l-Qadr,
or 'night of power' the first revelation was made to Muhammad. "Verily we
have caused it (Quran) to descend on the 'night of power.' And who shall
teach thee what the night of power is? The night of power excelleth a
thousand nights." (Sura xcvii. 1-3). To illustrate the sacredness of this
month the Prophet used to say that in it "the gates of Paradise are open,
and the gates of hell are shut, and the devils are chained by the leg."
"Only those who observe it will be allowed to enter by the gate of heaven
called Rayyan." Those who keep the fast "will be pardoned all their past
venial sins."[256]

In making the fast one for the day, and none for the night, {249} Muhammad
doubtless had reference to the verse: "God wisheth you ease, but wisheth
not your discomfort." (Sura ii. 181).

The special ceremonies connected with the Ramazan are the Tarawih Namaz and
'Itikaf (retirement). The Tarawih prayers have been described already (p.
205). Each night in Ramazan one-thirtieth part (sipara) of the Quran is
recited in the Mosque. The duty of performing the 'Itikaf is a
Sunnat-ul-maukadda, a very strict duty. The Mu'takif, one who makes
'Itikaf, must remain apart in a Mosque used for public services, and there
meditate. Bukhari says that the Prophet made 'Itikaf the last ten days of
each Ramazan, and that the practice was continued by his wives after his
death. Usually a man should thus sit and meditate one of the days between
the twentieth and the thirtieth of Ramazan. If his meditation is disturbed
by any illegal interruption, another day should be devoted to it; but Imam
Muhammad says: "The least legal time is one hour." Some theologians hold
that 'Itikaf is farz-i-kifaya, that is, if one person of a community does
it the obligation does not rest on the others. If, however, a person makes
a vow in Ramazan, then 'Itikaf is considered wajib. 'Itikaf can be
performed at any time other than the last ten days of Ramazan, but then it
is only mustahab, a work of supererogation. All the sects except the
Shafa'ites hold that the Mu'takif must fast. He should also make the
nizzat, or intention, of performing what he is about to do. The Mu'takif
must not go out of the Mosque except for obviously necessary purposes, and
for making the legal wazu and ghusl (purifications). At night he may eat,
drink and sleep in the Mosque: acts quite unlawful at other times. He may
speak with others on religious matters, and if a man of business, h