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Laylat al-Qadr is a blessed night that has a special status among Muslims because it is the night in which the Qur’an was revealed, and deeds in it are better than a thousand months. It is believed that Laylat al-Qadr falls on the night of the 27th. In this report, we provide advice for seclusion in a healthy manner, and warnings that must be taken into account for those suffering from certain diseases.
When i'tikaf on Laylat al-Qadr - and other nights of the month of Ramadan - there is a need for a fit body and good health to withstand the effort during i'tikaf, staying in the mosque, and performing acts of worship.
Itikaf “usually” begins after performing Tarawih prayers until dawn. The secluded person performs prayers, remembers God, and reads the Qur’an.
Tips for a healthy retreat on Laylat al-Qadr
1- The previous day: Do not miss the suhoor meal
We will tell you later that it is wrong to eat a large amount of food for breakfast. In order not to overdo it, you should not arrive at Maghrib time very hungry, and the best way to do this is to eat a moderate suhoor.
At the end of Ramadan, the stomach adapts greatly to the amount of food we eat, making us feel that we are not hungry. As a result, many people skip suhoor because they feel full after breakfast or feel nauseous from eating so early in the morning. Suhoor is not only a blessed year, but it is also necessary as an additional meal that allows us to continue the day. Eat something small instead of leaving it out completely. Some examples of healthy suhoor include:
Yogurt
Hard-boiled eggs
Green salad
Fava beans with a little oil
2- The day before: Take a nap
It is important to take a nap during the day to rest the body and prepare it for retreat. Nap time varies depending on your daytime schedule, but the recommended time of year is the afternoon.
3- Eat a light breakfast
When we have so many foods to choose from for breakfast, it can be really easy to end up filling our plate with more than we need.
By overeating, you risk making yourself feel tired and sleepy during the hours of seclusion on Laylat al-Qadr.
Fill the plate with the smaller amount of food, for example: a cup of rice. Provide your body with protein, such as legumes and meat, and healthy fats, such as olive oil.
It is very important that your breakfast includes foods that contain complex carbohydrates, a food group that releases energy slowly rather than giving you a huge boost in energy levels. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as whole grain bread, brown rice, beans, and vegetables.
Protein found in foods such as fish, chicken, beans and lentils is another essential component of the diet and gives you strength.
4- Maintain moisture
Get enough water, take your bottle with you to the mosque, and drink from it from time to time. It is necessary to keep the body hydrated during i'tikaf, especially if you live in a hot climate or fast for a long time.
When the interval between Iftar and Suhoor is short, it is necessary to drink at least two glasses of water with each of those meals.
Eat fruits full of water, such as watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, grapefruit, and raspberries. This will add to the water you consume. During the I'tikaf of Laylat al-Qadr, be sure to take a bottle of water and sip from it between each rak'ah of prayer. Distributing your fluids when you drink makes it easier for you to consume a large amount, especially if you are someone who does not usually drink enough. Many people suffer from headaches when they do not drink enough, which may affect our worship on Laylat al-Qadr and our benefit from it.
5- Stay active during Laylat al-Qadr
You may feel relaxed after breakfast, but giving in to this feeling may cause you to sleep or become lazy and miss Laylat al-Qadr.
After eating breakfast, you can lie down for a while on the couch, but as the evening call to prayer approaches, head to the mosque on your feet. This stimulates blood circulation and serves as a warm-up before you enter i'tikaf.
6- You should pray.. improve the posture of the body and mind
Tarawih prayer is an essential tool for improving our physical condition because it stretches the muscles in various movements, improves body posture and digestion. It also improves our psychological state.
7- Stretch your muscles during seclusion hours
Between rak'ahs, it is recommended to stretch your body muscles, which increases blood flow to your muscles, which may reduce muscle pain.
A person can hold the stretch in a comfortable position for a period of time, usually 10 to 30 seconds, such as extending their hands up, or standing and extending their legs. Of course, after he moves away from the line of worshipers.
Change your sitting position during your i'tikaf, and you can also walk a little in the mosque between the rak'ahs of standing, in order to maintain your activity and move your feet.
8- Protect yourself from infection
Although we have overcome the Corona pandemic, personal protective measures must be continued, such as covering the mouth with the arm when sneezing and coughing, and maintaining personal hygiene by washing hands regularly, especially after touching things that people touch frequently, such as door handles, stairs, keys, etc.
9- Ventilation
Isolate in a well-ventilated mosque, and try to stay away from crowded mosques, as it will be difficult for you to find a place to sit there, and the crowded atmosphere may cause you fatigue.
Warnings regarding i'tikaf for the sick on Laylat al-Qadr
If you suffer from debilitating or severe diseases such as cancer, heart disease, or you have suffered a stroke, you should consult your doctor before seclusion.
If you are taking medications, bring them with you to the mosque, but put them in a secure container, so that you can take them at the specified time, and also so that the medications do not fall on the ground and be swallowed by children attending the retreat, who may think they are candy or chocolate.
For diabetics, they must bring a blood sugar meter to measure it twice during seclusion, and pieces of sweets to eat in the event of a drop in blood sugar.
For patients with high blood pressure, one should not drink coffee, tea, or stimulants to excess, because seclusion puts effort on the body and may lead to high blood pressure. So what if the patient also drinks caffeine?
If you are sick with a contagious disease such as influenza, you should not seclude yourself in the mosque, firstly to reduce the possibility of transmitting the infection to worshipers and secluded people, and secondly because you may be tired and resting at home is better for your condition.
More details about Laylat al-Qadr
The Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, ordered that Laylat al-Qadr be sought during the odd-numbered night of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan, while many Muslims believe that it falls on the night of the 27th, and they specify it with well-established customs and traditions.
Origin of the name Laylat al-Qadr
Scientists believe that its name is due to its great value in the sight of God Almighty, and the abundance of forgiveness of sins in it. It is also the night in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed, and it is the night in which the decrees of creation in that year are written, quoted from the Preserved Tablet, as scholars say.
The virtue of Laylat al-Qadr
The Night of Destiny is one of the last ten nights of the holy month of Ramadan. It is better than a thousand months, as stated in the surah that bears its name: {Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Destiny. Angels and the spirit in them, by the permission of their Lord, from all A matter* Peace, until the coming of dawn} [Surat Al-Qadr / 1-5].
On the authority of Abu Hurairah - may God be pleased with him - that the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven, and whoever stands in Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Agreed upon.
Scholars explain that the Holy Qur’an confirms that the honorable angels descend to earth that night, and among them is the trustee of revelation, Gabriel, peace be upon him.
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