Ramadan 2011 - The Last 10 Days

So we have about a week to go and everything is going fine. I haven't had any issues with fasting, and I had a whole bunch of people over for Iftar a few days ago (I made my homemade chili for the occasion). I also had a dentist appointment scheduled for midnight -- talk about odd hours for a teeth cleaning.

While Ramadan is a holy month the last 10 days are especially holy and Muslims are expected to do even more prayers than usual, most of which should be done in a mosque. At this time the mosques are busier than ever and some Muslims are in the mosques all night. This has to do with the concept of Laylat al-Qadr, an especially holy day which occurs sometime during the last 10 days of Ramadan. The trick is no one is quite sure what night it will fall on each year, only Allah knows. A Muslim who devoutly prays during Laylat al-Qadr will have the benefits of his prayer multiplied by thousands so many Muslims try to ensure that they are doing so.

Since no one knows what night during the last 10 days Laylat al-Qadr falls on, that means devout prayers for all of the last 10 nights is the best way to ensure you don’t miss it. Some Muslims put themselves into seclusion at a mosque during this period (this is called “Itikaf”, I think Qataris may also refer to it as “kiam” but that may just refer to the extra prayers on the last 10 days) and refrain from temptations even moreso than usual. I don't know of anyone performing Itikaf but many of my Muslim friends have less social time in the evenings as they are at extra prayers at the mosque.

Some hadiths mention some signs that may indicate Laylat al-Qadr but there is no surefire way to tell. As this website points out:

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.

This website has a great discussion of it:

http://www.wefound.org/texts/Islam_files/LaylatAlQadr.htm

If you would like a more straightforward discussion of the last 10 days of Ramadan here is a quick article:

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/the-last-ten-days-of-ramadan-1.854559


Now while I am fasting to be in tune with the Muslims here I think I will skip Itikaf, I don't have THAT much time. :-)

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