Subhaan Allaah! The beautiful month of Ramadaan is flying by! Its blessed days and fragrant nights are soon about to leave. And it breaks our hearts to let it go. The last Ashra of this holy month of Ramadan has been left. How speedily this blessed month went. As we know, there are mare 10 days left, who knows if we would be able to enjoy this glorious month again or not as the time of death is undetermined. So get in high gear for the next 10 nights and days. Last Ashra! Time is of the essence.
Every moment counts. Whatever you need to do for the next ten days to make the most in Ibada, good deeds, reciting Quran, dhikr, making dua, etc., rewards are going to be multiplied. Let us decide ourselves to grab maximum blessings in the limited remaining time. Here you go with ten days and ten targets.
Increase your Quran Doze in Last Ashra:
Fasting and Quran recitation! A perfect combination. Both enhance and embellish the beauty of each other. It’s not wrong if one says that fast is incomplete without Quran recitation. Fasting and the Quran will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, ‘O Lord, I deprived him of his food and his desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.’ And the Quran will say:
‘I deprived him of his sleep at night so let me intercede for him.’ Then they will intercede.”
As a reward for every deed is increased many folds, especially in the last Ashra, one must try to increase his daily Quran doze.
Charity in Last Ashra
Let there be a charity that you give to in Allah’s cause every day in those last 10 days of Ramadan. The reward for charity and all other good deeds is multiplied manifolds in Ramadan. This is one of the blessings of this auspicious month. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said,
“Give out charity, for it guarantees your salvation from Hellfire” (At-Tabarani).
Do excessive dhikr in Last Ashra
Just keep on reciting something every time. Don’t let your tongue rest. You are preparing after, doing your office work, having a walk-in garden, having rest or whatever, just dikar, dikar, dikar. Whatever comes to your mind, any surah, any ayah, any dua, durood, keep on saying it repeatedly.
Queen of nights, Laylatul Qadr
Here comes the most special thing about Ramadan and specifically last Ashra. There is a night in Ramadhan that is considered better than a 1000 months, by virtue of the blessings that descend on it. Seek the Night of Power in the last ten days of the month.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“All past sins are forgiven to those who spend the night in vigil of Destiny with devout faith and hope of reward” (Muslim.)
Ask for forgiveness
If your sins are holding you to move forward, this is the time to get them forgiven. Whole the year we keep on increasing our sin stock. This is the best time to get them all forgiven, washed off and repenting sins.
Seek protection from hell fire :
Last Ashra is Ahsrah of “ protection from hellfire”. Keep on reciting dua of last Ashra.
Invite others on iftar :
Try to have at least one person invited to your iftar. This would earn the pleasure of ALLAH as well as would help your social network get more strong.
“Who gives to eat or drink someone who is fasting, a well lawfully acquired, the angels continue to pray for him during Ramadan. The archangel Gabriel pray for him Laylatul-Qadar.” (Bukhari)
Join Community Actions :
Iftar, Taraweeh, any special lecture, Tafseer ul Quran or any other such community action which leads to the pleasure of ALLAH izza wa jal, you must join it and invite others too. Don’t forget to invite people who tend to get overlooked. Focus on ‘connecting’ with others in the community and discovering common ground, instead of ‘networking’.
Have Maximum Quality Time With Allah:
Try and get a little shut-eye in the day. We know Assal-atu Khairum minan Naum‘ . so try to wake up at night and pray. Ibadah done at night is liked by ALLAH subhana hu wa tala. So Ramadan and qayam-ul-layl would make a perfect combination to attain happiness of ALLAH.
“It is highly recommended for you to observe Qiyam al-Layl (Night Prayer), for it was the practice of your righteous predecessors. Qiyam al-Layl brings you closer to your Lord, atones for your sins, drives disease from your body, and stops transgression.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Encourage others too :
Motivate people around you also to grab maximum blessings, why are you alone? encouraging others for something good would add to your rewards too, as you led them to that path. When going for Taraweeh , ask your friend to join you. Make your child sit around you while you are reciting Quran.