“Whenever the last ten nights of Ramadān began, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would gird his lower garment (tighten his waist belt), enliven his night in worship, and awaken his family.”

Narrated by al-Bukhārī (no. 2024, this is his wording) and Muslim (no. 1174), from the ḥadīth of ʿĀ’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her).

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

The last ten nights of Ramadān are among the greatest seasons of devotion. Allah has singled them out for immense virtue and placed within them the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), which is better than a thousand months. Therefore, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) esteemed these nights highly and exerted extraordinary effort in worship during them. As the Mother of the Believers, ʿĀ’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), reported: “Whenever the last ten nights of Ramadān began, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would tighten his waist-wrapper, spend the nights in worship, and awaken his family.” Her statement, “he would tighten his waist-wrapper,” refers to the izār that a man wraps around his lower body, and tightening it is a metaphor for diligence and effort in worship. It is also said to symbolize distancing oneself from women and avoiding distractions that divert from obedience. As for her statement, “and he spent the nights in worship,” it means that he occupied his nights with prayer, remembrance, Qur’ān recitation, and other acts of devotion, either entirely or mostly. He did not limit this to himself, for “and he awakened his family” means that he roused his household from sleep to stand in night prayer and seek Laylat al-Qadr, so that they might share in benefiting from these blessed nights.
The ḥadīth indicates the great significance of the last ten nights, the Prophet’s (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) intense devotion to goodness, his exemplary guidance of his household toward obedience, and his practice of accustoming them to diligence and effort in seasons of worship.

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Related Hadiths

When the last ten days [of Dhul-Ḥijjah] begin, and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, he should not cut any of his hair or trim his nails.

If one of you has completed his Ḥajj, then let his journey be directed to his family, for that is greater in reward for him.

Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān —Laylat al-Qadr—.

(The Prophet) left the iʿtikāf during Ramadān, and later observed iʿtikāf during the first ten days of Shawwāl.

He used to observe iʿtikāf (spiritual retreat) during the last ten days of Ramadān until Allah, the Almighty, took his soul. Then, his wives observed iʿtikāf after him.

“No deeds are more virtuous during the ten days than the righteous deeds done in them.” They said, “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad.”

“Whenever the last ten nights of Ramadān began, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would gird his lower garment (tighten his waist belt), enliven his night in worship, and awaken his family.”

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

Related Hadiths

When the last ten days [of Dhul-Ḥijjah] begin, and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, he should not cut any of his hair or trim his nails.

If one of you has completed his Ḥajj, then let his journey be directed to his family, for that is greater in reward for him.

Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān —Laylat al-Qadr—.

(The Prophet) left the iʿtikāf during Ramadān, and later observed iʿtikāf during the first ten days of Shawwāl.

He used to observe iʿtikāf (spiritual retreat) during the last ten days of Ramadān until Allah, the Almighty, took his soul. Then, his wives observed iʿtikāf after him.

“No deeds are more virtuous during the ten days than the righteous deeds done in them.” They said, “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad.”

I see that your dreams (coincide) regarding the last ten nights, so seek it (Laylat al-Qadr) during the odd nights among them.

When he entered the mosque, he would say, “I seek refuge in Allah, the Most Great, and in His Noble Face.”

The Messenger of Allah, when he entered the mosque, would say: “In the Name of Allah. O Allah, send blessings upon Muḥammad.”

Whoever fasts a day seeking the pleasure of Allah, and that is his last deed, he shall enter Paradise.