The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan with Children: A Simple Sunnah Family Plan

By the time the last ten nights arrive, most mothers I know are tired. The house is untidy, the children are overexcited about Eid, and the Ramadan goals we wrote so carefully in Sha’ban look a little ambitious. And yet these are the best nights of the year. So I want to share how we try to keep them simple, authentic and family-centred, so that we do not miss them.

If Ramadan 2027 begins around 8 February 2027, the last ten nights will begin around the end of February. The exact nights depend on the sighting of the moon, so follow the announcement where you live.

How the Prophet (ﷺ) spent the last ten nights

‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) described it:

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ، وَأَحْيَا لَيْلَهُ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ

“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.” (al-Bukhari 2024; Muslim 1174)

She also said that he “used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time” (Muslim 1175).

Notice the three parts: he worked harder, he gave the nights life with worship, and he woke his family. The family was not left out. That is our permission, and our encouragement, to bring our children into these nights in a way that suits their age.

Seeking Laylat al-Qadr

Allah tells us that “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months” (al-Qadr 97:3). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan” (al-Bukhari 2017). And he said: “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven” (al-Bukhari 1901).

We are told to seek it, not to fix it. So the safest way, and the way of the Prophet (ﷺ), is to give every one of the ten nights its share, with extra effort on the odd nights.

The dua for these nights

‘A’ishah asked the Prophet (ﷺ) what she should say if she came upon Laylat al-Qadr. He said:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allāhumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuḥibbul-ʿafwa faʿfu ʿannī

“O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me.” (Ibn Majah 3850; at-Tirmidhi 3513, who said hasan sahih; graded sahih by al-Albani)

Some printed copies of at-Tirmidhi add the word karīm after ʿafuwwun. Al-Albani explained in as-Silsilah as-Sahihah that this word is not found in the other narrations of the hadith and is likely a copyist’s addition, so we teach our children the wording above.

How to teach it: this dua is short enough for a four-year-old. Say it together after Maghrib each night of the last ten, write it on a card by the bed, and let older children lead the family in it. Our Daily Duas Flashcards include it with Arabic, transliteration and source.

What to leave out

Keeping these nights pure also means not adding to them.

• No special celebration or decorations for the 27th night. The Prophet (ﷺ) told us to seek the night in the odd nights of the last ten (al-Bukhari 2017) and he strove in all ten (al-Bukhari 2024). A party, a special meal, lights or decorations fixed to one night as a religious occasion have no basis in the Sunnah.
• No invented prayers. There is no special “Laylat al-Qadr prayer” with a set number of rak’ahs or surahs. Pray the night prayer as normal, make dua, and read Qur’an.
• No nasheed nights or “spiritual” music. Fill the time with Qur’an, dhikr and dua.
• Keep decorations out of it. We do not put up lanterns or crescent decorations for Ramadan. Worship is what marks these nights.

A simple family worship plan for the last ten nights

This is roughly how we do it. Adjust it to your children’s ages and your prayer times.

Every night (all ten)

1. After Maghrib: break the fast, pray, then everyone says the Laylat al-Qadr dua together.
2. After Isha: night prayer, at the masjid or at home. Little ones can pray two rak’ahs beside you and then go to bed.
3. One act of charity each day. It does not have to be money. A child can give their own dates to a neighbour or help an elderly relative.
4. One Qur’an goal. Even a few ayat for a young child, a page for an older one.

The odd nights (21, 23, 25, 27, 29)

• Wake the older children (roughly seven and up) for a short time in the last part of the night: wudu, two rak’ahs together, the dua, and back to bed. Ten minutes is a beautiful memory.
• Let younger children nap in the afternoon so they are less cranky. Keep it light and loving.
• Mum’s own time: after the children are asleep, give yourself an hour of your own prayer, dua and Qur’an. Your worship matters too.

A tired-mum version

Some nights you will be exhausted. On those nights:

• Pray Isha and witr, even if short.
• Say the dua many times while you tidy, nurse or settle the children.
• Make dua for your children by name. That is worship too.

Do not let the perfect plan stop you from doing the small, steady deeds. The Prophet (ﷺ) worked harder in these nights, so we try to do a little more than usual, not everything at once.

Keeping children engaged without inventing anything

• A “last ten” checklist on the fridge: dua said, Qur’an read, charity given, prayer prayed. Our free Ramadan Activity Calendar has the last ten days built in.
• Dua lists. Ask each child to write or draw (no faces, people or animals) the things they want to ask Allah for. Make dua for them in sujud or after the night prayer.
• Stories with meaning. Tell them how the Prophet (ﷺ) woke his family, and let them feel they are following him.
• Quiet giving. Let them choose which family or neighbour to help and keep it between you and them.

Looking ahead to the end of the month

The last ten nights lead straight into Zakat al-Fitr and Eid. Read our family guide to Zakat al-Fitr explained for kids so it is ready before the rush, and our post on Eid activities for kids the sunnah way. If your children are still building up their fasting, see teaching children to fast gradually. For the whole month at a glance, use our Ramadan planner for mums.

May Allah let us and our children reach Laylat al-Qadr, accept our prayer and dua in it, and pardon us. Ameen.