During the last ten days of Ramadan, the focus for the Muslim is to seek the protection of God through the remembrance of God. Muslims have busied themselves for the previous twenty days of Ramadan with working their way toward the attainment of spiritual development. Now tired and weary from the last two thirds of the month of Ramadan, the Muslims pray to God for more protection and strength to complete the rest of the month in fasting.
This last ten days is a time where the Muslims will pray more at night and remain vigilant in order to draw closer to God. Often the Muslim will find that their sleep has been nearly cut in half on a nightly basis as they rest for only a few hours. In seeking nearness to God Muslims will stand in prayer throughout the night, praying the extra long Tawarih prayer. During this prayer, a 30th of the entire Quran will be read, and the prayer may last for up to two hours, which consists of continuous standing, bowing, and prostrating.
Remembrance of God During Ramadan
Although the prayer is one way to practice the remembrance of God, another form of remembrance is the quiet reflection on God through His "Ninety-Nine Names." A set of prayer beads are sometimes utilized in this endeavor.
Remembering God through His ninety-nine names is a mental, meditative practice. Each name expresses a different aspect and attribute of God. These names can be recited while sitting in a meditative posture, or be called upon in prayers, as long as the worshipper understands that these are names only and cannot be represented or imagine in a particular shape or anthropomorphic form; for God is One (Ahad) and unlike anything in creation.
Lailatul Qadar
Remembrance of God, and seeking protection of God, is to welcome in, and receive the blessings of, Lailatul Qadar (The night of Power or Destiny). This is the night in which Prophet Muhammad received the revelation from the Angel Jibreel, and was anointed a Prophet.
The experience of this night can be compared to, but not exactly likened to, the experiences of Jesus when the dove lighted upon him, the awakening of Buddha, or the vision Ajurna had when he saw Krishna in all his glory. As such, Prophet Muhammad saw the Angel (a being of pure light) Jibreel (Gabriel) in every direction he turned and found he could not escape the Angel’s presence. Thus was he pressed by the Angel to remember and teach the Holy Book of Islam.
As such, during the last ten days of Ramadan, Muslims look and hope to be present in prayer during this most precious night that God tells Muslims “…is better than a thousand months.” (Quran 97 1-3) This informs the believer that in the Night of Power one can develop, or attain, the spiritual station of a person who has spent his entire life in prayer.
Attaining a higher spiritual level of existence for the Muslim is not something easily put into words. It is an experience that can be attained only through practice, and patient perseverance. This is the life long struggle of the Muslim.
To attain a higher level of being, through attaining the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, is the goal of each and every practicing Muslim.
Sources:
- Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Quran; With Arabic Text.
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