Last Ten Days of Ramadan
Total Hadiths 17
Authentic Hadiths on the Last Ten Days of Ramadan and I'tikaf
These authentic hadiths highlight the immense spiritual significance of the last ten days of Ramadan, focusing primarily on the practice of I'tikaf (spiritual seclusion). The Prophet Muhammad made it his regular habit to dedicate these final nights to intense worship inside the mosque, a practice that his wives beautifully continued after him. The narrations offer an intimate look at how the Prophet managed this devotion. On one notable occasion, when multiple wives pitched their own tents in the mosque out of a desire to join him, the Prophet questioned whether the underlying motivation was purely righteousness or competitive zeal. To maintain true sincerity and spiritual peace, he chose to remove the tents, skip I'tikaf that Ramadan, and instead make it up by performing ten days of seclusion during the following month of Shawwal.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا سَهْلُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ هِشَامٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُمَا - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ .
This hadith has been narrated by 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1172bIn-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2639
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ، وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي سَلَمَةُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنِ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، كُلُّ هَؤُلاَءِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ، سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ . وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ وَعَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ وَابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ ذِكْرُ عَائِشَةَ وَحَفْصَةَ وَزَيْنَبَ - رضى الله عنهن - أَنَّهُنَّ ضَرَبْنَ الأَخْبِيَةَ لِلاِعْتِكَافِ .
This hadith has been reported through another chain of transmitters, and there it is mentioned that. 'A'isha, Hafsa and Zainab (Allah be pleased with them) pitched the tents for i'tikaf.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1173bIn-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2642
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ فِي كُلِّ رَمَضَانَ عَشْرَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْعَامُ الَّذِي قُبِضَ فِيهِ اعْتَكَفَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform I`tikaf every year in the month of Ramadan for ten days, and when it was the year of his death, he stayed in I`tikaf for twenty days.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2044In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 19USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 260
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ الرَّازِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، رضى الله عنهما أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1171aIn-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2636
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ، وَأَحْيَا لَيْلَهُ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ.
A'isha Narrated from:
With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2024In-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 32, Hadith 241
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ أَزْوَاجُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ.
A'isha Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice I`tikaf after him.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2026In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 2USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 243
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ، فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ إِذَا أَخْبِيَةٌ خِبَاءُ عَائِشَةَ، وَخِبَاءُ حَفْصَةَ، وَخِبَاءُ زَيْنَبَ، فَقَالَ " آلْبِرَّ تَقُولُونَ بِهِنَّ ". ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ، فَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ، حَتَّى اعْتَكَفَ عَشْرًا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ.
A'isha Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) intended to practice I`tikaf and when he reached the place where he intended to perform I`tikaf, he saw some tents, the tents of `Aisha, Hafsa and Zainab. So, he said, "Do you consider that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?" And then he went away and did not perform I`tikaf (in Ramadan) but performed it in the month of Shawwal for ten days.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2034In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 250
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ غَزْوَانَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ فِي كُلِّ رَمَضَانَ، وَإِذَا صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ دَخَلَ مَكَانَهُ الَّذِي اعْتَكَفَ فِيهِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ أَنْ تَعْتَكِفَ فَأَذِنَ لَهَا فَضَرَبَتْ فِيهِ قُبَّةً، فَسَمِعَتْ بِهَا حَفْصَةُ، فَضَرَبَتْ قُبَّةً، وَسَمِعَتْ زَيْنَبُ بِهَا، فَضَرَبَتْ قُبَّةً أُخْرَى، فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْغَدِ أَبْصَرَ أَرْبَعَ قِبَابٍ، فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا ". فَأُخْبِرَ خَبَرَهُنَّ، فَقَالَ " مَا حَمَلَهُنَّ عَلَى هَذَا آلْبِرُّ انْزِعُوهَا فَلاَ أَرَاهَا ". فَنُزِعَتْ، فَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ فِي رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى اعْتَكَفَ فِي آخِرِ الْعَشْرِ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ.
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf every year in the month of Ramadan. And after offering the morning prayer, he used to enter the place of his I`tikaf. `Aisha asked his permission to let her practice I`tikaf and he allowed her, and so she pitched a tent in the mosque. When Hafsa heard of that, she also pitched a tent (for herself), and when Zainab heard of that, she too pitched another tent.When, in the morning, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had finished the morning prayer, he saw four tents and asked, "What is this?" He was informed about it. He then said, "What made them do this? Is it righteousness? Remove the tents, for I do not want to see them." So, the tents were removed. The Prophet (ﷺ) did not perform I`tikaf that year in the month of Ramadan, but did it in the last ten days of Shawwal.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2041In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 257
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي عَمْرَةُ بِنْتُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَكَرَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ فَأَذِنَ لَهَا، وَسَأَلَتْ حَفْصَةُ عَائِشَةَ أَنْ تَسْتَأْذِنَ لَهَا فَفَعَلَتْ فَلَمَّا رَأَتْ ذَلِكَ زَيْنَبُ ابْنَةُ جَحْشٍ أَمَرَتْ بِبِنَاءٍ فَبُنِيَ لَهَا قَالَتْ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا صَلَّى انْصَرَفَ إِلَى بِنَائِهِ فَبَصُرَ بِالأَبْنِيَةِ فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا ". قَالُوا بِنَاءُ عَائِشَةَ وَحَفْصَةَ وَزَيْنَبَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " آلْبِرَّ أَرَدْنَ بِهَذَا مَا أَنَا بِمُعْتَكِفٍ ". فَرَجَعَ، فَلَمَّا أَفْطَرَ اعْتَكَفَ عَشْرًا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ.
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) mentioned that he would practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. `Aisha asked his permission to perform I`tikaf and he permitted her. Hafsa asked `Aisha to take his permission for her, and she did so. When Zainab bint Jahsh saw that, she ordered a tent to be pitched for her and it was pitched for her.Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to proceed to his tent after the prayer. So, he saw the tents and asked, "What is this?" He was told that those were the tents of Aisha, Hafsa, and Zainab. Allah's Apostle said, "Is it righteousness which they intended by doing so? I am not going to perform I`tikaf." So he returned home. When the fasting month was over, he performed I`tikaf for ten days in the month of Shawwal.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2045In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 20USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 33, Hadith 261
وَحَدَّثَنَا سَهْلُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُقْبَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ السَّكُونِيُّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1172aIn-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2638
