Thanks bro Musa for this timely reminder.

May Allah accept our prayers and save us from evil.

Habib

>From: Musa Amadu Pembo <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: The Last Ten Days of Ramadaan.
>Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 02:22:05 +0000
>
>The virtue of the last ten days of Ramadaan and Laylat al-Qadr.
>
>Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings
>be upon
>the Trustworthy Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and
>companions.
>
>The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to
>strive hard
>(in worship) during the last ten days of Ramadaan in a way that he
>did not
>strive at any other times. (Muslim, 1175, from ‘Aa’ishah). Among the
>things
>he did were secluding himself in I’tikaaf and seeking Laylat al-Qadr
>during
>this time. (Al-Bukhaari, 1913; Muslim, 1169). In al-Saheehayn it is
>reported
>from the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that
>when the
>last ten days of Ramadaan came, the Prophet(peace and blessings of
>Allaah be
>upon him) would stay up at night,wake his family and gird his loins.
>(al-Bukhaari, 1920; Muslim, 1174).Muslim added: he strove hard and
>girded
>his loins.
>
>Her phrase “girded his loins” is a metaphor for his preparing
>himself to
>worship and strive hard in worship, more than usual. It has the
>meaning of
>“rolling up one's sleeves” to worship (i.e. getting ready to make a
>great
>deal of effort).
>
>It was also said that it was a metaphor for keeping away from women
>and
>abstaining from sexual relations.
>
>The phrase “stay up at night” means that he would stay awake,
>spending the
>night in prayer, etc. It was reported in another hadeeth that
>‘Aa’ishah (may
>Allaah be pleased with her) said: “I never saw the Prophet (peace
>and
>blessings of Allaah be upon him) recite the entire Qur’aan in one
>night, or
>spend a whole night in prayer until the morning, or fast an entire
>month,
>except in Ramadaan.” (Sunan al-Nasaa’i, 1641). The words “stay up at
>night”
>may mean that he spent most of the night in worship, or that he did
>not stay
>up for the entire night, but he did that at the times of ‘Ishaa and
>Suhoor,
>and other times, in which case it would mean that he stayed up for
>most of
>the night.
>
>The phrase “and wake his family” means that he would wake his wives
>to pray
>qiyaam. It is known that he(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
>him)used
>to wake his wives all year round, but he used to wake them to spend
>part of
>the night in qiyaam. In Saheeh al-Bukhaari it is reported that the
>Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)woke up one night
>and
>said, “Subhaan Allaah! What tribulations have come down tonight!
>What
>treasure has come down tonight! Who will wake up the dwellers of the
>apartments? There may be women who are clothed in this world and
>naked in
>the Hereafter.” (al-Bukhaari, 1074). It was also reported (in Saheeh
>al-Bukhaari)that he(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)used
>to wake
>‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) when he wanted to pray
>Witr.
>(al-Bukhaari, 952).But when he woke his wives during the last ten
>nights of
>Ramadaan, this was more persistent than at other times of the year.
>
>The fact that he(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)did this
>indicates the importance he attached to worshipping his Lord and
>making the
>most of this special time.
>
>The Muslim should follow the example of the Prophet(peace and
>blessings of
>Allaah be upon him),for he is the best example,and he should strive
>hard in
>worshipping Allaah. He should not waste the hours of these days and
>nights.
>For we do not know, perhaps this time will never come again,for the
>spoiler
>of pleasures, i.e., death, which must come to all men, may come and
>snatch
>him and his life will end; then he will feel regret at the time when
>regret
>will be of no avail.
>
>Among the unique virtues of these special nights is that Laylat
>al-Qadr is
>among them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
>
>“Haa-Meem. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’aan and
>none
>but Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings.]
>
>By the manifest Book (this Qur’aan) that makes things clear.
>
>We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night
>of
>Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadaan]. Verily, We are ever warning
>[mankind
>that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of
>Lordship
>and in Our Oneness of worship].
>
>Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.
>
>As a Command (or this Qur’aan or the Decree of every matter) from
>Us.
>Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers),
>
>(As)a mercy from your Lord. Verily,He is the All-Hearer,the
>All-Knower.”
>[al-Dukhaan 44:1-6]
>
>Allaah sent down the Qur’aan on this night which the Lord of the
>Worlds has
>described as blessed. It was reported from a group of the Salaf –
>including
>Ibn ‘Abbaas, Qutaadah, Sa’eed ibn Jubayr,‘Ikrimah,Mujaahid and
>others – that
>the night on which the Qur’aan was sent down was Laylat al-Qadr.
>
>The phrase Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of
>ordainments
>means,on that night the destiny of all creatures for the coming year
>is
>decreed.On that night it is written who will live, who will die, who
>will be
>saved,who will be doomed,who will be destined for Paradise,who will
>be
>destined for Hell,who will be granted honour,who will be
>humiliated,where
>drought and famine will occur,and everything else that Allaah wills
>in that
>year.
>
>What is meant by the idea that the destiny of all creatures is
>written on
>Laylat al-Qadr is – and Allaah knows best – that on Laylat al-Qadr
>they are
>transferred from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “You may see
>a man
>furnishing his home or plowing his field,and he is one of those who
>are
>going to die,” i.e., it has been decreed on Laylat al-Qadr that he
>is one of
>those who are going to die (in the coming year). And it was said
>that on
>this night,the destiny of people is shown to the angels.
>
>The meaning of “Qadr” is veneration or honour,i.e. it is a night
>that is
>venerated because of its special characteristics,and because the one
>who
>stays up during this night becomes a man of honour.And it was said
>that Qadr
>means constriction,in the sense that the knowledge of precisely when
>this
>night is,is hidden.Al-Khaleel ibn Ahmad said: it was called Laylat
>al-Qadr
>because the earth is constricted by the great numbers of angels on
>that
>night,and Qadr means constriction. Allaah says (interpretation of
>the
>meaning): “But when He tries him, by straitening his means of life
>[fa
>qadara ‘alayhi rizqahu]…” [al-Fajr 89:16], i.e., by constricting or
>reducing
>his provision.
>
>And it was said that Qadr means Qadar, i.e., that on this night the
>decrees
>for the coming year are ordained, as Allaah says (interpretation of
>the
>meaning):
>
>“Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments”
>[al-Dukhaan
>44:4]
>
>and because Allaah’s decrees are decided and written down on this
>night.
>
>So Allaah has called it Laylat al-Qadr, because of its great value
>and high
>status with Allaah,and because so many sins are forgiven and so many
>faults
>are concealed during this night. For it is the night of
>forgiveness,as it
>was reported in al-Saheehayn from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
>pleased with
>him)that the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)said:
>“Whoever stays up during Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope
>of
>earning reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
>(al-Bukhaari, 1910;
>Muslim, 760).
>
>Allaah has given this night special characteristics which make it
>unique:
>
>It is the night on which the Qur’aan was sent down, as we have
>stated
>above.Ibn ‘Abbaas and others said: “Allaah sent down the Qur’aan at
>one time
>from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz to Bayt al-‘Izzah in the first heaven, then
>it was
>revealed to the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be
>upon
>him)in stages according to events over twenty-three years.” (Tafseer
>Ibn
>Katheer, 4/529)
>
>Allaah described it as being better than a thousand months, as He
>said
>(interpretation of the meaning): “The night of al-Qadr is better
>than a
>thousand months” [al-Qadr 97:3].
>
>Allaah described it as being blessed, as He said (interpretation of
>the
>meaning): “We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night”
>[al-Dukhaan
>44:3].
>
>On this night, the angels and the Spirit [al-Rooh] descend, “i.e.,
>many
>angels descend of this night because it is so blessed, and the
>angels come
>down when Allaah’s blessing and mercy come down,just as they come
>down when
>Qur’aan is recited,and they surround the circles of dhikr
>(gatherings where
>Allaah is remembered),and they beat their wings for the one who
>sincerely
>seeks knowledge,out of respect for him.” (See Tafseer Ibn Katheer,
>4/531).The Spirit [al-Rooh]is Jibreel(peace be upon him),who is
>specifically
>mentioned in this manner as a sign of respect for him.
>
>This night is described as peace, i.e., it is safe, for the Shaytaan
>cannot
>do any evil or cause any harm on this night, as Mujaahid said. (See
>Tafseer
>Ibn Katheer, 4/531). On this night, many people are saved from
>punishment
>because of what they do to worship Allaah, may He be glorified.
