One Ummah News - 17 Apr 2025
The last ten days of Ramadan are the most blessed. Learn how to increase worship, seek Laylatul Qadr, and gain Allah’s mercy.
The last ten days of Ramadan are among the most precious periods in the Islamic calendar - also known as the Third Ashra. After experiencing Allah'sﷻ mercy in the first ten days and seeking His forgiveness in the second ten, we now seek protection from the Hellfire. The Third Ashra is a lifeline for every Muslim who walks the Earth. These final days of Ramadan are a divine invitation to escape the torment of the Hellfire and secure our place in Jannah.
These nights hold an abundance of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation, and Allahﷻ has given us the keys to unlock these blessings. The Prophet Muhammadﷺ said: “In Paradise, there is a gate which is called Rayyan through which only the people who fast would enter on the Day of Resurrection.” –[Muslim]. But ‘fast’ doesn’t just mean abstaining from food, it encompasses your entire Ramadan. You must fast with sincerity and devotion, and maximise our worship to secure our protection from the Hellfire.
The last ten days of Ramadan held immense significance for our beloved Prophet Muhammadﷺ and his companions. Aisha رضي الله عنها reported: "With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophetﷺ used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers." –[Bukhari].
This dramatic shift in the Prophet'sﷺ worship routine shows us how much these nights meant to him. He would exert himself in worship more than any other time, spending entire nights in prayer, reflection, and remembrance of Allahﷻ. His companions followed his example, filling the mosques with the sounds of the Qur'an and supplication through the night.
The pinnacle of the third Ashra is Laylatul-Qadr (The Night of Power); a night so magnificent that Allahﷻ dedicated an entire Surah to it in the Holy Qur'an. Allahﷻ says: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months." –[97:3]. Worship on this one night is more valuable to Allahﷻ than if we were to worship him constantly for over 83 years. Subhan’Allah, imagine the magnitude of the rewards.
While the exact date of Laylatul-Qadr is hidden, the Prophetﷺ encouraged us to seek it on the odd nights of the last ten days (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th). It was on this blessed night that the Qur'an was first revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammadﷺ, marking the beginning of the final message to humanity.
Aisha رضي الله عنها once asked the Prophet Muhammadﷺ what to pray for if she found Laylatul-Qadr, and he taught her to say: "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni." (O Allah, You are the Most Forgiving, and You love to forgive, so forgive me). This beautiful Du’a is a weapon against the Hellfire. Recite it as often as you can during the last ten days and nights of Ramadan.
These precious final days demand a dramatic shift in our Ibadah. This period is not the period for complacency, but rather a time to go all in with our worship. We are almost at the finish line, and as we approach the end of our marathon, we should sprint to the end with as much Emaan and Tawakkul as possible.
1️⃣ I'tikaf (Spiritual Retreat): The Prophet Muhammadﷺ would seclude himself in the mosque during the last ten days, dedicating himself entirely to worship and reflection. If you cannot perform full I'tikaf, spend even a few hours in the House of Allahﷻ and focus on your worship.
2️⃣ Night Prayer (Qiyam al-Layl): Spend as much of your night as possible in prayer. The Prophet Muhammadﷺ would spend entire nights in prayer during this period. He said: "Whoever stands in prayer during Laylatul-Qadr with faith and hoping for reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven." –[Bukhari].
3️⃣ Qur'an Recitation: Complete your recitation of the whole Qur’an if possible, and reflect deeply on its meanings. The Qur’an is your shield from the Hellfire and your guide to Paradise.
4️⃣ Dhikr (Remembrance of Allahﷻ): Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allahﷻ. Frequently recite "Laa ilaaha illallah," (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allahﷻ), "Subhanallah," (Glory be to Allahﷻ), "Alhamdulillah," (All praise is due to Allahﷻ), and "Allahu Akbar." (Allahﷻ is the Greatest).
اللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ
"Allahumma ajirni minan-naar."
"O Allah, save me from the Fire."
