Three Ashra of Ramadan & Significance of the Last Ashra

Sanaullah Abro
Three Ashra of Ramadan designed for Gofrixty

Ramadan is the most pious month in the history of Islam. There are three Ashra of Ramadan (also written as Ramazan) called Mercy, fogginess, and Nijat (free from the hell). Ashra is actually an Arabic word, this means 10 days. Islamic months are based on the appearance of the moon. Every Islamic month start with the birth of a moon and end on its disappearance. There are used to be 29 or 30 days and nights in every Islamic month. Similarly, Ramadan is also based on 29 or 30 full days and nights. Which means Ramadan is based on 3*10 days which makes it 3 Ashra.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: It (Ramadan) is the month, whose beginning is mercy, its middle, forgiveness and its end, emancipation from the fire (Hell).

Mercy: 1st of the three Ashra of Ramadan

The first Ashra of Ramadan (1st 10 days) is called the Ashra of Mercy (Rehmat). In these 10 days, every human being needs to get mercy and seek the grace of Almighty Allah, the Lord of the lords, the creature of the universe and the only eternity. In the Islamic literature, a ‘dua’ (A Verse for recitation) has been suggested for all accountable creatures (human & Jinn) in the universe to read during the first Ashra of Ramadan, which is given as follows:

Dua for the First Ashra:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Transliteration: Rabbigfir Warham wa’anta Khair ur Rahimeen

Translation: My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and you are the best of the merciful. (Al-Mu’minun:118)

Forgiveness: the 2nd of the three Ashra of Ramadan

The mid-10 days of the holy month Ramadan are called the days of forgiveness (Maghfirat). These days are called second Ashra of Ramadan. In the second Ashra, Allah Almighty has asked every accountable creature (human & Jinn) to confess the sins and seek forgiveness from Almighty ALLAH and make sure you won’t repeat them in your life.

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In Islamic literature, it is quoted that ALLAH Almighty opens the doors of fogginess for all accountable creature in the second Ashra of Holy Month Ramadan, So every single human & Jinn must need to confess and must need to regret of the sins they have committed in the past life, because this second Ashra, Allah Almighty opens the doors of fogginess.

Dua for the Second Ashra:

أسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبي مِنْ كُلِ ذَنبٍ وَأتُوبُ إلَيهِ

Transliteration: Astaghfirullah rabbi min kulli zambiyon wa atoobu ilaiyh
Translation: I ask forgiveness of my sins from Allah who is my Lord and I turn towards Him.

Nijat: The third & Last Ashra of Ramadan

The third and the last Ashra of the Holy month Ramadan is most pious and hold a special significance and importance. It is because two major events in the history of Islam and mankind occurred in the third Ashra of Holy Month Ramadan. First is the “Lailat-ul-Qadr”, a night in which the verses of the Holy Qur’an were descended upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The second is Because of Juma’t-ul-Wida. The last Friday of the Holy Month (Ramadan).

Dua for the Third Ashra:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Transliteration: Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa’fu annee

Translation: “O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me”

The significance of Third Ashra

The third Ashra of the Holy Month of Ramadan has some significant events. These events include Lailat-ul-Qadr, Aitikaf, and jummat-ul-wida. Let’s see why these events are so much important for humanity.

Lailat-ul-Qadr?

The Lailat-ul-Qadr is a night on which the verses of the Holy Book “Al-Qura’an” was descended on the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In Islamic literature, it is mentioned that the Lailat-ul-Qadr is batter than the thousands of other nights. This night gives immense spirituality and power to be very close to the ALLAH Almighty. This is also named as the night of power. It’s believed that this night occurs on 27th Ramadan, but the literature says that to find the Lailat-ul-Qadr you need to search it in odd-nights of the last Ashra of Holy month Ramadan.

Observing I’tikaf

In the last Ashra of the three Ashra of Ramadan, Believers used to sit and observe Aitikaf.

What is Aitikaf?

According to Islamic Education, I’tikaf is a Holly Norm and practice leave everything of the materialistic world aside and quietly sit in a Masjid (Mosque) to observe Holy and spiritual practices of Islam. Male believers used to sit in their nearer Masajid (Mosques) and female believers used to sit in their homes (in a corner) where they must not be disturbed. The Aitikaf can be observed in any minute or in any day, but considering the norms, most of the believers observe it during the last Ashra of the Holy Month of Ramadan. They believed that Lailat-ul-Qadr will automatically be practised when they observe Aitikaf.

Jummat-ul-wida?

jummat-ul-wida is also a blessing of Almighty ALLAH for the believers. This is the most pious and batter day than the thousands of the days. This is actually the last Friday of the Holy Month of Ramadan. This appeared in the last Ashra of the Holy Month Ramadan. Which makes this last Ashra really significant to observe very keenly and ask almighty for the forgiveness to be close to Almighty ALLAH.

So, Ramadan is really important to leave the materialistic world. Ramadan is the blessings of Almighty ALLAH. And a true opportunity for a believer to ask Almighty for the forgiveness and confess the sins to stay on the right path. We all have to test the death and shall return to ALLAH. So, before return to ALLAH batter need to turn to ALLAH.

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