al-Hijjah, for they are the nights the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) would enliven in their entirety, and within them lies the Night of Decree, which is better than a thousand months.
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Because of the tremendous importance he attached to these blessed nights, the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) would perform iʿtikāf (devotional seclusion) in the mosque, keep away from the people, and refrain from his wives, freeing himself completely for worship and turning wholeheartedly to Allah.
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The hadith is clear evidence of the intense pursuit of obedience during these ten nights and of turning away from anything that might sever one’s connection with Allah Almighty.
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His statement, “When the ten (nights) came in, he tightened his waist-wrapper,” demonstrates his seriousness and eagerness for worship. The scholars have differed over the meaning of “he tightened his waist-wrapper,” offering two explanations:
a. It is a metaphor for rolling up one’s sleeves for worship—devoting oneself to it and exerting great effort.
b. It is a euphemism for abstaining from marital relations during these ten nights. The latter reading is weakened, however, by the report from ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with him): “So tighten your waist-wrapper and keep away from women,” for the conjunction indicates that the two clauses express different ideas—this is one thing, that is another. -
The phrase “and he woke his family” means that he roused them for prayer and worship so they would not miss the virtue of these blessed seasons. This shows the perfection of his concern for them. Accordingly, the head of a household should likewise energize his family and encourage them to worship, especially during seasons of special merit.
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The last ten nights are the conclusion of the month, and deeds are judged by their endings; perhaps this is one of the secrets behind the intense striving and diligence shown in them.
Disagreement among the scholars:
Al-ʿAynī summarized the matter as follows: the prevailing view among the jurists regarding this hadith and others like it—such as the reports about the forgiveness of sins through ablution, or by fasting on the Day of ʿArafah and the Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ—is that what is meant is the remission of minor sins only, as in the hadith on ablution, “so long as one avoids committing a major sin.”