How do we prepare for the last ten nights of Ramadan, and what is unique about these nights? Our guidance, of course, is the Prophet ﷺ. To understand how he approached these nights, we turn to our mother Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who observed his worship, rituals, and private actions closely. She saw what others could not see, the devotion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in private. She narrated that when the last ten nights of Ramadan arrived, the Prophet ﷺ would change his routine completely.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
“When the last ten nights of Ramadan arrived, the Prophet ﷺ would tighten his belt, spend the night in worship, and awaken his family.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ:
“كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ، وَأَحْيَا لَيْلَهُ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ”
رواه البخاري ومسلم
وفي رواية لمسلم قالت:
“يَجْتَهِدُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مَا لَا يَجْتَهِدُ فِي غَيْرِهِ.”
In another narration, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) explained that the Prophet ﷺ would exert himself in worship during the last ten nights more than at any other time (Sahih Muslim).
From these narrations we learn three important aspects of the Prophet’s practice in the last ten nights: 1) he increased his worship, 2) he woke his family so that they too could share in the blessing of the night prayers, and 3) he “tightened his belt.”
What does “tightening the belt” mean?
The phrase “tightening the belt” has been explained by scholars of hadith in two ways. One interpretation is that it refers to refraining from intimacy with one’s spouse during the last ten nights. Another interpretation is that it is a metaphor for exerting oneself in worship, meaning that the Prophet ﷺ intensified his devotion and put all his effort into ibadah. However, the main interpretation held by the majority of scholars is that it refers to refraining from intimacy.
During Ramadan, intimacy is prohibited during the fasting hours of the day, but it is permitted during the night. Yet in the final ten nights, the Prophet ﷺ chose to refrain, not because it was forbidden, but because he was entering into a state of spiritual retreat.
Seclusion for worship
For the first twenty days of Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ spent his time in the mosque among the people. But when the last ten nights began, he would establish a small tent made of bamboo within the mosque and withdraw into seclusion. In this period of i’tikaf, he devoted himself completely to worship. He even distanced himself from his family, children, and companions in order to give his full attention to his Lord.
It was a time of complete focus – like placing the world on airplane mode. There were no distractions and no interruptions, only dedicated time with Allah.
Through this practice, the Prophet ﷺ showed us that these nights are not ordinary nights. They are among the most special nights of the entire year, just as the month of Ramadan itself is a uniquely blessed time.
Standing in prayer during Ramadan
The Prophet ﷺ emphasised the immense reward connected to worship during Ramadan and especially during Laylat al-Qadr.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ» متفق عليه
“He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. He who stands in prayer during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward will have his past sins forgiven. And he who stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking reward will have his past sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Another narration states:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم:
“من قام ليلة القدر إيمانًا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه.” متفق عليه
“Whoever performs qiyam on Laylat al-Qadr with faith and hoping for Allah’s reward will have his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Divine opportunities throughout the year
Throughout the year, Allah gives His servants special opportunities for forgiveness and reward, moments when His mercy is especially abundant.
There is also the narration about nafahaat, the “breezes” of Allah’s mercy that pass through the year. The hadith itself has some weakness in its chain, but its meaning is sound when supported by other narrations.
Nafahatullahi are the gifts of Allah Almighty. There are plenty of narrations of the Prophet ﷺ which mention such gifts. One of these narrations is by Anas ibn Malik, who reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
Do good deeds in the time that you have and take advantage of the moments of nafahat (gifts) from the mercy of Allah. Verily, Allah has moments of nafahat from his mercy that he sends upon whomever He wills among his servants. Ask Allah to cover your faults and protect you from your anxieties. (Tabarani)
Think about it like this: if it were raining gold and silver outside, would you sit inside watching through the window, or would you run outside? In the same way, Allah’s forgiveness and mercy are showering down upon those who seek them. The last ten nights are when that mercy becomes condensed and most focused on Laylat al-Qadr.
Sacred times within sacred times
When we step back and look at the Islamic calendar, we see a pattern of sacred times. There are twelve months in the year, and four of them are sacred: Dhul Qadah, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram, (which are consecutive) and Rajab. Allah made these months special. And in addition, Allah made Ramadan extra special.
