ONE HADITH A DAY

With the start of the ten, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would revive the night, wake up his family, exert himself, and tighten up the lower garment

Agreed upon · Authentic

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ المُؤْمِنينَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ أَحْيَا اللَّيْلَ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ، وَجَدَّ وَشَدَّ الْمِئْزَرَ.

“‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: With the start of the ten, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would revive the night, wake up his family, exert himself, and tighten up the lower garment.”

Explanation

Upon the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would revive the whole night with various acts of obedience. He would wake up his family to pray. He would exert himself in worship more than he usually did, and he would devote himself entirely to worship and avoid having intimate relations with his wives.

Benefits

• Encouraging the act of taking advantage of honorable times by performing righteous deeds.
• An-Nawawi said: As clear from this Hadīth: it is recommended to increase the acts of worship in the last ten days of Ramadan, and it is recommended to revive its nights with acts of worship.
• One should be keen on his family's interest by ordering them to engage in worship and be patient with them.
• Doing righteous deeds requires resolve, patience, and perseverance.
• An-Nawawi said: Scholars held different opinions regarding the meaning of (tightened up the lower garment). It is said: it refers to increasing his efforts in acts of worship beyond his usual practice (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) at other times, i.e., showing diligence in acts of worship. The expression: "I tightened up my lower garment for this matter" means: I am entirely devoted to it, and I give it all my time. It is also said: it is a metaphor for abstaining from women to focus on acts of worship.

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