The last ten nights of Ramadan
Today is the 20th of Ramadan. But tonight will be the 21st night, You see, the day in the Islamic calendar begins at sundown instead of midnight. The last ten nights, especially the odd nights - the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and the 29th are the most auspicious nights of the month of Ramadan.
Muslims believe, according to what is in the Qur’an, that the first verses were sent down to the Prophet Muhammad in one of these (odd) nights. That night is called the Night of Power (Layl-at-al-Qadr).
We don’t know what date that night falls on but instead we are asked to search for it through worship. Some scholars believe that it is the 27th night, but that is their opinion and I personally don’t take that seriously.
The Qur’an says (in chapter 97), that worshiping in the Night of Power is better than worshiping for a thousand months (approx. 83 years and 4 months). And any act of worship performed in this night solely to please God will be accepted and all prayers will be answered.
Muslims are thus encouraged to to work harder in these nights than the rest of the year. Everybody does their part differently. Some stand in worship all night and some put more effort into reading the Qua’an but all ask and pray for their wants and desires to be fulfilled.
Mosques in the Saudi Arabia hold long prayers in the last ten nights of Ramadan. They usually start at 1:30 AM and finish at around 3:30 AM. With these extra prayers they also aim to complete the recitation of the Qur’an which began at the start of the month. I miss those days !
In India the nights are more quieter, as people prefer to worship privately in their homes. Except on the 27th, when every mosque in the country aims to finish the Qur’an that very night. The atmosphere is very festive in the mosque that night with lots of people and a ton of food ! And it lasts all night until dawn.
I try to avoid these kinds of festivities because I believe that all odd nights are supposed to be given equal attention. Who can guarantee that the Night of Power will fall only on the 27th ?
In North America though, it depends on which ethnic group forms the majority in a mosque or what the majority agrees on doing. And not everybody is able to stay up all night - there’s work and school in the morning to think of !
The completion of the Qur’an is an emotional moment everywhere. It’s coupled with prayers for the community and the world at large for security, stability, sympathy, harmony and kindness.
I intend to make this my last post about Ramadan this month. I could have written a lot more but I think it’s fitting to end here for now.
Before I end, Kathy’s oldest cat, Stinky is going through a health crisis. Please remember her in your hearts and pray that what ever she’s suffering from goes away soon !
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Wow, Jaffer, these last 10 days sound intense. Thanks for the education. I’m so interested in your personal reflections about Ramadan. I didn’t know this much before. Blessings as you wind down these last days and thank you for prayers for Stinky. We find out Monday how serious things are, but she’s been especially perky this weekend. It makes me think the tests will come back negative.
Kathys last blog post..My Vacuum Cleaner Sucks
Jaffer, the one tool we have for fighting against prejudice is knowledge. Because of your willingness to share your reflections on Ramadan, some of us have a little better understanding of your faith. There is much we can learn from each other. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.
Lees last blog post..What Middle Class?
@Kathy - I wanted to avoid the word but yea, it does seem intense. Thank you for your kind words. Lets hope Monday brings us good news about Stinky.
@Lee - You nailed it ! Thank you ! We see it all around us today these wars and terrorism is nothing but due to lack of knowledge and that too ignorant of the facts of one’s own religion.
Assalamu alaikum wrb brother!!
Ramadan Kareem to you, and Jazakallahu Khair for the wonderful article on Lailathul Qadr!
PS: Im back !!
Faizas last blog post..I’m Back!!!
Wow. I had no idea about ANY of this. I am in awe.
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Food Allergies = Depressed
We have a few Muslim docs at work; I have never asked them about this so it’s great to learn from you. Thank you! And thank you also for adding me to your blogroll; I have reciprocated as well! Sorry I couldn’t get you your plum jam, BTW.
Maureens last blog post..Plum Good
@Faiza - W. Salaams ! Welcome back and thank you ! I’m glad to have you back in my Google Reader !
@meleah rebeccah - These nights fascinate everybody - even Muslims alike. Just thinking about it makes me not want to sleep ! There is so much more that happens - that this post is only a summary.
@Maureen - This is the first time I am discussing it too. And I think I may not have discussed it so well verbally. Besides, I never thought I’d write this but seeing the responses in my last post about Ramadan I decided to give it another try.
