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Laylat al-Qadr:
This is the night of the Qadr. The term Al- Qadr has been frequently translated as "the power". A better translation may be "the value" or "the decree" because Allah says the value of this night is better than one thousand months, a life time of over eighty-three years. Allah sends His decrees at this night. This is the night when the Quran was revealed. Allah says in the Quran:

"We have indeed revealed this (the Quran) in the Night of Value (or Measure). And what will explain to you what the Night of Value is? The Night of Value is better than a thousand months. Therein come down angels and the Spirit (the angel Gabriel) by Allah's permission with all decrees. (That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn." 97:1-5

The night of value is a gift to mankind from Allah. However, it is not clear which night is Laylat al-Qadr. Some reports by companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, elude it to be the 27th night of the month of Ramadan, but many more sayings point to any of the odd date nights during the last third of the month of Ramadan. According to authentic teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, Muslims are advised to spend the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th nights of Ramadan in worship and doing good works to assure finding Laylat al-Qadr. A portion of the Muslims stay up all night in prayers and good works, however, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions used to sleep at least one-third of the night.

In Muslim countries, the 27th of Ramadan is a holiday to enable people to rest during the day after all night of worship. Schools are closed from the 27th of Ramadan through the 2nd of Shawwal (5 to 6 days) to combine Laylat al-Qadr and Eid al-Fitr observances.

I'tekaf or Seclusion:
The practice of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the Masjid (mosque). Following his practice, it is considered a community duty that some people go in I'tekaf (seclusion) in a neighborhood mosque.

The people in I'tekaf spend their time in various forms of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), such as doing extra salah, recitation and study of the Quran, study of the Hadith, repetition of some phrases of praise and glory to Allah, exhorting each other to be good through obeying Allah and His Messenger (pbuh). Since people in I'tekaf are not permitted to go outside the Masjid except for emergencies, they sleep in the Masjid and use available facilities of the Masjid.

The food for the people in I'tekaf is provided either by their own families or people in the community. I'tekaf is terminated, generally, at the declaration of sighting of the moon or the end of the month of Ramadan. For busy people a shorter version of I'tekaf is allowed, such as one night, one day or a few days.

Sadaqat al-Fitr:
In general, any material help extended to the poor, needy and to those who ask and deserve is called Sadaqah. Sadaqat al-Fitr, which is also called Zakat al-Fitr is the obligatory material help extended to the poor of the society before the Eid prayers, preferably to be given early enough for the poor to prepare for the celebration. In North America, the estimated amount is $5 to $8 to be given on behalf of each member of the donor's family, including infants.

Eid al-Fitr:
The end of the fasting month is celebrated on the first of Shawwal, the 10th month, which follows Ramadan. Traditionally, on the 29th of Ramadan after sunset, people go out in the open looking for a new crescent in the western horizon where the sun sets. If the crescent is sighted, the end of Ramadan and Eid are declared. If the crescent is not sighted, Ramadan is extended by one day.

On the day of Eid, people take a bath or shower in the early morning, eat breakfast, wear their best clothes, apply perfume and proceed to the place of Eid congregation while pronouncing takbeerat, saying, "Allah is the Greatest, there is no deity but Allah and all praise belongs to Allah." Muslims pronounce takbeerat in their homes, streets and place of congregation while waiting for the leader, Imam. It was the practice of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to hold Eid prayer congregations in open grounds. Following the practice of the Prophet(s), Muslims are advised to hold Eid prayers in open grounds. In the Muslim countries with warm climate there are designated Eid prayer grounds. However, in North America Muslims rent halls at convention centers or major hotels.

The Imam rises at the appointed time, leads the prayers and delivers a khutbah, sermon. At the end of the sermon, people supplicate, greet, embrace and congratulate each other for the successful completion of Ramadan and ask Allah for the acceptance of their efforts in His obedience.

During the day, people visit each other and children may receive gifts. In some countries, people go for picnics and other gatherings. In addition, special Eid celebrations may be arranged at work or in social settings. Essentially, Eid is a day of thanks to Allah, and also a gathering of family and friends.

Taraweeh Prayer:
This nightly prayer is performed after the Isha prayer. It can be performed any time from after Ishaa prayer till dawn. The word taraweeh comes from an Arabic word which means to rest and relax. According to the consensus of Muslim scholars, taraweeh is not considered mandatory on either men or women. Rather it is only considered a recommended act.

The prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was the first who made praying the Taraweeh in congregation Sunnah (recommended), and then he left it fearing that it may become obligatory upon his Ummah. Imams Bukhari and Muslim have reported that mother of the believers, A’eeshah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed once in the Masjid in one of the night of Ramadan. People joined him, and then more people joined him in the next night. Then more people waited for the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in the third and the fourth (night), but the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not come out to them. In the next morning, the prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "I have seen what you did, nothing had prevented me from coming out to you except that I feared that it may become obligatory upon you."

It is recommended that Muslims attend the taraweeh prayers in the mosque (after 'Isha, the last evening prayer), to pray in congregation. This is true for both men and women. However, one may also perform the prayers individually at home. These prayers are voluntary, but are strongly recommended and widely practiced.

Taraweeh can be performed individually at home or at the mosque. If for some reason you cannot go to the mosque, you can pray taraweeh at home.

We know from the traditions that the wives of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and other companions often used to pray taraweeh at home. Some of them even opened the Qur'an and read from it while performing taraweeh. Therefore, if you are not able to go to the mosque, you would not be deprived of the reward or blessings if you were to perform it at home."

The scholars have different opinions about the number of Rak’ahs of Taraweeh prayer along with the Witr. Some said: forty-one Rak’ahs, some said: thirty-nine, some said: twenty-nine, some said: twenty-three, some said: nineteen, some said: thirteen, and some said: eleven. The strongest opinions are those who said: eleven according to Imams Bukhari and Muslim that A’eeshah, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked about the night prayer of the prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in Ramadan, she replied: "He did not pray it more than eleven Rak’ahs." Also Imam Bukhari reported that A’eeshah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "The prophet used to offer thirteen Ruk'at of the night prayer and that included the Witr and two Ruk' at Sunnah of the Fajir prayer." Also Imam Bukhari reported that Ibn' Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Salat (prayer) of the prophet used to be of thirteen Rak'at, i.e. of the night prayer". Which included the Witr and two Ruk'at Sunnah of the fajir prayer.

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