Within Dhul Hijjah, the tenth day, the Day of Arafah, is special. Within Ramadan, the last ten nights are special. Why? Because the Quran was revealed on Laylat al-Qadr. Laylat al-Qadr is therefore the jewel in the crown of Ramadan, just as the Day of Arafah is the jewel of Dhul Hijjah.
Laylat al-Qadr marks the beginning of the revelation, while the Day of Arafah is connected to the final verse of the Quran being revealed:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and approved Islam as a religion for you.” (Surah al-Maidah 5:3)
Ramadan: The month of the Quran
Ramadan is the best month of the year because it is the month of the Quran. If you want to be the best, then attach yourself to the Quran and you will be the best.
The Prophet ﷺ said that the people of the Quran are the special people of Allah. If you want to be a VIP in the sight of Allah, then attach yourself to the Quran. (Ibn Majah)
During Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ would stand for long periods in prayer. His recitation would be prolonged, and he would spend a long time in ruku and sujud. These nights were not rushed moments of worship; they were deep, devoted conversations with Allah.
If you are able to plan ahead, block out this time in advance, take leave from work, and enter i’tikaf in the mosque, then that is excellent. But if you cannot do that, then at the very least ensure that you secure the essential opportunities for worship.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
عن عثمان بن عفان رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:
“من صلى العشاء في جماعة فكأنما قام نصف الليل ومن صلى الصبح في جماعة فكأنما صلى الليل كله” رواه مسلم
“One who performs the Isha prayer in congregation is as if he has prayed for half of the night, and whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation is as if he has prayed the entire night.” (Muslim)
Even these two prayers, performed in congregation, allow a person to share in the reward of the night.
I’tikaf and protecting the time
If you are fortunate enough to have blocked these nights and are able to enter i’tikaf in the mosque, that is a great blessing. However, one must be careful not to turn the mosque into an office.
Do not bring your laptop, files, and work responsibilities into the mosque. Unfortunately, this sometimes happens. People take their work with them and end up working from the mosque as though they have simply moved their office.
Of course, some people may have unavoidable deadlines, and there may be genuine necessities. But this is not the ideal situation. These nights are for the akhirah, not for dunya matters unless absolutely necessary. The Prophet ﷺ dedicated his time in these nights to worship.
A simple way to share in the night
Those who are unable to enter i’tikaf, can still earn great reward by performing salah in congregation. Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
عن عثمان بن عفان رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:
“من صلى العشاء في جماعة فكأنما قام نصف الليل ومن صلى الصبح في جماعة فكأنما صلى الليل كله” رواه مسلم
“One who performs the Isha prayer in congregation is as if he has spent half the night in prayer, and whoever performs the Fajr prayer in congregation is as if he has spent the entire night in prayer.” (Muslim)
Guidance for women in the last ten nights
For women, it is also important to reduce unnecessary burdens during the last ten nights. Try to simplify the food preparation and avoid excessive variety in meals during these nights.
Ramadan is not only for men; it is for women as well. If it is possible and affordable to get a healthy takeaway occasionally, there is nothing wrong with that. It may save time spent cooking and washing dishes, allowing more time to focus on worship.
This does not mean neglecting one’s family or letting them go hungry. Rather, it means practicing moderation and simplifying things so that the last ten nights can be spent focusing on Allah.
The wives and the tents of I’tikaf
It is narrated that when the Prophet ﷺ erected a tent for i’tikaf in the mosque, one of his wives also erected a tent. When the other wives saw this, they too set up tents.
When the Prophet ﷺ saw the tents, he became upset and said, “Did you do this for Allah, or out of jealousy?”