I cleaned out my Google Reader this morning and in turn did the same to my blog-roll. I’m catching up with folks who where lost under the heap and I’m still not done !
Never mind the plum-jam, I made up with ice-cream.
Jaffers last blog post..The last ten nights of Ramadan
Nice post on Ramadan Jaffer. I’m sad to see it go. It always goes so fast…subhannah Allah. Peace and blessings on you and yours.
Queen O’Daniles last blog post..Last 10 days of Ramadan
I appreciate the education on your customs and the various activities you’re undertaking right now. It’s part of the beauty of the web, really, to get to chat with folks firsthand about these things– but it takes folks like you willing to share it!
Jenns last blog post..Brook-Bagging Louie Stamoolis
wow. well I cant wait to hear more!
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Cause For Celebration
@Queen O’Danile - Yes, and it arrives just as fast too ! As-Salaamo Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.
@Jenn - Blogging, reading & commenting numerous other blogs and Twittering has exposed me to new cultures as well. And it is because of those few willing to share their stories, that I am motivated to share mine. And I am lovin it ! Thanks for dropping by !
@meleah rebeccah - I’ll try to put in more effort in the future.
Jaffers last blog post..The last ten nights of Ramadan
Wow Jaffer. Sounds like alot of things going on this Month for you. That’s so interesting the Islamic Calendar is so different. Than the one I’m used to. I always thought the new days started on midnight on all calendars.
What day does the new week start? Thank you for sharing this.
Curtiss last blog post..Microsoft Ad that has all talking
@Curtis - The names of the days of the week in Arabic are literally Ordinal Numbers
- Sunday - Al Youm Al Ahad (The First Day)
- Monday - Al Youm Al Thaani (The Second Day)
- Tuesday - Al Youm Al Thaalith (The Third Day)
- Wednesday - Al Youm Al Raabe (The Fourth Day)
- Thursday - Al Youm Al Khaamis (The Fifth Day)
- Friday - Al Youm Al Juma (The Day of Gathering)
- Saturday - Al Youm Al Sabat (The Seventh Day)
Because of it’s importance, Friday is considered the last day of the week and a day of celebration. So the week starts on Saturday.
In Saudi Arabia the weekend falls on Thursday and Friday.
Saturday and Sunday are full working days.
Jaffers last blog post..The last ten nights of Ramadan
Brother in Islam…Greetings from Indonesia..Assalamualaikum…Ramadhan kareem
I agree with Lee: the more access people have to information — especially personal accounts like yours, that really bring to life an event or ideology — the more tolerant everyone will be. More, please!
JD at I Do Thingss last blog post..I Get Free Stuff so you don’t have to
Jaffer, These posts were so interesting to me. I was born in Alexandria, Egypt and lived there for the first several years of my life. My father was Egyptian and my mother, American–neither of them were religious but my father was raised Moslem. I honestly wish that I had been raised with more awareness to my Egyptian heritage–I feel that I missed out on quite a bit in that respect. I found your posts to be so fascinating.
Melinda
@Dito - Ramadan Kareem to you too !
@JD at I Do Things - As I told Meleah, I definitely will try to put in more effort on how I narrate in the future. I have written about religion before but it was too straight forward i.e. Böring.
@Melinda - I too regret sometimes how much I missed out on when growing up in Saudi Arabia. It’s hard living as an expat knowing that you are not going to stay there forever !
There are a couple of Egyptian bloggers in my blogroll, but if you wish to reconnect with Egypt, may I point you to Queen O’Danile. (Although not every post she writes is about Egypt.)
Ramadhan is wonderfull and i want i can get a layl-at-al-Qadr. I wish brother. amiin.
Nice to know you from site and i hope i can learn more from you.
Ayi Suhendars last blog post..Belajar Dari Kisah Cosa Aranda
@Ayi Suhendar - Welcome to ManiaRavings. Thank you for your nice words. I wish you well also.
[...] ManiaRavings, Jaffer tells us a little about the last ten nights of Ramadan, which he celebrates in Hamilton, Ontario. He also offers his Food log: The first 24 hours after [...]