SubhanAllah it feels just like last week that we welcomed Ramadan with joy & elation! And here I am, compiling tips from 10 local asatizah to help us plan our last 10 nights in Ramadan. May they be of benefit inshaAllah!

Tip for the family:

“The key word for Ramadhan as a family is ‘Together’.

For the past few Ramadhan, after the hard work of iftar together, sahur together, tarawih together, let us now make the NIGHT ALIVE together.

1.Quran together- Reciting and Khatam the Quran together with the family.

2. Qiyam together – Qiyam at the mosque together with the family.

3. Knowledge together – Seek knowledge even as simple as reading a beneficial book together after tarawih.

May Allah grant us laylatul qadr and accept our Ramadhan. And make us the people of syukur and taqwa. Amin.”

– Ustazah Suaidah Salim, Ba in Syariah Islamiah, Al-Azhar University.
Founder of suaidahsalim.com
Director of Little Quran Kids
Advisor of Soul Sister Sg

7 Tips to Act Upon

“Have a blessed last 10 nights of holy Ramadan,

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said, “Verily actions are judged by their ending.” With that, we urge the beloved servants of Allah سبحانه وتعالى to seize the opportunity that is still available to act upon the following 7 tips:

(1) embrace the true meaning of fasting for Allah
(2) recite the al-Qur’an as much as possible
(3) awaken and wake your family up for Qiyam even if for only 2 raka’ah of Tawbah prayers
(4) plead with vigour to Allah that He may include us in the names of those who are granted freedom from the Hellfire in these last nights of Ramadan
(5) iktikaf whenever possible
(6) give charity to those in need
(7) appreciate the meaning of ‘idulfitri; which is the Day of Victory by returning to Fitrah”

– Ustaz Saiful ‘Adli 
Part-Time Lecturer at Madrasah Alsagoff

Tip for the women who can’t pray

“For those who are having their menstruation or nifas, do not think that they are missing out on the bountiful rewards during the last 10 days of Ramadan although they cannot pray and fast. This is because acts of worship are not limited to only fasting and praying.

Whatever good acts and responsibilities that you are doing are considered as acts of worship i.e. feeding the baby, serving the family, helping parents, looking after the children, cooking etc. and Allah is Most Kind, the Most Gracious in rewarding. You just need to have the ‘yakin’ [certainty] towards His Graciousness and most importantly, have ‘husnuzzon’ [good opinion] towards Allah because this too is an act of worship.”

– Ustazah Nadia Hanim AR
Director of Wafa Production and Education
Education Manager of MIJ Education Hub

Tip on Channelling Energy

“Energy is a responsibility and must be used accordingly. You won’t have these energetic feeling for long so don’t waste it.

These 10 days, redistribute your energy to benefit by exhilarating your ibadah and deeds. Focus on doing good things in the day so that you will be given mercy in the nights.”

– Ustaz Muhammad Zahid Md Zin
Head Humanitarian & Social Outreach, BAPA

Tip to iktikaf

During the last 10 days of Ramadan, Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam emphasised one act of worship during this period and that is i’tikaf. Rasulullah would i’tikaf in the last 10 days of Ramadan in the attempt of getting Lailatul Qadr. Reported by Aishah that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam will not go out from the mosque except attending to qada’ hajat (Bukhari 2029) or in another riwayah: attending to people’s affairs (Muslim 297).

A minimum iktikaf consist of:

1) Staying in the mosque with the intention of i’tikaf even if for a moment

2) A Muslim who is free of any major impurities (eg postnatal bleeding, menstruation, janaba)

I’tikaf is essential for one’s spiritual rejuvenation and the return to One’s creator. It a good time to reflect on the blessings of Allah, to reflect on the extent of our worship so far for Allah, to regret and be remorseful for the sins that we have done and to hope for Allah’s Mercy and Pleasure.

May Allah subhanahu waTa’ala bless us with abundance of time and health to perform i’tikaf and grant us the power of lailayul qadr, insyaAllah amin.

– Ustazah Liyana Abdul Rahaim
Vice Principal of SimplyIslam Weekend Islamic School

Tip on dealing with Allah

“Do not destroy your good deeds in the days & nights in the last 10 days by being arrogant to Allah ﷻ, ‘ujub with your ‘ibadah & bad akhlaq because all your deeds will be presented on Judgment Day and it will be scattered like dust.”

– Ustaz Muhammad Mazdiuky Md Ishak

Tip before going to bed

“Read and reflect more of the Quran. Before going to bed, ask Allah to make it easy for us to wake up to perform acts or worship in the final third of the night. Another step we can take, and was frequently done by the Prophet (pbuh) is to wake our family members so that they can join us in ‘ibadah.

Women who are experiencing menses too, can wake up to perform zikr, selawat, and make du’a to Allah in place of that from which they are excused during menses. The last 10 nights of Ramadhan, and especially Laylatul Qadr which Allah has made ‘ibadah in it better than the ‘ibadah of a thousand months, are a great bounty and blessing and it would be a waste to spend most of that time in bed.”

– Ustazah Nurul Huda Khamsani
Quranic & Arabic Studies Teacher

Tip for the Husband & Father

“Don’t neglect your family on important nights like this. The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. made it a point to wake up his wives throughout these nights! He dedicated a special Du’a for husbands who do so. Yes! The Prophet sends his invocation for you. As for your children, they are not too young to stay up for some part of the night. Prepare them – the way we dress and prepare for the night vigil has a big impact on our psychology.

Wear your best, put on some perfume, and feel the energy. It will make them excited; plan some activities for them to do too! The best activities are Du’a, zikr and qaseedah. Prepare a short Du’a that is related to the family; individually mention each and every name in the family, or get one to make a Du’a for the other. (For example, “Oh Allah I love Ahmed so much, May I ask of you to protect him. He always wants to do well in his…” ) Say it aloud and ask them to do the same. The family can also make their way together to the nearest mosque.”

– Ustaz Leyaket Ali
Imam Executive, An-Nahdhah Mosque

Tip for Laylatul Qadr

“The chances for the Night of Power, or Laylatul Qadr, happening is much higher in the last 10 nights. So we should strive to search for that night in which worship is equivalent to a 1000 months of worship. There is no better place for us to be, no better state for us to be in, other than being in the mosque performing acts of worship like reading the Qur’an, doing sunnah prayers and so forth. Even if we can only be at the mosque for 2-3 hours of the night, we should do so. What we’re aiming for is to be closer to Allah SWT in these last 10 nights. Because every step that we take towards Allah, Allah will take greater steps to be closer to us. So let us make our small steps and make realistic plans.”

– Ustaz Mizi Wahid
CEO Safinah Institute

Tip for the heart

“Allah says according to the Hadith Qudsi: ‘I am as my servant thinks I am.’ And the Prophet has taught us that Allah looks at the hearts of His servants. Therefore most important for a servant in these nights is that he rectifies first his heart before all else. For prayer without belief nor sound principles will not bring any benefit. So the servant of Allah should clear his heart from all doubts and base suspicion he has against the Generous Lord. Allah alKareem. And set noble high intentions. And have faith that by His Grace, Generosity and Power, He will grant and reward him for his intentions as long as his intentions does not go against the general universal goodwill for humanity. It is most lovely to God also that he prays for the wellbeing of his brethren in secret. As such prayers, if sincere, are without a doubt accepted.”

– Ustazah Fakhrunnisa’