Aisha raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).” [At-Tirmidhi].
  4. Give charity: Any good act such as charity during Laylatul Qadr is rewarded like you have done it for over 83 years.
  5. Eat light: As you will be staying up until Fajr, the more you eat, the harder it will be for you to stay up and the less productive you will be!
  6. Hydrate well: Keep some water with you at all times. This will help you stay up, feel energised and refreshed and have a clearer mind.
  7. Complete all tasks beforehand: Make arrangements to clear as many of your pending tasks as possible or make a plan for tackling them later. This way, we are free to worship during the 10 nights without being distracted by worldly tasks.
  8. Show exemplary character: The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the Scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.” [At- Tirmidhi]. So we must aim to be the best in character during these blessed nights and continue to do so for the rest of the year. We must not argue, swear, backbite, slander or gossip.
  9. No time wasting: We must make a firm intention that during these blessed 10 nights, we will not take part in idle talk, watch TV, play computer games or spend time on the social media. There are 355 days in the year for all that – if you really cannot resist. This is just 10 nights! There will be indeed an utter loss and regret for those of us who waste these blessed 10 nights.
  10. Making life changes: We should make the necessary changes to improve ourselves as Muslims and what better time to make such changes than during these blessed 10 nights where we can change our lives forever. We must internalise these changes and make a firm commitment to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), and maybe that he will wipe off our sins until we become newborn babies, In sha Allah.

The Worship Plan

The following is a possible worship routine for the last 10 blessed nights of Ramadan. It should be adjusted according to your local time.  

09:30 pm – 10:00 pm: Break fast with dates and water and pray Maghrib (men with congregation and women at home). Afterwards pray the 2 raka’ahs of sunnah and as many nawafil (voluntary) prayers in sets of 2 raka’ahs as you can manage.

Can you imagine the rewards of voluntary and fard prayers during Laylatul Qadr? Subhan Allah! You will be rewarded like you have prayed the fard and voluntary prayers for over 83 years.

10:00 pm – 10:15 pm: Eat light to have optimum energy for worship. Avoid heavy and fried foods, as they will make you lethargic.

Tip: The lighter your stomach, the more worship you can perform. The more worship you perform, the more reward you will obtain, In sha Allah.

10:15 pm – 10:30 pm: Get ready to pray Isha’ and Taraweeh. Make ghusl or wudu. Pray 2 raka’ahs tahiyyatul wudu after every wudu. Wear your best clothes and put on attar, use a miswaak and comb your hair, beard etc.

Tip 1: Looking your best has a significant impact in making you more productive! These are the nights of maximum productivity! So look and smell good to be more productive!

Tip 2: Walk to the masjid if you are not in I’tikaf. Each and every step is rewarded like you have been walking to the masjid for over 83 years! Subhan Allah!

10:30 pm – 12:00 am: Pray Isha’ and Taraweeh. Pray 2 raka’ahs of tahiyyatul masjid upon arriving at the masjid and 4 raka’ahs of sunnah (this is often neglected) before the 4 fard of Isha’.

Tip: Praying Taraweeh during Laylatul Qadr will bring rewards of over 83 years for each and every letter recited by the imam and for each and every prostration (sajda).

12:00 am – 12:30 am: As soon as Taraweeh is completed, prepare for worship until Fajr. Make fresh wudu or ghusl if you wish to. Drink water. If you are hungry, eat (light). Either stay at the masjid or go home immediately. Do not partake in any idle talk and go straight to the spot where there will be no disturbances and begin worship immediately. There should be no procrastination during these blessed 10 nights.

Tip: The less time we waste, the more time we have for worship. The more time we have for worship, the more we can gain unimaginable rewards during these blessed 10 nights.

12:30 am – 1:30 am: Recite the Qur’an, contemplating and pondering over the words of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He).

Tip: The Noble Qur’an was revealed during Laylatul Qadr. So surely we should spend the last 10 nights of Ramadan reciting the Qur’an. Each and every letter is normally rewarded 10 good deeds. During Ramadan, this is increased further but during Laylatul Qadr each letter will be rewarded like one has recited it for over 83 years. Subhan Allah!

1:30 am – 2:00 am: 1:30 – 2:00 am – Pray nafl salah, recite the Qur’an or engage in reciting the dua of Laylatul Qadr Dua as much as possible which completely wipes out sins.

Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’

‘O Allah You are The One Who forgives greatly, and loves to forgive, so forgive me. [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Tip: This dua was given by the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) to the most beloved person to him: Aisha raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her). So that makes the dua extra special.

2:00 am – 2:45 am: 8 raka’ahs of tahajjud prayer with long sajdas, reciting as many surahs as you know. Knowing beforehand the meaning of the surahs that you will be reciting will allow you to attain khushu.

Tip: The best nawafil prayer is tahajjud as it is a prayer that allows you to get closer to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). It can be prayed after Isha’ until just before Fajr begins. The best recitation of the Qur’an is done during tahajjud prayer. You should recite as much of the Qur’an as you have memorised. In the long prostrations, beg Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) for forgiveness and mercy and surely He will never turn away his slaves who beg of him during this prayer.

2:45 am – 3:00 am: Eat suhoor slightly earlier so you can spend the last 30 minutes in dua. The dua just before Fajr is the best and most accepted dua, and any dua on Laylatul Qadr is accepted without a doubt, In sha Allah.

Tip: Prepare suhoor during the day and store it in the fridge as nothing should get in the way of our worship during these blessed nights. Preparing suhoor beforehand leaves us with more time to worship.

3:00 am until Fajr begins: Devote the last 30 minutes in dua. Beg and cry unto Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). Praise and glorify Him by using His beautiful names, asking for His mercy and forgiveness and for our parents, families and ourselves. Ask for anything that your heart desires. Include duas for the Ummah. Surely Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) will accept each and every sincere dua during these blessed 10 nights, especially on  Laylatul Qadr!

Tip: Make a dua list and be sure to cover everything you can think of so that your mind does not go blank when making duas on these blessed nights.

Repeat this schedule for each and every night of worship during the last 10 nights of Ramadan and know that on at least one of the nights, we will gain the rewards equivalent to those of more than 83 years. Subhan Allah that is longer than most of us will live!

May Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) enable us to make the best of these nights. May He enable us to catch the blessed Laylatul Qadr and gain the rewards that are promised for it. Ameen.

The post Laylatul Qadr – Worship Plan to Maximise the Last 10 Nights of Ramadan! appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

]]>
https://productivemuslim.com/laylatul-qadr-worship-plan-to-maximise-the-last-10-nights-of-ramadan/feed/ 121 subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)