The last 10 days of Ramadan and Laylatul qadr

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

I pray you all have been in the bet of iman and health, thus able to take advantage of the first 20 days of the holy month with bountful rewards. We have come to the last 10 days and we have to be even more vigilant. The last 10 days of Ramadan and these are very important days. In these days the prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa salaam) used to increase his worship; 

 Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers." (Bukhari)

This is the time for all of us to increase our ibadat:  forgive one another, engage more in charity,  pray the night prayer- tahashud, read and memorise more qur'an, learn some more hadiths, and encourage our friends and family to do the same and a whole lot more things.

The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, “Whoever stands the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and seeking reward shall have their previous sins forgiven.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Apart from all these beautiful works we can do for abundant rewards there is one more  enjoyable and blessed act in  this holy month in this 10 days, this  is the performance  of i'tikaf.  

Aishah Radhiyaallahu Ta’ala anha reported that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam Used to perform I’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan untill Allah the Mighty and Majestic, took away his life, then his wives follwed this practice after him.

(Bukhari, Muslim)

“But do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in retreat in the mosque. These are the limits of Allah do not apporach them”.

(Qur’an, 2:187)

It is good for all muslims to take part in this beautiful retreat even mothers who are tending the young. This is a good deed and one cannot afford to lose out completely on it.  One can make niyyat for i'tikaf when one goes to one's musallah for prayer for a shport period and not the normal length of i'tikaf.  It is recommended for women to perform i'tikaf in a quiet , secluded place in their own homes according to the Hanafi school.

 Also in our midst at this time  is the blessed night of power : laylatul qadr. This night should not be missed.  Read more here.

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:

And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?

The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand:

Peace!...This until the rise of dawn!

—Sura 97 (Al-Qadr), ayat 15