>
>“Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments”
>[al-Dukhaan
>44:4 – interpretation of the meaning],i.e., the affairs of that year
>are
>dispatched from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz to the angels who record the
>decrees:who
>will live,who will die,what provision people will be given,what will
>happen
>until the end of that year,every matter of ordainments is
>decreed,and it
>cannot be altered or changed. (See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/137, 138).
>All of
>this is already known to Allaah before it is even written down,but
>He makes
>known to the angels what is to happen,and commands them to do
>whatever they
>are enjoined to do.(Sharh Saheeh Muslim li’l-Nawawi, 8/57).
>
>Allaah forgives the previous sins of the one who stays up and prays
>during
>this night out of faith and in hope of earning the reward from
>Him.It was
>reported in the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with
>him)
>that the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
>“Whoever
>fasts the month of Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of earning
>reward,
>all his previous sins will be forgiven, and whoever stays up during
>Laylat
>al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of earning reward,all his
>previous sins
>will be forgiven.” (Agreed upon). The phrase “out of faith and in
>the hope
>of earning reward” means, believing in Allaah’s promise of reward
>for this,
>and seeking the reward, with no other aim or purpose, such as
>showing off
>etc.” (Fath al-Baari, 4/251).
>
>Allaah has revealed a soorah(a chapter of the Holy Quran)concerning
>this
>night which will be recited until the Day of Resurrection,in which
>He
>mentions the honour and great value of this night. This is the
>soorah in
>which He says (interpretation of the meaning):
>
>“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr
>(Decree).
>
>And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?
>
>The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree)is better than a thousand months (i.e.
>worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a
>thousand
>months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
>
>Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel] by Allaah’s
>Permission
>with all Decrees,
>
>(All that night),there is peace (and goodness from Allaah to His
>believing
>slaves)until the appearance of dawn.” [al-Qadr 97:1-5]
>
>The phrase And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr
>(Decree)is?
>serves to draw attention to the importance and great significance of
>this
>night.
>
>The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months
>means, it is
>better than over eighty three years, as we have already mentioned.
>This is a
>great virtue, the value of which no one can fully understand except
>the Lord
>of the Worlds, may He be blessed and exalted. This encourages the
>Muslim to
>spend this night in prayer and to seek the Face of Allaah by doing
>so.The
>Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)used to seek this
>night,hoping to gain some good from it,and he is the example for
>this Ummah.
>
>It is mustahabb to seek it during Ramadaan, especially in the last
>ten
>nights of the month. It was reported in Saheeh Muslim that Abu
>Sa’eed
>al-Khudri(may Allaah be pleased with him)said: the Messenger of
>Allaah
>(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)did I’tikaaf during the
>first ten
>days of Ramadaan,then he did I’tikaaf during the middle ten days in
>a
>Turkish tent [the word qubbah, translated here as “tent”, refers to
>a tent
>or any circular structure] in which a mat was placed. He said:so he
>took the
>mat in his hand and put it at the side of the tent,then he raised
>his head
>to speak to the people,so they came closer to him.He said: “I did
>I’tikaaf
>during the first ten days,seeking this night,then I did I’tikaaf
>during the
>middle ten days.Then someone came to me and told me that it is in
>the last
>ten days,so whoever among you wants to do I’tikaaf, let him do so.”
>So the
>people did I’tikaaf with him.He said: “I was shown an odd-numbered
>night, in
>the morning of which I was prostrating in mud and water”.Then in the
>morning
>of the twenty-first, he got up to pray Subh and it was raining; the
>roof of
>the mosque leaked, and there was mud and water. He came out when he
>had
>finished praying, and there was mud and water on his forehead and
>nose. That
>was the morning of the twenty-first, one of the last ten days.
>(Saheeh
>Muslim, 1167).
>
>In a report,Abu Sa’eed said:“It rained on the night of the
>twenty-first,and
>the roof of the mosque leaked over the place where the Messenger of
>Allaah
>(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was praying. I looked at
>him,
>when he had finished praying Salaat al-Subh, and his face was wet
>with mud
>and water.” (Agreed upon). Muslim narrated a hadeeth from
>‘Abd-Allaah ibn
>Unays (may Allaah be pleased with him) that was similar to the
>hadeeth of
>Abu Sa’eed, except that he said, “it rained on the night of the
>twenty-third.” According to a hadeeth narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas (may
>Allaah be
>pleased with them both), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
>be upon
>him) said: “Seek it in the last ten days of Ramadaan,when there are
>nine
>days left,and seven days left, and five days left.” (Narrated by
>al-Bukhaari, 4/260).
