Question:
In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Ever Merciful
Praise be to Allah and may His blessings and peace be upon His Messenger.
Dear brothers, I greet you with the greeting of Islam: Assalaamu Alaykum,
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah Intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.} [Quran 2: 185]
I am a member of a Da‘wah committee at a Masjid. I have been entrusted with setting a program for how to spend the last ten nights of Ramadan in worship. The night starts from 11:00 pm to 4:00 am. I want my Muslim brothers to benefit me with their suggestions and thus I consulted this blessed website. I ask Allah The Almighty to help us devote all our deeds to His sake and to accept them.
I want to make two tables, one for the even-numbered days: 22, 24, 26, 28 and another for the odd-numbered days: 21, 23, 25 and 29.
A question may arise: Why should there be two tables? The answer is that the efforts in worship during the odd nights should be greater. It was reported from the Messenger of Allah that the Night of Al-Qadr is sought during the odd nights. Another question may arise: Why is the 27th night of Ramadan not included within the odd-numbered nights? The answer is that we want a specific program for this night. It was reported that it is most likely the Night of Al-Qadr.
Please advise and do not deprive yourselves of this great reward, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan, the month of mercy, forgiveness, admittance to Paradise, and salvation from Hell.
May Allah bless and reward you!
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Ever Merciful
Dear brother, Assalaamu ‘Alaykum,
For the righteous deeds to be accepted by Allah The Almighty, the most important two conditions are dedicating these deeds solely for the sake of Allah The Almighty and keenness to follow the example and guidance of the Prophet . This means that the accepted righteous deed is that which is dedicated to Allah The Almighty and is done according to the guidance of the Prophet . This is the way the righteous predecessors understood the verse in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed.} [Quran 67: 2] Allah The Almighty did not say, "to test you [as to] which of you is more in deed." What counts here is the quality of deeds. So, little deeds will be enough for you provided that you offer them with full sincerity to Allah The Almighty. The best deed is that which is the most sincere and the soundest. On the other hand, when one is able to do many righteous deeds while fulfilling sincerity and compliance with the guidance of the Prophet this is actually a great and praiseworthy achievement.
There is no doubt that a person gets more active when he is with others who are active. Therefore, the wise Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) made the religious obligations communal. When these religious obligations are communal, they are performed easily. Prayer is performed in congregation, one performs Hajj along with his Muslim brothers, all the people fast together, one is strengthened by his brothers when performing Jihaad, etc. Thus, we hope that your benefit will be great through this congregation. You should focus on teaching sincerity, being mindful of Allah The Almighty as well as other topics on self-purification.
We hope that the program dedicates some moments to seclusion when each one stays alone in order to reckon himself and renew his repentance. We also hope that you often repeat the Hadeeth (narration) in which the Prophet says: "Intentions are what count in deeds." This Hadeeth is a criterion for the inner deeds. Also, there is the Hadeeth in which the Prophet said: "Whoever does something (of worship) away from our matter, it will be rejected." The last Hadeeth is a criterion for apparent deeds.
We hope that the program includes the following:
1- Lessons and lectures for scholars. That is because knowledge precedes action and one scholar is harder for the devil than a thousand devoted worshippers.
2- Keenness to perform the obligatory acts of worship and taking care of that. Allah The Almighty does not accept the voluntary act of worship unless the obligatory one is done.
3- Moderation in worship, for Allah The Almighty never gets tired (of giving reward) but you will get tired (of excessive worship). Thus, the Prophet advised us: "Perform such acts that you are capable of doing."
4- Keeping some acts of obedience hidden as a secret between the slave and his Lord.
5- Intensifying the act of seeking forgiveness, especially after performing the righteous deed. This is to avoid self-conceit.
6- Diversifying the acts of obedience: It is not necessary to spend the whole night in prayer. Rather, these nights are allocated for different types of righteous deeds.
7- Being acquainted with the degrees of deeds. The best thing the Prophet as well as the former Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, said is: "La Ilaaha Illa Allah (there is no god worthy of worship except Allah)," and the most beloved speech to Allah is, "Subaan Allah wa bihamdih, subhaan Allah Al-‘Atheem (glorified is Allah and praise is due to Him, glorified is Allah The Great)".
8- Keeping away from sins and acts of disobedience as well as lowering the gaze. Giving up sins is easier than repenting.
I cannot conceal my happiness at your keenness, care, organization and order and would like to welcome you to our website. We ask Allah The Almighty to benefit Islam and Muslims with you. May Allah accept our fast and Qiyaam.
May Allah grant us success.