In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All praise belongs to Allah, the One who answers supplications, forgives sins, pardons mistakes, and whose mercy is vast and immense. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner. I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah send abundant peace and blessings upon him. To proceed:
Dear brothers and sisters! The last ten days/nights of Ramadan are the most virtuous time of the year, featuring Lailatul-Qadr—a night better than 1000 months (over 83 years). Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) increased his worship during these nights, seeking forgiveness and salvation. He focus on intensified Tahajjud, Du’a, and Sadaqah to maximize rewards.
Respected brothers and sisters! Do not lose hope, even if the first 20 days were missed. Ten days is enough to completely turn your life around and change your destiny.
Allah hid the exact date of Lailatul-Qadr to encourage continuous striving and worshipping throughout the last ten days/nights. Do not just go through the motions; engage in I’tikaf (seclusion) or consistent nightly prayer with sincerity.
The Night of Power, Lailatul-Qadr is when the Qur’an was revealed, and it is a time of immense mercy, where angels descend, and fates are decreed. Worship during these nights leads to the forgiveness of past sins. Acts of charity, sadaqah and good deeds are multiplied significantly.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) would wake his family and intensify his prayers during these nights. Dedicate time in the late hours of the night for sincere supplication. Give charity every single night to ensure you receive the reward of 83+ years of daily charity.
The Mother of The Believers – Ummul-Mu’minīn – Aisha (RA) said:
“O Messenger of Allah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, what should I say in it?…”
He (Peace be upon him) told her to constantly repeat:
“Allahummah innaka afuwwun tuhibbul-afwa fa’fu anni.”
Meaning:
“O Allah, You are Most Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me.”
And remember, it is not about the first 20 days; it is about how you finish.
Fellow brothers and sisters! The Ibadah of I’tikaf is a profound Islamic practice of seclusion, typically performed in a Mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan. Derived from the Arabic root meaning “to isolate” or “to be devoted,” it offers a rare opportunity to pause worldly life and reconnect deeply with Allah Almighty.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) stated that whoever performs even one day of I’tikaf for Allah’s sake, Allah will keep them away from hellfire (Jahannam) by three trenches. And a person in I’tikaf is shielded from many common sins, especially those of the tongue like backbiting or idle talk, as they are focused entirely on worship. While in seclusion, the one performing I’tikaf (Mu’takif) receives the same rewards as those outside who perform various pious deeds they are unable to do while secluded. Also I’tikaf is the ultimate way to seek the Night of Power, Lailatul-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months of worship.
From the second year of Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) never missed I’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan. In his final year, he increased it to twenty days, teaching the Ummah to “finish strong” before meeting their Creator, Allah.
Some Islamic scholars describes I’tikaf as a “transformative pilgrimage” of self-discovery, where the challenges of logistical issues and communal living were eclipsed by the deep peace found in the Qur’an and prayer.
Reflections from participants often highlight how I’tikaf acknowledges human weakness while providing the “spiritual recharge” needed to build resilience against worldly temptations.
We have three types of Itikaf:
1. Sunnah I’tikaf: It’s Performed during the last ten days of Ramadan.
2. Wajib/Compulsory I’tikaf: It’s required if one has made a vow (Nazr) to Allah.
3. Nafilah/Voluntary I’tikaf: It can be performed for any duration, even a few hours, at any time of the year.
And the Islamic scholars generally permit women to perform I’tikaf in a designated, quiet space at home (their Musallah), provided they have their husband’s permission and it does not lead to neglecting essential family duties.
For the I’tikaf to be Valid, it must fulfil the following conditions:
1. Niyyah/Intention: It must be made purely for the sake of Allah.
2. Location: For men, it must be in a Mosque where congregational prayers are held.
3. State of Purity: The individual must be free from major ritual impurity like Janaba, menstruation, or post-natal bleeding.
4. Fasting: Most Islamic scholars consider fasting a prerequisite for the Sunnah I’tikaf of Ramadan.
The following are practical tips for successful I’tikaf:
1. Turn off mobile phones and social media to prevent heart-diverting distractions.
2. Eat, sleep, and talk only as much as is absolutely necessary to keep the focus on Allah.
3. Be accommodating to others in the Mosque, especially regarding shared spaces and differences in habits.
Finally, as mentioned earlier, the last ten days/nights of Ramadan are the most sacred, featuring Lailatul-Qadr, The Night of Decree, which is better than 1,000 months. These nights are dedicated to intense worship, seeking forgiveness, and spiritual refinement. Key acts in them include i’tikaf (seclusion), extra prayers, Qur’an recitation, and charity/sadaqah.
Lailatul-Qadr, the Night of Decree, situated in the last ten nights, specifically the odd nights: 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, this night is when the Qur’an was revealed. Worship on this single night exceeds that of almost 84 years of devotion.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) stated that whoever prays during this night with sincere faith and seeking reward, all their previous sins will be forgiven. On this night, the destiny of all creatures—life, death, and sustenance—for the coming year is finalised.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to tighten his belt, meaning, avoid marital relations and increase efforts and wake his family for worship during these nights.
The signs of Lailatul-Qadr that have been mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) – are the following:
1. The first sign is that Lailatul-Qadr is a peaceful, tranquil, quiet night. Within that night or the night of Lailatul-Qadr, you do not hear the barking of dogs or the sound of the cockerel.
2. The second sign is that in Lailatul-Qadr, the people experience a pleasant breeze or a pleasant wind which they enjoy, which they like.
3. Thirdly, in Lailatul-Qadr there is rain. This is one of the signs of Lailatul-Qadr that during the night of Lailatul-Qadr, the rain falls.
4. Fourthly, when the sun rises on the following morning, the disc of the sun is seen without strong rays, or it is without any rays. The disc is a clear disc when it rises in the morning.
Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa bara ka tuh.
Ya Allah, grant victory to Islam and honour the Muslims. Destroy the Zionist criminals. Ya Allah, send tranquility into the hearts of those striving in Your cause. Rescue Your oppressed servants. Raise high the banner of this religion by Your power, O Most Strong, O Most Firm.
Ya Allah, grant us security in our homelands. Rectify our leaders and those in authority over us. Place our leadership in the hands of those who fear You, are conscious of You, and follow Your pleasure.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Ya Allah, accept our fasting and all our good deeds in this noble month of Ramadan, ameen.
All praise be to Allah, the Sovereign Judge, the Most Merciful and Compassionate to His weak servants, and the Almighty Avenger against the oppressors. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and most faithful Prophet. O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon him and his family and companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.
