Six Things You Can do to Get the Most from the Last Ten Days of Ramadan

When Ramadan starts, we are all filled with enthusiasm. However, as the days pass by and our eagerness dies down, we lose our drive to accomplish the many goals we had set ourselves for. When the last ten days approach, it is a great time to remind ourselves of its blessings and to revive our Ramadan intentions.

Why are the last 10 days are so important?

The last ten days of Ramadan hold great importance as it is when our Prophet (saw) devoted himself to worship. Another significance of the last ten days is the presence of the night of power (Laylatul Qadr) which is described in the Quran as, 'better than a thousand months' (97:3). It should be noted that the exact date of Laylatul Qadr is unknown, except that it is on an odd night in the last ten days, so we should make the most of every night. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger (saw) said: 'Whoever stands (in prayer) during Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation and expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven' (Bukhari).  

Now that you know why it’s so important, here are six things you can do to maximize the benefits of these blessed days:

1. Perform i’tikaf

Many people carry out i’tikaf, a spiritual retreat that requires total devotion to Allah (swt). It is normally performed in a mosque where there is little distraction. Time spent in i’tikaf is used worshiping, performing extra prayers, reciting Qur’an and making supplications. Even if you are unable to perform this ritual for the entire ten days, you can try a shorter length of time, such as one or two nights.

2. Ask for forgiveness

It is narrated that Aisha (ra) asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' and he replied that you should say: 'O Allah, you are pardoning and you love to pardon, so pardon me.' This translates to 'Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee' (Ahmad).

Therefore, it is recommended that we say this du'a as much as possible during the last ten days, as we do not know which of these days the night of power falls on.

3. Keep remembering Allah

It’s easy to forget making some extra dhikr (supplications) after prayer. Now that it’s Ramadan an easy way to gain extra rewards is by making these supplications. Unfortunately, a lot of us find it difficult to make time because of work or school, but the most practical way to include these important supplications in our busy schedule is by utilizing wasted time. So, instead of looking at your phone, reading the news or staring around while on the train, you can perform dhikr. 

4. Make a list of du'as

We often have so many goals or wishes we need Allah’s help with. What better time to make du'a than the last ten days of Ramadan? One helpful way to ensure that you don’t forget to ask what you need is to make a list. 

5. Memorize a new surah

Try memorizing a surah - even a small one - and read the English translation to attain benefits. Another way to reap more benefits is to teach the surah you’ve learned to a friend or a family member. This is because our Prophet (saw) said: 'The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Quran and teach it.' (Narrated 'Uthman in Bukhari)

6. Give Sadaqah

Has this ever happened to you? You make your list of goals for the last 10 nights and are determined not to miss anything. You write down all the du'as so you don’t forget any, and set out how many pages of Qur'an you want to read every night. It means that when the last 10 nights arrive, you are ready and prepared.

But then, on one of the nights, maybe the 25th or the 27th or even the days after, you forget one essential good deed. You forget to give Sadaqah. 

The Best 10 Nights is a tool that ensures you don't miss giving on Laylat al-Qadr by automating your donations over the last 10 blessed nights of Ramadan. This night carries the reward of worshipping for over 1000 months, so don't miss the opportunity to maximize your rewards.

Let’s plan, and hope insha’Allah this Ramadan can be our most productive one yet! 

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