26. Form the habit of performing good deeds in the month of Ramadhaan and shun the habit of committing evil deeds and vices.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم إذا كان أول ليلة من شهر رمضان صفدت الشياطين ومردة الجن وغلقت أبواب النار فلم يفتح منها باب وفتحت أبواب الجنة فلم يغلق منها باب وينادي مناد يا باغي الخير أقبل ويا باغي الشر أقصر ولله عتقاء من النار وذلك كل ليلة (ترمذي رقم 682)
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “When the first night of Ramadhaan enters, the Shayateen and rebellious Jinnaat are chained, the doors of Jahannum are closed and no door remains open, the doors of Jannat are opened and no door remains closed, and a caller announces: ‘O the one seeking piety and good, advance. O the one seeking evil, restrain (from your evil).’ And Allah Ta’ala emancipates many souls from the fire of Jahannum, and this transpires every night throughout the month of Ramadhaan.
27. Sit for i'tikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadhaan if you are able to.
عن ابن عباس الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال في المعتكف هو يعتكف الذنوب ويجري له من الحسنات كعامل الحسنات كلها (ابن ماجة رقم 2108)
Hadhrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiallahu Anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said regarding the one sitting in I’tikaaf: “The mu’takif (remaining in the Musjid) stays away from committing sins, and every moment he receives the reward for carrying out the various forms of ibaadat that he would have been able to carry out had he not been in the state of I’tikaaf.
عن ابن عباس الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال من اعتكف يوما ابتغاء وجه الله تعالى جعل الله بينه وبين النار ثلاث خنادق أبعد مما بين الخافقين رواه الطبراني في الأوسط والبيهقي واللفظ له (الترغيب رقم 1650)
Hadhrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiallahu Anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: Whoever sits in I’tikaaf for a day seeking the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala will place between him and the fire of Jahannum three trenches, each trench as far as the distance between the East and the West.
28. Search for Laylat-ul-Qadr during the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhaan.
عن أنس بن مالك قال : دخل رمضان فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " إن هذا الشهر قد حضركم وفيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر من حرمها فقد حرم الخير كله ولا يحرم خيرها إلا محروم (ابن ماجه رقم 1644)
Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that when Ramadhaan began Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Certainly this month (of Ramadhaan) has dawned upon you, and within it there is a night greater than a thousand months. The one who is deprived of this night, has certainly been deprived of all good. And only the truly deprived ones will be deprived of the good of this night.”
29. On the odd nights, perform some ibaadat and then go to sleep with the intention of awakening later at night. Do not sleep without making ibaadat, perchance one may not get up in time.
30. On the night of Qadr recite the following du'aa:
اَللّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنّيْ
O Allah, Indeed You are most forgiving, You love to forgive, so please forgive me.
عن عائشة قالت : قلت يا رسول الله أرأيت إن علمت أي ليلة ليلة القدر ما أقول فيها ؟ قال قولي اللهم إنك عفو كريم تحب العفو فاعف عني قال هذا حديث حسن صحيح (ترمذي رقم 3513)
Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallahu Anha) reports that on one occasion she asked Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) what duaa to recite if she finds Laylatul Qadr. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) taught her to recite the following duaa:
اَللّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنّيْ