色色研究所

Ramadan is the month of mercy, a time when we have the opportunity to draw closer to Allah (swt) and be forgiven for our sins through the simplest of actions. The first 10 days of Ramadan are the best time for seeking this mercy, as the Prophet (saw) said:

'And it is a month, the first (part) of which is mercy, the middle (part) of which is forgiveness and the last (part) of which is freedom from the Fire'. (Ibn Khuzaimah)

Here are our tips for getting the most out of the first 10 days of Ramadan, as well as some du鈥檃s for seeking Allah鈥檚 mercy:

1. Make du鈥檃 at iftar time

The Prophet (saw) said, 'Whatever is prayed for at the time of breaking the fast is granted and never refused'. (Tirmidhi)

When you sit down to iftar, take the time to seek Allah鈥檚 mercy and forgiveness before breaking your fast - we know you鈥檙e hungry, but this is the best time to do it! Make sure you supplicate using the names Ar-Rahman (the Most Compassionate) and Ar-Rahim (the Most Merciful).

Read more about the blessings of iftar on our previous blog post.

2. Make du鈥檃 for others to receive mercy

You should also pray for mercy and guidance for your loved ones during the first ten days - this will allow both you and them to benefit from the blessings of this time.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, 'There is no Muslim servant who supplicates for his brother behind his back but that the angel says, "And for you the same"'. (Muslim)

3. Keeping good relations with your family

During the first ten days, take the time to visit or call family members who you don鈥檛 often speak to, and make sure you seek forgiveness from anyone you鈥檝e had a falling out with. It is important for you to take the first step towards building bridges, as being close with your relatives will bring you closer to Allah.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, 'The merciful are shown mercy by Ar-Rahman. Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens. The womb is named after Ar-Rahman, so whoever connects it, Allah connects him, and whoever severs it, Allah severs him'. (Tirmidhi)

The womb is named after Ar-Rahman (the Most Compassionate), so we should be merciful and compassionate towards those connected to us through the womb i.e. our family and extended family. Show mercy towards your family, and Allah will show mercy towards you.

4. Increase your dhikr

This is a really easy way to seek Allah鈥檚 mercy: after every Salah, recite 'Subhan-Allahi wa bi-hamdi-hi' 20 times (i.e. 100 times a day). Reciting this simple dhikr will obliterate your sins, even if they are as much as the foam of the ocean. (Muslim)

Dhikr in general is a good way to draw closer to Allah in Ramadan, as He says in the Noble Qur鈥檃n, 'So remember Me; I will remember you'. (The Noble Qur鈥檃n, 2:152)

5. Encourage family to pray at night

Many of us are exhausted by fasting during Ramadan, and it can be difficult to motivate ourselves to wake up at night to pray and worship. However, encouraging our family to worship at night is an important part of seeking Allah鈥檚 mercy - and it can help us get motivated too!

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, 'May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, then he wakes his wife and she prays, and if she refuses he sprinkles water in her face. And may Allah have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, then she wakes her husband and prays, and if he refuses she sprinkles water in his face'. (Sunan An-Nasa鈥檌)

Spread the mercy of Ramadan by encouraging others to worship at night!

6. Recite these du鈥檃s for mercy

Here are a few du鈥檃s you should be reciting to seek Allah鈥檚 mercy in the first 10 days:

'乇賾賻亘賾賽 丕睾賿賮賽乇賿 賵賻丕乇賿丨賻賲賿 賵賻兀賻賳鬲賻 禺賻賷賿乇購 丕賱乇賾賻丕丨賽賲賽賷賳賻'

Rabbi ighfir warham wa anta khair-ur-raahimeen

'And [O Prophet] say, "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful"'. (Qur鈥檃n, 23:118)

听

'丕賱賱賾賴購賭賲賾賻 廿賽賳賾賻賭賷 兀賻爻賿賭兀賻賱購賭賰賻 亘賽乇賻丨賿賲賻賭鬲賽賰賻 丕賱賾鬲賽賷 賵賻爻賽賭毓賻鬲賿 賰購賱賾賻 卮賷賿亍貙 兀賻賳賿 鬲賻睾賿賭賮賽乇賻 賱賷'

Allaahumma inni as鈥檃luka bi-rahmatika al-lati wasi鈥檃t kulla shay鈥檌n an taghfira li

'O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelopes all things, that You forgive me'.

听

'丕賱賱賾賻賴購賲賾賻 丕睾賿賮賽乇賿 賱賽賷 賵賻丕乇賿丨賻賲賿賳賽賷 賵賻兀賻賱賿丨賽賯賿賳賽賷 亘賽丕賱乇賾賻賮賽賷賯賽 丕賱兀賻毓賿賱賻賶'

Allahuma ighfir li warhamni wa alhiqni bir-rafiq-il-a鈥檒aa

Aisha (ra) said, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying at his death, "O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me, and join me with the Highest Company"'. (Tirmidhi)

7. Show mercy to others

While seeking Allah鈥檚 mercy, it is important to remember that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, 'Whoever does not show mercy to the people, Allah will not show mercy to him'. (Tirmidhi)

This means that showing mercy to others is an essential part of seeking Allah鈥檚 mercy. Without it, you may miss out on the blessings of the first 10 days. Mercy can mean talking kindly to others, offering people your seat on the bus even when you鈥檙e fasting and, of course, giving Sadaqah to those in need out of the mercy of your heart.

Showing mercy and love to children is particularly important, as it is from the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw). In the first 10 days, why not donate a Ramadan Food Parcel to feed refugee children or those living in poverty, or begin your orphan sponsorship to support orphans who need your help?

Remember, the Prophet (saw) said, 'Ramadan is the month of my Ummah' [Suyuti]. As you spread mercy, hope and relief to our brothers and sisters, we pray that Allah showers听you with mercy, hope and relief, amin!

色色研究所 is an award-winning charity, established in 1993 to provide emergency relief and tackle the root causes of poverty. This Ramadan, we can help you send iftar across the world, sponsor orphans in Yemen, Palestine and elsewhere and even build your own water well. For more ways to give mercy, visit our Appeals page or call 0115 911 7222.听

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