>
>Laylat al-Qadr is in the last ten days of Ramadaan,as stated in the
>hadeeth
>of Abu Sa’eed quoted above,and as stated in the hadeeth of
>‘Aa’ishah,and in
>the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar who said that the Prophet (peace and
>blessings of
>Allaah be upon him) said:“Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten days
>of
>Ramadaan.”(The hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah was narrated by al-Bukhaari,
>4/259; the
>hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar was narrated by Muslim, 2/823.This wording is
>that of
>the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah).
>
>It is more likely to be one of the odd-numbered nights, because of
>the
>hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah who said that the Messenger of Allaah(peace and
>blessings of Allaah be upon him)said: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the
>odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights.” (Narrated by
>al-Bukhaari,
>4/259)
>
>We should seek it especially in the odd-numbered nights,i.e., on the
>twenty-first, the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh
>and the
>twenty-ninth. It was reported in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet
>(peace and
>blessings of Allaah be upon him)said:“Seek it in the last ten
>nights,on the
>odd-numbered nights.”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1912, see also,
>1913.Also
>narrated by Muslim, 1167, see also 1165).
>
>According to the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with
>them
>both),the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
>“Seek it
>in the last ten nights of Ramadaan,when there are nine left,when
>there are
>seven left,when there are five left.”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
>1917-1918).So
>it is more likely to be one of the odd-numbered nights.
>
>In Saheeh al-Bukhaari it was narrated that ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit
>said: the
>Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came out to tell
>us when
>Laylat al-Qadr was, and two of the Muslims were arguing.He said:“I
>came out
>to tell you when Laylat al-Qadr was,and So and so and So and so were
>arguing,so it [the knowledge of when Laylat al-Qadr was] was taken
>away from
>me.Perhaps this is better for you.So seek it on the ninth and the
>seventh
>and the fifth” (al-Bukhaari, 1919),i.e., on the odd-numbered nights.
>
>This hadeeth indicates how bad it is to argue and fight,especially
>with
>regard to matters of religion,and that this is a cause of goodness
>being
>taken away or concealed.
>
>Shaykh al-Islam ibn Taymiyah said: “But odd-numbers have to do with
>what is
>past [i.e.,when one starts counting from the beginning of the
>month],so it
>should be sought on the twenty-first,the twenty-third,the
>twenty-seventh or
>the twenty-ninth; or it may be with regard to what is left, as the
>Prophet
>(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘when there are
>nine left,
>or seven left, or five left, or three left.’ On this basis, if the
>month has
>thirty days, these will be even-numbered nights, so on the
>twenty-second
>there will be nine days left, on the twenty-fourth there will be
>seven days
>left. This is how it was explained by Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri in the
>saheeh
>hadeeth, and this is how the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
>be upon
>him) prayed qiyaam during this month. If this is the case, then the
>believer
>should seek it in all of the last ten days.” (al-Fataawaa, 25/284,
>285).
>
>Laylat al-Qadr is more likely to be in the last seven days. Ibn
>‘Umar (may
>Allaah be pleased with him) reported that a man among the companions
>of the
>Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was shown Laytal
>al-Qadr
>in a dream, and that it was one of the last seven nights.The
>Messenger of
>Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It seems
>that your
>dreams agreed that it is one of the last seven nights,so whoever
>wants to
>seek it,let him seek it in the last seven nights.” (narrated by
>al-Bukhaari,
>1911; Muslim, 1165). Muslim reported: “Seek it in the last ten
>nights, and
>if any of you are weak or unable to do that, then let him not miss
>the last
>seven.”
>
>It is most likely to be on the night of the twenty-seventh.It was
>reported,in a hadeeth narrated by Ahmad from Ibn ‘Umar, and a
>hadeeth
>narrated by Abu Dawood from Mu’aawiyah,that the Prophet(peace and
>blessings
>of Allaah be upon him) said: “Laylat al-Qadr is the night of the
>twenty-seventh.”(Musnad Ahmad and Sunan Abu Dawood, 1386).The view
>that it
>is the night of the twenty-seventh is the opinion of most of the
>Sahaabah
>and the majority of scholars, and Ubayy ibn Ka’b(may Allaah be
>pleased with
>him)used to assert,without saying “in shaa Allaah”, that it was the
>night of
>the twenty-seventh. Zurr ibn Hubaysh said:I said: What makes you say
>that,O
>Abu’l-Mundhir? He said: by the signs of which the Messengers of
>Allaah(peace
>and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us: that the sun rises
>that
>morning with no visible rays.(Narrated by Muslim,2/268).
