Muslims around the world will now be observing the last 10 days of Ramadan, otherwise known as Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power).
The last 10 days of Ramadan are considered the most important part of the holy month because it was on one of the last 10 days that the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad. While the exact day of the night is not officially known, it is generally believed to be one of the last five odd-numbered days.
Spiritually, it is believed that the Night of Power is one of the most special nights of the year as many believe that prayers are more likely to be accepted while charity brings extra spiritual rewards. In the Quran, it states that: "Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months".
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To help celebrate the final 10 days of Ramadan before Eid starts, we have compiled a list of some of the top things Muslims should focus on, including a wide range of optional religious duties.
Daily prayers and Taraweeh
While Ramadan is a holiday where Muslims are especially encouraged to meet all their five daily prayers, the last 10 days should be a key focus of this practice as many Muslims believe that prayers are most likely to be accepted by God during Laylat al-Qadr. Likewise, if you have not yet done the extra night-time prayers during Ramadan (known in Arabic as Taraweeh), then try to do it as frequently as comfortable for the last 10 days.
It is important to note that Taraweeh is not obligatory during Ramadan and does not have to be done in a congregation and can be carried out on your own at home, in fact, many believe that the prophet Muhammad encouraged doing Taraweeh in isolation.
Charity and Zakat
With the Quranic quote that Laylat al-Qadr "is better than a thousand months", many Muslims believe that the spiritual rewards from giving to charity are multiplied greatly on the Night of Power. Being charitable during Ramadan doesn't just mean donating money, it can also include offering food to someone in need or even something as simple as smiling at another person.
I'tikaaf
I'tikaaf is an Arabic word which refers to the Islamic practice of staying in a mosque for a certain number of days and being separated from the material world as much as possible. It has become a tradition for many Muslims to perform I'tikaaf throughout the last 10 days of Ramadan.
One of the key benefits of this practice for Muslims is that it allows them to focus completely on worship and other religious duties.
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