The Last 10 Days of Ramadan Makes or Breaks a Ramadan |
Written by Nuraz |
Salaam (WRWB). You’ve made it past 20 days of Ramadan, awesome! And you’ve done so much during this time. But what remains is the final boss to put it into the best words of your Ramadan. These 10 days, makes or breaks the entire Ramadan and your intended supplications during the entire month. Not only is it just 10 days of Ramadan, it can be the Night of Decree, the night in which the Quran was revealed.
Firstly, what makes the Last 10 Days of Ramadan so sacred?
The Prophet (PBUH) mentions about Laylatul Qadr,
"Seek Laylatul Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan."
— [Sahih al-Bukhari 2020]
So in the last 10 days, comes Laylatul Qadr, the night of power. The night that is said to be worth 1000 months. Or 83.3 years. As Allah (SWT) mentions in Surah Qadr,
لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَهۡرٖ
Meaning - The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. (97:3)
It’s a time for us Muslims to buckle up and be at our absolute best at this time. The true date for Laylatul Qadr isn’t known. But we do know from the Prophet (PBUH), that Laylatul Qadr is
- In the Last 10 Days
- Is in an odd number (21,23,25,27, and 29)
A few Laylatul Qadr or even one, can be the reason why we have such an abundant amount of deeds, as it’s the night in which our sins are forgiven and the doors of Heaven are open the most. Imagine a door closed, then slightly opened. Yeah in Ramadan alone the door is open, but specifically in these last 10 days the door is like the most open it can be. And also imagine these rewards with the Ramadan boost of x70?? That would be an immense reward.
That being said, what are some ways to make the best of the Last 10 Days?
One of things that is recommended to do during these 10 days is to do Itikaf. Sincere Itikaf, meaning you set aside your daily life, communication, and this dunya for these 10 days. Solely to worship Allah (SWT) during these last 10 days.
The Prophet (PBUH) was reported doing Itikaf, Aisha (RA) one of the Prophet’s wives had narrated,
"When the last ten days of Ramadan began, the Prophet ﷺ would tighten his waist belt, stay up at night, and wake his family."
— [Sahih al-Bukhari 2024, Sahih Muslim 1174]
As another hadith indicates that the Prophet (PBUH) had done Itikaf on the last 10 days, reports
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan."
— [Sahih al-Bukhari 2025]
The reward of doing Itikaf isn’t truly mentioned, but it is counted as an act of worship. Though it’s not Sahih, a hadith reported the Prophet (PBUH) proclaiming,
"Whoever performs I’tikaf seeking the pleasure of Allah, He will keep him away from Hellfire by a trench the distance of which is like that between the east and the west."
— [Al-Bayhaqi, Shu’ab al-Iman; classed as Hasan by some scholars]
Another way to seize the last 10 days is by attending night prayers, as the Prophet (PBUH) had suggested,
"Whoever stands (in prayer) during Ramadan out of faith and expecting reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven."
— [Sahih al-Bukhari 2009, Sahih Muslim 759]
These prayers can be Taraweeh and Qiyam-ul-Layl if your Masjid offers both these prayers. As they are often long and in the night.
Dua’s are also important. Calling to Allah (SWT) is one of the most essential things for us as Muslims. I say essential, because it is what Allah (SWT) wants us to do as he mentions,
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدۡعُونِيٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
Meaning - And your Lord says, “Call upon me, and I will respond to you”, Indeed, those who disdain my worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible (40:60)
A dua that is one of the most famous during these times, a dua in which the Prophet (PBUH) highly recited is,
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Meaning - O Allah, You are indeed Forgiving, and You love to forgive, so forgive me.
Make sure you recite a lot of dua and zikr, really anything you desire or want in both worlds, now is the perfect time to do so, as Allah (SWT) is ever forgiving and merciful throughout these months and especially these last 10 days.
The last way I will mention, though there are many other ways you can take advantage of the last 10 days is Sadaqah. Most people usually skip it, but Zakat-ul-Fitr, extra Zakat, feeding people on Iftar, and giving to the needy are all incredible ways to boost your good deeds during Ramadan. A hadith about Zakat-ul-Fitr recalls,
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory as a purification for the fasting person from idle talk and indecent speech, and as food for the poor. Whoever gives it before the Eid prayer, it is accepted as Zakat, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is (counted as) regular charity."
— [Sunan Abi Dawood 1609, Hasan by Al-Albani]
Make sure whenever you pay Zakat-ul-Fitr you do so before Eid Salaah, because that is the timeframe to do those. It is meant to be a purification for our fasting during this blessed month.
As the last 10 days approach, do not get fixated on Eid. Firstly make use of all these blessings days, as we may never know whether we will live to see these days again or not. Don’t live by these days, just to regret them. As the doors of Heaven is upon, Allah (SWT) is ever forgiving with us doing constant acts of Ibadah (worship), and Laylatul Qadr in one of these 10 days, it is best that we do the utmost best we can. Then once we finish these last 10 days, we can then celebrate Eid the most we want to. As without any steadfastness or struggle, our reward won’t be sufficient enough. Salaam (WRWB).