>
>Many marfoo’ahaadeeth were narrated which said that it was on this
>particular night.
>
>Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both)also stated that
>it is the
>night of the twenty-seventh.He reached this conclusion by means of
>an
>amazing process.It was reported that ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased
>with him)
>gathered the Sahaabah together and included Ibn ‘Abbaas even though
>he was
>very young.They said, “Ibn ‘Abbaas is like one of our children. Why
>have you
>brought him here with us?” ‘Umar said: “He is a youth who has a good
>mind
>and who asks lots of questions.” Then he asked the Sahaabah about
>Laylat
>al-Qadr, and they agreed that it was one of the last ten nights of
>Ramadaan.
>He asked Ibn ‘Abbaas about it, and he said: “I think I know when it
>is: it
>is the night of the twenty-seventh.” ‘Umar said, “What makes you
>think
>that?” He said, “Allaah made the heavens seven, and the earths
>seven, and
>the days seven, and He created man from seven, and He made Tawaaf
>seven
>(circuits), and al-Saa’ee seven, and the stoning of the Jamaar
>seven.” So
>Ibn’ Abbaas thought that it was the night of the twenty-seventh
>because of
>this analysis. This has been soundly reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas.
>
>Another of the ways in which the conclusion was reached that it is
>the night
>of the twenty-seventh is by noting that the word fihaa (therein) in
>the
>aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “Therein descend the angels
>and the
>Rooh [Jibreel]” [al-Qadr 97:4] is the twenty-seventh word of Soorat
>al-Qadr
>[in the original Arabic].
>
>There is no shar’i evidence (daleel) to support this manner of
>analysis, and
>there is no need for such calculations, because we have sufficient
>shar’i
>evidence available to us.
>
>The fact that it is usually the night of the twenty-seventh – and
>Allaah
>knows best – does not mean that this is always the case. It could be
>the
>night of the twenty-first, as mentioned in the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed
>quoted
>above, or it could be the twenty-third, as mentioned in the report
>of
>‘Abd-Allaah ibn Unays (may Allaah be pleased with him) quoted above.
>According to a hadeeth narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be
>pleased with
>them both), the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
>said:
>“Seek it in the last ten days of Ramadaan, when there are nine days
>left,
>and seven days left, and five days left.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
>4/260).
>
>Some of the scholars thought that it is more likely that Laylat
>al-Qadr
>moves and does not come on a specific night each year. Al-Nawawi
>(may Allaah
>have mercy on him) said: “This is the apparent meaning because of
>the
>conflict between the saheeh ahaadeeth on this matter, and there is
>no way to
>reconcile the ahaadeeth apart from saying that Laylat al-Qadr
>moves.”
>(al-Majmoo’, 6/450).
>
>Allaah has concealed this night so that His slaves will strive to
>seek
>it,and will strive hard in worship,just as He has concealed the hour
>of
>jumu’ah, and so on.
>
>So the believer should strive hard during the days and nights of
>these ten
>days, seeking Laylat al-Qadr and following the example of our
>Prophet(peace
>and blessings of Allaah be upon him),and he should strive in making
>du’aa’
>and seeking to draw close to Allaah.
>
>It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of
>Allaah, what
>do you think,if I witness Laylat al-Qadr,what should I say?’ He
>said: ‘Say,
>O Allaah,You are Forgiving and Generous,and you love forgiveness,so
>forgive
>me.’” (Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi (3515)and Ibn Maajah
>(3850). Its
>isnaad is saheeh).
