Is it sunnah to remain awake on the last ten nights of Ramadan?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Yes, it is sunnah to remain awake on the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. Therefore, spending at least, some part of the night by worshipping, meditating, reading the Quran, uttering salawat, especially on the last ten nights of Ramadan means acting in accordance with the sunnah.

As a matter of fact, according to what is narrated from Hz. Aisha, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) tried to worship more in Ramadan than in other months. He worshipped more than the other days of Ramadan in the last ten days of Ramadan. (Muslim, I'tikaf 8; see. Tirmidhi, Sawm 72; Ibn Majah, Siyam 57)

According to another narration from Hz. Aisha, with the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would pray all the night, and would keep his family awake for the prayers. He would worship a lot and avoid sleeping with his wives. (Bukhari, Laylatul-Qadr 5; Muslim, I’tikaf 7)

It is reported that the Prophet worshipped a lot on the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, encouraged the people of his family to do so and worshipped fully.

First of all, we should state out that the expression “kullahu” is used in the hadith above but it means “a large part”. For, Hz. Aisha definitely states that the Prophet did not spend any night awake until morning.

However, when the month of Ramadan started, the Prophet (pbuh) would worship more than other days. Especially in the last ten days of Ramadan, he would immerse himself in worship more than the other days of this holy month. Those statements show that he worshipped most on the last ten nights of Ramadan.

This deed of the Prophet (pbuh), more precisely, this actual sunnah, shows that the Night of Power (Laylatul-Qadr) is within those days and that he tried to worship a lot in all the days that are likely to include the Night of Power in order to benefit from it. In addition, the fact that he avoided sexual relationship with his wives on those nights and that he awakened them to worship show that those nights are a golden opportunity.

When the other narrations regarding the issue are also considered, it can be said that the following issues stand out:

- The Night of Power is one of the odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadan.

- Those who want to worship on the Night of Power should worship on the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.

- The Prophet (pbuh) pointed out with both his words and deeds that the Night of Power is on the nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.

- It is sunnah to be careful not to miss out on exceptional opportunities such as the Night of Power and it is necessary to warn the household about it.

- It is the sunnah of our Prophet (pbuh) to worship more than usual in the month of Ramadan and to try to worship more in the last ten days than in other Ramadan days. Thus, it is necessary to try to follow him regarding the issue.

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