عن عائشةَ قالت : كان النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتِكَفُ في العَشْرِ الأواخرِ مِن رمضانَ، وكنتُ أضربُ له خِبَاءً، فيصلِّي الصبحَ ثم يدخلُه، فاستأذَنَتْ حفصةُ عائشةَ أن تَضْرَبَ خِباءً فأَذِنَتْ لها، فضرَبَتْ خِباءً، فلما رأتْه زينبُ بنتُ جَحْشٍ ضربَتْ خِباءً آخرَ، فلما أصبح رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رأى الأَخْبِيَةَ، فقال : ما هذا ؟ فأُخْبِرَ، فقال : آلْبِرَّ تُرِدْنَ بهنَّ! فتركَ الاعتكافَ ذلك الشهرَ، ثم اعتكَفَ عشْرًا مِن شوالٍ. البخاري.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ used to perform iʿtikaf (seclusion for worship) during the last ten days of Ramadan. I used to set up a tent for him, and after he prayed the Fajr prayer he would enter it. Then Hafsa asked Aisha for permission to set up a tent as well, and she allowed her, so she set up a tent. When Zaynab bint Jahsh saw it, she also set up another tent. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out in the morning and saw the tents, he said, “What is this?” He was informed about it, and he said, “Do you intend righteousness by doing this?” Then he abandoned iʿtikāf that month and later performed iʿtikaf for ten days in Shawwal. (Bukhari)
This shows that even acts of worship can be affected by human emotions and intentions. The Prophet ﷺ reminded them that the purpose of i’tikaf is sincerity and devotion to Allah.
Women can also perform i’tikaf in their homes, unless there is a mosque that properly accommodates them.
The practice of the Prophet ﷺ in the last ten nights
So what exactly did the Prophet ﷺ do during the last ten nights?
- He performed extra ibadah during the last ten nights.
- He woke his family for the night prayers.
- He tightened his belt, meaning he refrained from intimacy with his spouse.
The first point, tightening the belt, refers to refraining from intimacy in order to dedicate oneself fully to worship.
The second point mentioned by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was that the Prophet ﷺ would remain awake throughout the night. Every night during the last ten nights he would perform night prayers. He might take a short nap, but the majority of the night was spent in worship.
He would recite long portions of the Quran in his salah. Sometimes three or four juz could be recited in a single rakah. There is a unique sweetness to worship in Ramadan that cannot be experienced at any other time of the year.
Waking the family for the night
The third action mentioned by Aisha was that the Prophet ﷺ would wake his family so that they would not miss out on the blessings of these nights.
If you truly love someone, and you see gold falling from the sky, you would not allow them to sleep. You would wake them up and say, “Come and take some of this with me.”
In the same way, the Prophet ﷺ wanted his family to share in the mercy and forgiveness of Allah.
He would wake his wives and children, including Ali and Fatimah. It is narrated that he would knock gently on the door with his fingernails, showing his kindness and gentleness.
Contrast this with the behaviour of some people who wake others in a harsh way. There are people who knock on doors for Fajr as though there is a fire in the house, pounding the door until everyone wakes up terrified. This is not the sunnah.
The Prophet ﷺ knocked gently. His kindness and mercy were always evident in his actions. Sometimes, if Aisha was extremely tired and struggling to wake up, he would even sprinkle a little water on her face to help her wake for prayer. This is true love in action, loving for others what you love for yourself.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله تعالى عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «رَحِمَ اللهُ رَجُلًا قامَ من الليلِ فصلَّى، وأيقظَ امرأتَهُ فصلَّتْ، فإنْ أَبَتْ نَضَحَ في وجهِها الماءَ، ورَحِمَ اللهُ امرأةً قامتْ من الليلِ فصلَّتْ، وأيقظتْ زوجَها فصلَّى، فإنْ أبى نضحَتْ في وجهِهِ الماءَ». أبو داود.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, and wakes his wife and she prays. If she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, and wakes her husband and he prays. If he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face.” (Abu Dawud)
We can follow this example by encouraging our friends and neighbours as well. A simple message reminding someone about qiyam or encouraging them to attend the mosque could allow them to share in the reward.
Some mosques hold qiyam only on the odd nights. Others hold it throughout all ten nights, both odd and even.
The revelation of the Quran and Laylat al-Qadr
The Prophet ﷺ was given knowledge of certain unseen matters, and he was sent as a mercy to humanity. He wanted his ummah to benefit from these opportunities and to grasp them.
This is the opposite of people who try to keep blessings for themselves. The Prophet ﷺ opened the doors so that everyone could share in the goodness.
The Quran was revealed during the last ten nights when the Prophet ﷺ was in the cave of Hira. Jibril came to him in the form of a man, not in his full angelic form with wings. The cave itself was very small and could not accommodate the immense form of Jibril, who has six hundred wings. It was on the 27th night of Ramadan that Jibril embraced the Prophet ﷺ and the revelation began.
