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| Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters in a series in Boston.com |
The last 10 days of the Holy Month are the most blessed and
are very special in the life of every Muslim.
In this period of political Islam and sectarianism, it is
maybe a good time to go on retreat and return to the roots of Islam and its true message.
It is with great anticipation that the faithful await Laylat al-Qadr
and sit in I’tikaf (spiritual retreat).
I’tikaf began
Monday (20 Ramadan), before maghreb
prayers, and runs on until August 8 (30 Ramadan).
In the age of technology, I wonder how many people can still
take the time off work and obligations to go on retreat for 10 days. I know one
friend who has done just that and wish him well on his spiritual journey.
Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Destiny or Night of Power) is described in the
Qur’an, Surat al-Qadr (Chapter 97):
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful
We have indeed revealed this message in
the Night of Power.
And what will explain 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! Until the rising of the morn!
Tradition holds Laylat al-Qadr is
the night the first revelation of the Quran was sent down to the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH).
Muslims will seek Laylat
al-Qadr during the last 10 days of Ramadan, particularly on the odd
nights – the 21st (tonight), 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th Ramadan.
The Prophet said, "Whoever
stays up (in prayer and remembrance of Allah) on the Night of Qadr, fully
believing (in Allah's promise of reward) and hoping to seek reward, he shall be
forgiven for his past sins." [Bukhari and Muslim]
Muslims worldwide spend these last
nights in devotion. They retreat to the mosque to read the Qur’an (I’tikaf),
recite special supplications (du’a) and reflect on the meaning of God's
message to them. It is believed to be a time of intense spirituality, when
angels surround the believers, the gates of heaven are open, and God's
blessings and mercy are abundant.
As
narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophet said, "When
the last one third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One, descends
towards the lower heaven and proclaims: 'Is there anyone supplicating to Me so
that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything so
that I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness so I
forgive him?'" [Bukhari and Muslim]
The
Prophet performed I’tikaf in the
mosque during the last 10 days of Ramadan, barely sleeping during that time.
Abu
Said Al-Khudri relates, “Allah's Apostle
used to practice I’tikaf in the middle 10 days of Ramadan and once he stayed in
I’tikaf till the night of the 21st and it was the night in the morning of which
he used to come out of his I’tikaf. The Prophet said, "Whoever was in I’tikaf
with me should stay in I’tikaf for the last 10 days, for I was informed (of the
date) of the Night (of Qadr) but I have been caused to forget it. (In the
dream) I saw myself prostrating in mud and water in the morning of that night.
So, look for it in the last 10 nights and in the odd ones of them." It
rained that night and the roof of the mosque dribbled as it was made of leaf
stalks of date palms. I saw with my own eyes the mark of mud and water on the
forehead of the Prophet (on the morning of the 21st).” [Bukhari, Volume 3,
Book 33, Number 244]
If the faithful cannot sit I’tikaf for the full 10
days and, they can try for as many days and nights as they possibly can.
Both
men and women can sit in I’tikaf.
Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, says, “The Prophet used to practice I’tikaf in the
last 10 days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice
I’tikaf after him.” [Bukhari, Volume
3, Book 33, Number 243]
There
was, however a little problem…
The
jurist Umra bint
Abderrahman, who was a pupil of Aisha bint Abu Bakr, relates the Prophet’s
wife as saying:
Allah's
Apostle mentioned that he would practice I’tikaf in the last 10 days of
Ramadan. Aisha asked his permission to perform I’tikaf and he permitted her.
Hafsa asked Aisha to take his permission for her, and she did so. When Zainab
bint Jahsh saw that, she ordered a tent to be pitched for her and it was pitched
for her. Allah's Apostle used to proceed to his tent after the prayer. So, he
saw the tents and asked, "What is this?" He was told that those were
the tents of Aisha, Hafsa and Zainab. He said, "Is it righteousness which
they intended by doing so? I am not going to perform I’tikaf." So he
returned home. When the fasting month was over, he performed I’tikaf for 10
days in the month of Shawwal (the lunar month after Ramadan). [Volume 3, Book 33,
Number 261]
In
these sad days of violence and killing, maybe these special days will bring
comfort and inspiration to those in need.
May
all your prayers be heard and answered.
