The Last Ten in a World Full of Chaos
The last ten nights in a world full of chaos: With everything happening in the world, many of us are approaching the last ten nights broken. Distracted. Distressed. But the last ten are the precise healing we need.
We need to focus on asking. On seeking forgiveness and pardon. On resetting. So worship every night as though you are sure it is Laylat al-Qadr, and as though it your last night of worship. Supplicate to Allah like everything depends on your du'a. Promise Him that this Ramadan will be a springboard for a better you. That you will change, from this moment on. Carry one thing with you after Ramadan as a sign of your sincerity.
And greet the last ten with hope. Some of us might start it with dread because we are already anticipating what we won't be able to do. That is a distraction that creates an unnecessary barrier that you yourself have created. Allah gifted you Ramadan and gifted you the last ten. Do what *you* are able to do, and Allah al-Shakur will appreciate even the smallest deed. He knows your circumstances better than anyone else. That whisper of seeking help that no one else hears in the very depths of the night may be what Allah accepts you by, and He is the Most Generous.
Have high aspirations and big intentions, because Allah will carry your sincerity through. If you intend good and can't do it, Allah writes it as a complete good deed. If you do it, Allah records it as ten good deeds or even more. He appreciates your intention and effort, so don’t skimp on those. Human beings are ignorant of intentions and overlook efforts, but not Allah; He knows what is in the depths of your heart, and He is that generous.
Finally, finish strong. You are judged by how you ended, not how you started. Maybe you didn't begin well. Maybe you plateaued in the middle. But you can make up for it in the end. Your opening could come on the last qiyam of Ramadan, or before the last maghrib prayer. Ask Allah to help you. And finishing strong looks different for different people. It can be standing up for long hours in the night, reciting and reflecting on the Qur’an, and supplicating until the dawn prayer. And for the mom with a newborn, it could be those words of dhikr between nursing and putting a crying baby to sleep. For the one who is physically exhausted or ill, it could be the listening to the Qur’an as you are confined to bed. For the menstruating woman, it could be that sincere du’a. For the lawyer working on deportation cases, it could be that phone call you answer to get person the help they need. None of us knows which deed will get us accepted, so do what you can, even if it seems “small”.
Just remember that the last ten nights are a gift. So go with your hopes, your brokenness, and even your wordless cries. Allah hears and He responds. And pray for our brothers and sisters in Gaza, in all of Palestine, in Sudan, the Uighurs, and all of us. Allah is over all things able, and He is the Most Generous.