Ramadhan is the most sacred month of the year in Islamic culture. It is the ninth month of the Lunar Calendar. In the month of Ramadhan, Allah sent an Angel to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to reveal the Holy Book Quran in 610 AD. According to a narration, Almighty Allah has divided Ramadhan into three Ashra. The first ten days (first Ashra) reflect the Mercy of Almighty Allah; the other ten days (second Ashra) represent the Forgiveness of Almighty Allah, while the last ten days (third Ashra) represent safety from the fire of Hell.
The three stages of Ramadhan are described below:
First Ashra of Ramadhan
The First Ten Days of Ramadhan are the days of mercy, and every person or Muslim must seek the Mercy of Almighty Allah on these days. The dua for the first Ashra is:
رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
O! My Allah, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of Merciful.
Second Ashra of Ramdhan
The next ten days include the 11th to 20th of Ramadan, the second Ashra. It is the time to seek Forgiveness, and a Muslim must seek to repent for his acts and recite as much Astagfar as he can.
Dua for Second Ashra
أسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبي مِنْ كُلِ ذَنبٍ وَأتُوبُ إلَيهِ.
“I ask forgiveness of my sins from Allah, my Lord, and I turn towards Him.”
Third Ashra of Ramadhan
The last ten days are about to seek refuge from the Hellfire, and everyone must seek refuge by reciting the dua.
Dua for third Ashra,
اَللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ
“O, Allah! Save me from the fire.”
Here we will discuss the third Ashra. What should we do in the third Ashra? What will be the rewards of the third Ashra? What are the supplicants or prayers for the third Ashra?
What should we do in Third Ashra?
The third Ashra means the last ten days of Ramadan are most important and superior to the early two Ashra as Laylatul Qadar falls in the third Ashra. Also, most Muslims practice Itikaf in the third Ashra. Here is a list of a few things one should do during the third Ashra,
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Ask for Forgiveness in the third Ashra
The last ten days are freedom from the fire, so one should strive hard in this third Ashra of fasting to Ask pardon and Forgiveness from Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) used to devote Himself more intensively to prayers and urged others to during the third Ashra of Ramadan. Narrated by Aisha (RA):
“The Prophet (PBUH) strove harder and took greater pains to observe prayer etc. during the third Ashra of Ramadan than other days” (Muslim)
In another Hadith reported by Hazrat Aisha (RA):
“When the last ten days of Ramadan began, the Prophet (PBUH) used to gird up the loins and keep awake in the nights. The Prophet (PBUH) also wakened the members of His family (So that they may spend the night in worship too)” (Bukhari)
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Practice Itikaf
One should practice Atekaf in the third Ashra of Ramadan. In a hadith narrated by Aisha (RA):
“Allah’s Apostle used to practice I’tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan” (Bukhari)
We should not waste the hours and nights of the third Ashra and strive hard to worship Allah. One of the best ways is to practice Itikaf, in which one stays in the Mosque and seeks pardon from Allah for his sins.
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Search for Laila-to-Qadr
Laila-to-Qadr, or the Night of Power, is to be searched on the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. It is the night in which the first Verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to the Prophet (PBUH), and this night has utmost importance as stated in the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH):
“Whoever stays up (in prayer) on the Night of Qadr fully believing (in Allah’s promise of reward for that night) and hoping to seek reward (from Allah), shall forgive him for his past sins.” (Muslim)
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Strong Relation with Allah
The last ten days are a basis for making our bond stronger with Allah and attaining Taqwa. So this is the final step to seek closer to Allah and ask him to free us from Hell. One can recite Adhkar and Dua’s for this purpose.
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Practices for the rest of the year
It is the best time to prepare for how to spend the rest of the year. Let us all resolve ourselves to recite Quran with meaning and translation in the same manner and enthusiasm as we have done in Ramadan. Also, pray in the Mosque as much as possible, just as we do during Ramadan.
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Prayers-5 Times a Day
Offering five times a day with punctuality is obligatory for every Believer. In the blessed month, make it a habit to offer five prayers, especially in the third Ashra; you just need to offer Nawafil with Obligatory Prayers.
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Give Charity
Giving Charity is highly recommended in the last ten days of Ramadan. The mercy and the reward will be multiplied by 70 times in Ramadan Kareem. On the occasion of laylatul qadr, the reward will be equivalent to eighty-three years of doing good deeds.
What are the supplicants or prayers for the third Ashra?
The third Ashra, or the last ten days of Ramadan, got much significance because of some critical events in Islamic Histories. Allah blessed us with Layalat ul Qadr, the most pious night. And the second most moment of Jummat ul Wida is the last Jummah or Friday of Ramadan.
The reward of every prayer and act will be multiplied by 70 times, and on the occasion of Layaltul Qadr, it will be equal to good deeds of eighty-three years.
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Seek Mercy
For seeking mercy, recite
رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
O! My Allah, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of Merciful.
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ العَظِيم“,
Glory be to Allah, and He is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest, is free from imperfection.
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Seek Forgiveness
Seek Forgiveness from Allah Almighty in the most blessed last ten days of Ramadan.
أسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبي مِنْ كُلِ ذَنبٍ وَأتُوبُ إلَيهِ.
“I ask forgiveness of my sins from Allah, my Lord, and I turn towards Him.”
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Seek refuge from Hell’s fire
The third Ashra is about to seek refuge from Allah Almighty. Ask Allah to forgive your sins and refuge you from the fire of Hell Jahanuum.
اَللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ
“O, Allah! Save me from the fire.”
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Offer Nawafil
The last ten days of Ramadan are for Forgiveness, a refuge from Hell, and to remove sins from your life. With the obligatory prayers offered nawafil, i.e. Namaz e Ishtiaq, Namaz-e-Chasht, Namaz-e-Tahajud, especially Salat-e-Tauba.
What are the rewards of the Good deeds in Third Ashra?
In Ramadan, the rewards will be multiplied by 70 times. Your Prayers, and good deeds, i.e. charity, duas etc., will be multiplied by seventy times in the blessed month.
On the most pious night of Layaltul Qadr, every good act is equivalent to eighty-three years of good deeds.