>
>Thirdly:a greater virtue is attached to I’tikaaf on this night than
>on any
>other night of the year. I’tikaaf means staying in the mosque to
>worship
>Allaah, may He be exalted.The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah
>be upon
>him)used to spend these ten days in I’tikaaf, as stated in the
>hadeeth of
>Abu Sa’eed quoted above.He spent the first ten days in I’tikaaf,
>then the
>middle ten days, then he told them that he had been seeking Laylat
>al-Qadr,
>and that he had been shown that it was in the last ten days, and he
>said:
>“Whoever was doing I’tikaaf with me, let him do I’tikaaf for the
>last ten
>days.” It was reported from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with
>her) that
>the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do
>I’tikaaf
>during the last ten days of Ramadaan until he passed away, then his
>wives
>did I’tikaaf after him. (Agreed upon). There is also a similar
>report
>narrated from Ibn ‘Umar.
>
>When the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wanted
>to do
>I’tikaaf,he would pray Fajr,then enter the place where he was to do
>I’tikaaf,as was stated in al-Saheehayn from the hadeeth of
>‘Aa’ishah.
>
>The four imaams and others(may Allaah have mercy on them)said that
>he
>entered it before the sun set, and they interpreted the hadeeth as
>meaning
>that he entered his place of I’tikaaf and kept away from people
>after Salaat
>al-Subh, not that this was the time when he started his
>I’tikaaf.(See Sharh
>Muslim li’l-Nawawi, 8/68, 69; Fath al-Baari, 4/277).It is Sunnah for
>the
>person in I’tikaaf to keep himself busy with worship,and it is
>forbidden for
>him to have intercourse or to do anything that leads to it,because
>Allaah
>says(interpretation of the meaning): “And do not have sexual
>relations with
>them (your wives) while you are in I‘tikaaf(i.e. confining oneself
>in a
>mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities)
>in the
>mosques” [al-Baqarah 2:187].
>
>And he should not go out of the mosque except in the case of a
>pressing
>need.
>
>The signs by which Laylat al-Qadr is known
>
>The first sign: it was reported in Saheeh Muslim from the hadeeth of
>Ubayy
>ibn Ka’b (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace
>and
>blessings of Allaah be upon him)announced that one of its signs was
>that
>when the sun rose on the following morning,it had no (visible) rays.
>(Muslim, 762).
>
>The second sign:it was reported from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas
>narrated by
>Ibn Khuzaimah, and by al-Tayaalisi in his Musnad, with a saheeh
>isnaad, that
>the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Laylat
>al-Qadr
>is a pleasant night, neither hot nor cold, and the following day the
>sun
>rises red and weak.”(Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 2912; Musnad
>al-Tayaalisi).
>
>The third sign:it was reported by al-Tabaraani with a hasan isnaad
>from the
>hadeeth of Waathilah ibn al-Asqa’(may Allaah be pleased with him)
>that the
>Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Laylat
>al-Qadr is
>a bright night,neither hot nor cold,in which no meteors are seen.”
>(Narrated
>by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer. See Majma’ al-Zawaa’id, 3/179; Musnad
>Ahmad).
>
>These three saheeh ahaadeeth explain the signs which indicate Laylat
>al-Qadr.
>
>It is not essential for the one who “catches” Laylat al-Qadr to know
>that he
>has “caught” it.The point is to strive hard and to be sincere in
>worship,whether or not one knows that one has “caught” it.It may be
>that
>some of those who do not know that may be better with Allaah and
>higher in
>status than those who did know which night it was,because the former
>strove
>hard.We ask Allaah to accept our fasting and our prayer at night,and
>to help
>us to remember Him and to thank Him and to worship Him properly. May
>Allaah
>bless our Prophet Muhammad.
>
>
>With the very best of good wishes,
>Musa Amadu Pembo
>Glasgow,
>Scotland
>UK.
>[log in to unmask]
>Da’wah is to convey the message with wisdom and with good words. We
>should
>give the noble and positive message of Islam. We should try to
>emphasize
>more commonalities and explain the difference without getting into
>theological arguments and without claiming the superiority of one
>position
>over the other. There is a great interest among the people to know
>about
>Islam and we should do our best to give the right message.
>May Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,guide us all to His Sirat Al-Mustaqim
>(Righteous
>Path).May He protect us from the evils of this life and the
>hereafter.May
>Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,grant us entrance to paradise .
>We ask Allaah the Most High, the All-Powerful, to teach us that
>which will
>benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn. May Allaah
>Subhanahu
>Wa Ta'ala grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his
>family
>and
>companions..Amen.
>
>
>
>
>_________________________________________________________________
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