Ramadan's 'Odd Nights' Bring Allah's Mercy
- Hooriyah Kamran
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The last 10 nights of Ramadan, which consist of the “odd nights,” are the most holy and blessed nights of Ramadan. The odd nights are the odd-numbered days which are believed when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Khatam Quran (Finishing of Quran)
The 27th Night, which is commonly believed to be the night when the Holy Book was revealed, is the night when the Huffaz completes reciting the Quran. This person commands great respect because they have memorized the entire Quran.
Salatul Tasbeeh
On every odd night, Salatul Tasbeeh, the “Prayer of Glorification,” is recited. This prayer is optional but comes with high rewards, Muslims believe. It includes reciting a declaration 300 times that glorifies Allah. It’s also recommended to pray this prayer at least once in your lifetime.
Itikaf
This is when a person stays in a mosque for an extended period of time, usually during the last 10 days of Ramadan. It’s a practice dedicated to worshipping Allah and contributing to spiritual growth, to better oneself by praying, reciting the Quran, remembering Allah and staying away from bad intentions and sinning.
Eid al Fitr
Eid al Fitr falls on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. It’s observed for three days, marking the end of Ramadan. Eid al Fitr, also nicknamed the “Festival of Sweets,” is when Muslims gather to celebrate after30 days of daily fasting, with food, prayer, and meeting family and friends.
Chaand Raat (Night of the Moon)
Known as “Chand Raat” in South Asia, this is the night before Eid, and the last night of Ramadan. It is usually celebrated by women putting henna on, going to Iftar parties, wearing nice clothes and preparing food for Eid.
A Unique Tradition
Traditions in almost all Muslim countries center around community, eating cultural dishes and wearing nice clothes, but there is a tradition in Mali that is unique. Spouses and even children wear the same clothing type and color, down to the material it’s made of.
“So those who are married, we probably, like, wear the same thing as the husband. That's unique to my country, yeah. So let's say the guy is going to do some, like, let's say he's wearing white. So the lady is also going to wear white, probably the same clothes material. If they have a kid, the kid is going to wear the same thing. Like the couples. It's like a couple's uniform or something,” said Mali-born Daly Diakite, who immigrated to the United States around nine years ago.
