Kaffara/Fidya, Itekaf and Laylatul Qadr in the Holy Month of Ramadan

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory on every adult Muslim, male and female. However, if one cannot fast for a valid reason, such as sickness or old age, he/she can forgo fasting, but in expatiation for it, he has to feed a poor person. It comes to $10 per day in America.

Because fasting in Ramadan is obligatory, there is penalty for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast without a valid reason. For deliberately a Ramadan fast without a valid reason requires expatiation called Kaffara or fasting for 60 days consecutive days. If unable to do so, one must feed 60 poor people or pay monetary equivalent, or approximately $300-$480 USD per missed fast.

A pious MusIim, Male or female also observes Itekaf during the last 10 days of Ramadan in excluding oneself from all other activities and devoting oneself almost entirely to worship of God and being with Him.

The night of laylatul qadr, the night of power, when the Qur'an was started being revealed to Prophet Muhammadﷺ also comes during the month of Ramadan, and according to authentic report falls on an odd night in the last days of Ramadan.

According to Islam Q&A, it was narrated by Abu Hurayra that the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever spends the night of laylatul qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. " narrated by Bukhari, 1901 and Muslim 759.

This hadith points to the virtue of laylatul qadr and spending the night in prayer. It is a great night which Allah has honored and made it better than a thousand months in its blessings and the blessing of righteous done in this night. It is better than worshipping for a thousand months, or eighty-three years and four months.

Hence whoever spends this night in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his sins will be forgiven. Concerning the virtue of this night, verses of the Qur'an which are frequently recited were revealed. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "We sent it (the Qur'an) down on a blessed night {(i.e. the night of Al-Qadar) in the month of Ramadan}.

Verily, We are ever warning {mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship}.

Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments . {al - Dukhaan 44: 3-4}.

It is a blessed night, i.e., in it there is much goodness and barakah, because of its virtue and the great reward that comes to the one who strives hard during this night as He says (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily, We have sent it (this Qur'an) down in the Night of Al-Qadar (Decree).
And what will make you know what the Night of Al- Qadar {Decree) is?
The Night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months ( i.e. worshiping Allah in that night is better than worshiping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh { Jibreel (Gabriel) by Allaah's permission with all Decrees.
(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves)until the appearance of dawn." {al-Qadar 97: 1-5).

Ibn Katheer said, "The words "Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel (Gabriel ) by Allah's permission mean that the angels descend a great deal during this night because of its great blessing. The angels come down when blessings and mercy come down, just as they come down when Qur'an is read, and they surround dhikr circles and lower their wings for sincere seekers of knowledge out of respect for him.

It is definitely in Ramadan because Allah sent down the Qur'an during this month. Allah tells us that He sent it down in Ramadan, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily, We have sent it (the Qur'an) down in the Night of Al-Qadar (Decree), " (Al-Qadar 97:1). "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an." (Al Baqarah 2:185), i.e. Allah started to reveal the Qur'an to his Prophet Muhammad Prophet.

The Muslims should understand its great status, seek it out and spend this night in prayer out of faith, seeking the reward from Allah. The Prophet warned against negligence of this night and failing to spend in prayers which deprives the negligent of its goodness.

Abu Hurayrah said, the messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, which Allah has commanded you to fast. In it the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and strong devils are chained up. In it Allah has a night that is better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of it, is indeed deprived."

We should increase our supplications and pray as the Prophet taught Aisha, the mother of believers when she said, "O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is laylatul qadr, what I should say, "He said, Say "Allah humma innaka afuwwun tuhibb al-afwa fafu anni" (O Allah, you are forgiving and you love fogiveness, so forgive me.")

In the U.S. across most Islamic Centers Muslims gather after Isha prayers on the 27th of Ramadan to celebrate laylatul qadr with Quran recitation competitions for children, group recitation of the entire Qur'an, Qeyyam :layl and joint Suhur/ and disperse after Fajar prayers.