RECOMMENDED DEEDS FOR EACH NIGHT OF THE LAST TEN NIGHTS OF THE MONTH

These are many; among them is what is recommended by the Prophet (pbuh) who has said: "Whoever prays two rek'as on Lailatul-Qadr and recites the Fatiha once in each rek'a and the Tawheed seven times, then when he finishes he seeks forgiveness seventy times, then he adds, ' I seek Allah's forgiveness and to Him do I repent,' by the time he leaves his place, Allah will have forgiven him and his parents and sent angels to record good deeds for him for another year, and He would send angels to plant trees for him in Paradise and build him mansions and draw rivers, and he would not leave the life of this world before seeing all what is in store for him in Paradise."

      Another recommended deed isghusul (ceremonial bath) which is highly recommended and emphasized especially during the last three nights (of the month),  and the best time to take it is after sunset prayers. And speaking of ghusul, it is recommended, as the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) had himself done, to stay away from women during these most sacred days but to approach them in the first 20 days. As a matter of fact, p. 180, Vol. 4, of al-Kulayni's Al-Kafi, p. 348, Vol. 94, of al-Majlisi's Bihar al Anwar, and p. 112, Vol. 2, of Ibn Babawayh's work Man la yahduru al faqih all suggest that it is highly recommended to approach women particularly during the first nights of the month of Ramadan. These classic books quote the Commander of the Faithful (as) saying that it is recommended for a believer to cohabit with his wife (particularly) during the first night of this sacred month.

      Another recommended deed is what is called the "plea by the sanctity of the Holy Qur'an" which is reported on the authority of both Imams al-Baqir and al-Sadiq, peace be upon them, who have said, "You must take the Holy Qur'an during those last three nights of the month of Ramadan, open it, then put it on your hands and say: `Lord! I plead to You by Your revealed Book and everything in it, and in it is Your great Name and the most sublime attributes. I plead to You to send blessings unto Muhammad (pbuh) and the progeny of Muhammad (pbuh) and to free me from the bondage of the fire,' then you ask Allah whatever you wish." Imam al-Sadiq (as) is quoted saying, "Take the Holy Qur'an, put it on your head and say, Lord! By the grace of this Holy Qur'an and to whom You have revealed it, and by every believer You have praised therein, and by Your right upon them, for none knows Your right more than You!' Then you repeat ten times each of the following: 'By Your Grace, O Mighty God! By Muhammad, by Ali, by Fatima, by al-Hassan, by al-Hussain, by Ali ibn al-Hussain, by Muhammad ibn Ali, by Ja'fer ibn Muhammad, by Mousa ibn Ja'fer, by Ali ibn Mousa, by Muhammad ibn Ali, by Ali ibn Muhammad, by al-Hassan ibn Ali, by al-Hujja (alMahdi),' then you state your plea, and Allah will help you attain your objective if He pleases." Another special invocation quoted from the Prophet (pbuh) says:

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One and Only God, without a partner, and that Muhammad (pbuh) is His servant and messenger. I bear witness that Paradise is right and that the fire is right, and that the hour is approaching, there is no doubt about it, and that Allah shall bring life to those in the graves. I further bear witness that the Lord is my God: there is no partner with Him, nor a son, nor a father, and I bear witness that He does whatever He pleases and is able to do everything and is the Doer of what He wills. He humiliates whomsoever He wills and raises whomsoever He pleases, Owner of the domain, Sustainer of the servants, the Forgiving, the Mercy-giving, the Omniscient, the Kind. I bear witness again and again and again and again and again and again and again that You, Lord, are exactly so and even more, and that none can describe Your greatness. Lord! I pray You to send blessings unto Muhammad (pbuh) and the progeny of Muhammad (pbuh) and to guide me and not to leave me to stray after having guided me, for You guide whomsoever You please."

RECOMMENDED DEEDS FOR THE TWENTY-THIRD NIGHT OF THE MONTH OF RAMADAN

All recommended deeds stated above are also recommended for this night and for all the nights referred to above one of which, according to the above-quoted traditions, Lailatul-Qadr may as well be. On all these nights, it is recommended that you perform the ghusul twice: once at the beginning of the night, and once at its end as Imam alSadiq, peace be upon him, is quoted saying. It is also recommended that you read the Chapter of the Holy Qur'an dealing with the Romans and the one with the Spider. Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, has told Abu Baseer that whoever recites both chapters of al'Ankaboot (Spider) and al-Room (Romans) on the twenty-third night of the month of Ramadan will certainly be among the residents of Paradise without any exception, adding, "... and I do not fear that Allah will record a sin against me for giving such a status for these two Chapters." It is also recommended to recite the Dukhkhan (Smoke) Chapter too.

      Imam Ali, peace be upon him, has said, "Everything has a fruit, and the fruit of the Holy Qur'an is the Qadr Chapter. Everything has a treasure, and the treasure that removes poverty is the Qadr Chapter. For everything there is a means whereby it can be attained, and the means of the weak is the Qadr Chapter. For every hardship there is ease, and the ease of those suffering from hardship is the Qadr Chapter. There is a shield against everything evil, and the shield of the believers is the Qadr Chapter. For everything there is guidance, and the guidance of the righteous is the Qadr Chapter. There is excellence for everything, and the excellence of knowledge is the Qadr Chapter. There is a decoration for everything, and the decoration of the Holy Qur'an is the Qadr Chapter. There is a canopy for everything, and the canopy of the devotees is the Qadr Chapter. There is a glad tiding for everything, and the glad tiding of the innocent is the Qadr Chapter. There is a Proof (Hujja) for everything, and the Hujja after the Prophet (pbuh) is the Oadr Chapter; therefore, believe in it." He (as) was asked how to believe in it, and he answered, "That it shall occur in each and every year, and that everything revealed in it is true."

      He (as) is also quoted saying, "For anyone who recites the Qadr Chapter, God Almighty writes down a good deed for every particle of dust where he sits while reciting it." He (as) is also quoted saying, "It is a good companion for anyone who wishes to pay off his debt, esteem his creed, prolong his life-span, and improve his condition. Anyone who recites it quite often will meet Allah as a siddeeq and as a martyr."

      The book Misbah al-Mutahajjid quotes Muhammad ibn 'Isa, relying on the authority of the righteous, peace be upon them, says, "You should repeat the following invocation on the twenty-third night of the blessed month of Ramadan either prostrating, standing up, or sitting down, or in any other way, and during the entire month and however you can, and whenever you are faced with hard times. Having glorified Allah and sent blessings unto the Prophet and his progeny, peace be upon all of them, you should say, `Lord! Be for Your wali Muhammad ibn al-Hassan at this hour and at every hour of the night and the day a Protector, Guardian, Leader, Supporter, Guide and Reconnoiterer, till You let him reside in Your earth willingly and grant him enjoyment therein for a long period of time. O You Who manages all affairs, Who brings life back to the residents of the graves, Who permits the oceans to flow and the iron to be pliant for David, peace be upon him, I pray You to send blessings unto Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad,' then you mention your wish, raising your hands. You may repeat it while you are prostrating, kneeling, standing or sitting, and repeat it on the last night of the nights of the month of Ramadan."