Night of power and time for contemplation

KK Moidu
The Holy Month of Ramadan is now in its last ten days and mosques all over the UAE are packed with believers, who taking part in special prayers and duas (supplications).
Although the whole month is full of blessings and rewards, the last ten days have a special status. Worshippers make long, sincere and deep duas during the last part of the odd nights, seeking forgiveness of their Creator.
Muslims, people of the world's fastest growing religion, offer more prayers in the last ten days of Ramadan than at any other part of Ramadan. It was common for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to pray the whole night during Ramadan. His family members profusely offered the night prayers.
Like Muslims all over the world, people in the UAE are also taking part in special prayers as Ramadan is drawing to a close. They seek Lailat Al Qadr (the Night of Power) on the last days of the Ramadan.
Lailat Al Qadr is better than 1,000 months (83 years and four months) and according to a tradition of the Prophet (PBUH), it falls on an odd-numbered night during the last ten days of Ramadan.
A majority of Muslims believe that the Holy Night falls on 27th of Ramadan.
Allah first revealed the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on this night. Therefore, praying, reading Quran and remembering Allah abundantly on Lailat Al Qadr is advisable.
Doing special duas for forgiveness on the night of Lailat Al Qadr, making prayers longer, deeper and more meaningful by reciting big Surahs is also important. Another important ritual in the last ten days of Ramadan is Itikaf.
People stay in mosques, which is Allah's House, with the intention of becoming closer to Him by offering salat and reciting Quran. During the Itikaf period, going outside the mosque, except in case of emergency, is discouraged. Therefore the worshipper stays in the masjid.
However, it is not compulsory that Itikaf should be offered for ten days together. Worshippers can undertake Itikaf of shorter periods also -- one night or a day, or for a couple of days or nights.
This was the practice of the Prophet (PBUH), especially during the last ten days of Ramadan. The Sunnah (sayings and traditions of the Prophet) of the Prophet (PBUH), of Itikaf has no specific time limit.
Believers can stay in mosques with the intention of making Itikaf for a longer or shorter period of time. But ultimately the reward will be according to how long one stays in the mosque.