The forgiveness of Laylat al-Qadr
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:
“من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه.” متفق عليه
“Whoever performs qiyam during Laylat al-Qadr with faith and hoping for Allah’s reward will have his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
When the Prophet ﷺ says that previous sins are forgiven, he is referring to minor sins. Minor sins can be forgiven through acts such as prayer, fasting, and qiyam.
Major sins require tawbah. If the sin is between you and Allah, then sincere repentance is required. But if the sin involves the rights of another person, then you must also make amends to that person in addition to seeking Allah’s forgiveness.
The best dua for Laylat al-Qadr
Aisha was very eager to know what she should say if she witnessed Laylat al-Qadr, so she asked the Prophet ﷺ.
وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَلِمْتُ أَيُّ لَيْلَةٍ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَقُولُ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ:
“قُولِي: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي.”
رواه أحمد وابن ماجه والترمذي وصححه
She said: “O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say in it?” He replied: “Say: O Allah, You are Most Forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi)
If you are forgiven, you attain Jannah. And what is better than Jannah? Better than Jannah is seeing Allah and having Allah be pleased with you. But in order to see Allah, you must enter Jannah. And in order to enter Jannah, you must seek forgiveness.
The heart of Ramadan
The core of Ramadan is the last ten nights. And the core of the last ten nights is Laylat al-Qadr, because it is the night of forgiveness. It is the night of opening a new page.
The famous hadith in Bukhari and Muslim tells us that whoever fasts Ramadan with faith will have their sins forgiven, whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan will have their sins forgiven, and whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr will have their sins forgiven. All three lead to the same outcome: forgiveness. So what makes Laylat al-Qadr special? The answer lies in the Quran itself. Firstly, the night is referred to as Laylat al-Qadr which means it is a blessed (mubarak) night, as Allah referred to it in Surah ad-Dukhan as mubarak (blessed):
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ
“Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We have always been warning.” (Surah ad-Dukhan 44:3)
Next, Allah says that Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. That is more than eighty-three years of worship.
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
“Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.” (Surah al-Qadr 97:3)
The mercy and reward of that night are condensed beyond measure. It is also the night when the angels descend in great numbers, along with Jibril. The earth becomes filled with angels carrying Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The beginning and completion of revelation
While Laylat al-Qadr marks the beginning of the revelation of the Quran, the completion of the revelation occurred on the Day of Arafah when the final verse was revealed.
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and approved Islam as your religion.” (Surah al-Maidah 5:3)
That is why Eid comes after Ramadan and after Hajj. They mark the celebration that follows the beginning and the completion of the revelation of the Quran. What makes these two Eids special is the Quran.
So prepare yourself for the last ten nights with inward and outward purity. The Prophet ﷺ used to take a shower the night of Laylat ul Qadr. Purify your heart and your intention and prepare yourself for ibadah – to recite the words of the Quran.
Zakat al-Fitr
Don’t forget to pay Zakat al-Fitr in the last ten days of Ramadan which is about £10 per person – it is the equivalent for what you pay for an average meal. Pay for all the members of your family (i.e. wife and children). This is the preparation.
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
وَعَنِ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ:
“فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَكَاةَ اَلْفِطْرِ طُهْرَةً لِلصَّائِمِ مِنَ اَللَّغْوِ وَالرَّفَثِ وَطُعْمَةً لِلْمَسَاكِينِ، فَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا قَبْلَ اَلصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ زَكَاةٌ مَقْبُولَةٌ، وَمَنْ أَدَّاهَا بَعْدَ اَلصَّلَاةِ فَهِيَ صَدَقَةٌ مِنَ اَلصَّدَقَاتِ.”
رواه أبو داود وابن ماجه وصححه الحاكم
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed Zakat al-Fitr as purification for the fasting person from idle speech and indecent behaviour, and as food for the poor. Whoever gives it before the Eid prayer, it is accepted as zakah, and whoever gives it after the prayer, it is simply charity among charities.” (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)
Prepare for extra ibadah, through salah, qiyam and extra dua. I’tikaf is the best option, but if you cannot manage that then when you enter the congregation in the mosque, make the intention for I’itikaf for the time you are in the mosque. This will be a valid I’tikaf, short but better than nothing. Increase your duas – Allah is the One who responds to every supplicant who has firm faith that Allah will answer his dua.
Based on the talk delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 4th March 2026 to PWC.