This powerful supplication should be on our lips constantly during these final ten days. The companions asked the Prophet Muhammadﷺ about the best Du'a to make during Ramadan, and he emphasised seeking protection from the Hellfire. Make this your constant plea on these blessed nights, especially during Suhoor, and between the Adhan and Iqamah, and in the depths of the night.
Our beloved Prophetﷺ was always very generous, but during Ramadan, his generosity had no limits. In these final days, when every good deed is multiplied exponentially, charity becomes an even more powerful means of seeking Allah’sﷻ protection from the Hellfire.
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ said: "Charity extinguishes sins just as water extinguishes fire." –[Tirmidhi]. What better time to give than these blessed nights when the rewards are multiplied beyond measure?
Remove the legwork and automate your donations for the last ten nights, guaranteeing that you catch Laylatul Qadr. This way, you don’t miss out on the blessings, even though you're unaware which night it falls upon. You can:
•Provide emergency relief to our brothers and sisters in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon
•Sponsor orphans who have lost everything
•Feed the needy worldwide
These acts of charity are not just a means of helping others––they will be a lifeline for you on the Day of Judgement, speaking on your behalf.
The companions of the Prophet Muhammadﷺ knew the weight of these final days.
Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه would dedicate himself solely to worship during this period, sometimes not even sleeping until after Fajr.
Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه divided his night into three parts: one-third for his family, one-third for sleep, and one-third for standing in prayer.
Bilal ibn Rabah رضي الله عنه, who endured torture for his faith, would increase his supplications seeking protection from the Hellfire, knowing that the temporary pain of this world is nothing compared to the eternal torment of the Fire.
Their examples remind us that no matter how busy we think we are, if Allahﷻ is high enough of a priority to us, we will manage to make time. Less social media, less TV and games. We should completely remove worldly desires and distractions and give our complete focus and dedication to our Lord.
Ramadan is not just a seasonal burst of worship. As Muslims, it has become the norm to be righteous, and do good deeds for Ramadan, but once it’s over, slip back into our old ways. But we should see this Ramadan as the new standard. The new bar. The Prophet Muhammadﷺ said: "The best deeds are those done regularly, even if they are small." –[Bukhari].
Use Ramadan to solidify habits and disciplines that will carry us forward.The self-control we've developed through fasting should help us resist temptation year-round. The increased prayers should become a regular part of our routine. The charity we've given should continue flowing, and the Qur'an we've recited should remain our constant companion.
One of the signs that your Ramadan has been accepted is that you emerge better than you entered it. Let this transformation be permanent––a lasting elevation in your relationship with Allahﷻ and your conduct with others.
The Prophet Muhammadﷺ said: “Verily, deeds are only judged by how they were at the end of life.” –[Bukhari].
As we touched on briefly earlier in the article, Ramadan as a spiritual marathon. You've already completed two-thirds of the journey – now is not the time to slow down. Instead, increase your pace for the final sprint. You've already experienced hunger and thirst, you've already stood in long Taraweeh prayers, you've already made sacrifices – don't let that investment go to waste.
These final days are a divine opportunity to compensate for any shortcomings. If our start was slow or our middle was inconsistent, we can still end with excellence. Allahﷻ in His infinite mercy has saved the best for last, giving us a night worth a thousand months to make up for lost time.
As we conclude, let us remember that the essence of the third Ashra is seeking protection from the Hellfire. Every prayer, every charity, every Qur'anic verse, and every tear shed in these nights should be directed toward this ultimate goal. The Prophet Muhammadﷺ said: "Whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times, Paradise says: 'O Allah, admit him into Paradise.' And whoever seeks protection from the Fire three times, the Fire says: 'O Allah, protect him from the Fire.'" –[Tirmidhi].
May Allahﷻ accept our fasting, forgive our sins, and protect us from the Hellfire. May we witness the blessings of Laylatul-Qadr and carry our Ramadan habits into and beyond the following months. And may He unite us all in Jannatul Firdaus, the highest level of Paradise, with our beloved Prophet Muhammadﷺ.
Let these final moments of Ramadan be our best moments, and let their effects last throughout our lives. Ameen.