Ramadan and Raya

Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be celebrated less than a week. Again, InsyaAllah I'll be going back to Terengganu this Friday. Yesterday I went to my brother's house at Kajang to meet my sister. This year will be the first year she will celebrate Hari Raya with her husband's family. It is very sad actually but what to do. And of course I feel sad because....She's only my elder sister. For sure all my family members will have the same feeling towards her. She is a great family member and the best leader towards her 4 younger sisters. For me, the real meaning and soul of Raya only in the morning session of 1st Syawal. However we will meet on the third day of Raya celebration. InsyaAllah. Nevermind....Isk isk isk isk isk. Actually yesterday we had a small family discussion about Raya; what else need to buy, travelling time, car delegations, etc. I urged my eldest brother to start the journey to KT straight after the working time. I want to break the fast in the car like previous year. It was really excited. But my other brother didn't agree with my suggestion. Aiyaaaaa!!! Will see later how it goes. I'm not a driver, so will just follow them.

It is undeniable, when I think about Raya this year, automatically I will remember someone's promise that finally break my inner strength without fail. It is impossible to forget each moment that grab my true happiness just like that. People always said second is better that the first one. But mine, second worse than the first tragedy. So how come? Tears explain everything. Time will decide. Everything happens for a reason..Ya Allah, give me strength to face all these.

Back to the topic,my introduction just mentioned about Hari Raya. However,the Raya momentum will not let me forget about last 10 days of Ramadan. What is the best thing for the last 10 days of this month? YES!!! Lailatulqadar. Below is something we can share.It is taken from http://www.kingstonmosque.org.uk/LailatulQadr.htm

Qadr means honour and dignity. Lailatul Qadr means the night of honour and dignity. It is this night in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira. Since this night enjoys the honour of having the first revelation brought to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, it has been named Lailatul Qadr.

This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadhan and most likely to be the 27th. The reward of worship on this night is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship, equivalent to a person's lifetime. So, on this night one should pray nafil namaz, recite the Quran, do Tasbih, Zikr, Duas, etc as much as possible.

This night had already opened its gates of treasures when the angel for the first time had come with the Divine Message in the cave of Hira, but its auspiciousness has continued to be with us permanently. Every year in the month of Ramadhan, this night is given to the Ummah. Muslims engage in prayers, recitation of Quran and praying to Allah, as the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said: "The person who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and with hope of reward from Allah, all his past sins have been forgiven." (Bukhaari)

As the rainy season is suitable for farming, similarly for the attainment of nearness to Allah, specific times , specific days and specific nights are most suitable, e.g. the time of Tahajjud prayers, Friday prayers, month of Ramadhan, the Day of Arafah, etc. So also the Night of Power is the most suitable night for attaining nearness to Allah.

In the Hadeeth, we have been asked to seek it in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadhan. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wasallam has said, 'Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan'.(Bukhaari).

By odd nights, the reference is made to the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th night of the month of Ramadhan. No one night has been fixed so that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more nights in worshipping Allah. From this aspect, the importance of `Itikaaf (seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadhan is clear.

In my opinion, it is not only the last 10 days of Ramadan we should wait every year, but let make the last 10 days of Ramadan as a jumper or starter for us to be more istiqamah in Islam. Really hope I will find myself. Hope I can become stronger. Hope the past will not haunt me. Amin. InsyaAllah.