By Sulaiman Herring, Grade 8
As-salamu alaykum, and Ramadan Mubarak Legacy fam!
We’re approaching the final ten days of the blessed month of Ramadan, and I’m excited to share some reflections with you all. As an eighth grader at Legacy IOHS, I’m honored to write this newsletter and connect with our amazing community!
REFLECTIONS ON THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN
Ramadan is a time of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims around the world. It’s like a spiritual recharge, where we get closer to Allah (SWT) and seek His mercy and forgiveness. One of the integral parts of Ramadan is the focus on seeking freedom from Hellfire, especially during the last ten days.
OPEN GATES OF HEAVEN, CLOSED GATES OF HELLFIRE
The last ten days of Ramadan are like the grand finale. They’re the most blessed and spiritually 
powerful days of the entire month. It’s believed that during these days, the gates of Heaven are wide open, and the gates of Hellfire are closed shut. Muslims are encouraged to level up their acts of worship, like praying, reading the Quran, and giving charity, to get that extra bonus of Allah’s mercy and protection.
LAYLAT AL-QADR: THE NIGHT OF POWER
One extremely special night during the last ten days is Laylat al-Qadr, also known as the Night of Power. It’s the night when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and when it descended from the Lawhul Mahfooz (The Preserved Tablet) to the lowest Heaven. Laylat al-Qadr is like a treasure trove of blessings and rewards — it’s better than a thousand months of worship! So, let’s seek this night with lots of worship and heartfelt prayers.
SEEKING EMANCIPATION FROM HELLFIRE
As we enter the final countdown of Ramadan, let’s think about what emancipation from Hellfire means. It’s all about seeking Allah’s forgiveness and purifying our hearts. During these last ten nights we should try to do as much ibada as we can in order to be taken away from Jahannam and towards Jannah. One of the best deeds in these last ten nights is ‘itikaaf, because it isolates us from any distractions so we can focus on doing ibada and asking Allah for His forgiveness and His mercy, and beg Him to free us from Jahannam. It’s time to leave any bad habits and focus on being the best version of ourselves!
GIVING BACK AND SPREADING KINDNESS
Here at Legacy IOHS, we’ve got an awesome community that helps us grow spiritually and academically. Let’s come together during these last ten days and support each other in our quest for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. Oh, and don’t forget — Ramadan is all about giving back. Let’s spread kindness and generosity by donating to those in need and making a positive impact. Every little bit counts!
CONCLUSION: EMBRACING THE SPIRITUAL AWESOMENESS!
To wrap it up, the last ten days of Ramadan are extra special. Let’s make the most of this time by increasing our worship, seeking forgiveness, and striving for freedom from Hellfire. I wish you all a blessed and rewarding end to Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) accept our fasts, prayers, and good deeds, and grant us all freedom from Hellfire.