# Best Acts of Worship in Ramadan > The best acts of worship in Ramadan include night prayer, i'tikaf, Quran recitation and du'a. Find ways to make time for each. - Canonical: https://muroujacademy.com/the-best-acts-of-worship-in-ramadan/ - Published: 2023-03-07 - Updated: 2026-10-23 - Author: Murouj Academy - Publisher: Murouj Academy (https://muroujacademy.com/) --- [Hadith](https://muroujacademy.com/category/hadith/) · [Islam](https://muroujacademy.com/category/islam/) March 7, 2023 Updated October 23, 2026 Murouj Academy 6 min read ![Abstract Islamic geometric pattern in rose, plum and gold: a tiered pyramid of star tiles rising to one gold star.](https://muroujacademy.com/uploads/blog/the-best-acts-of-worship-in-ramadan.webp) The best acts of worship in Ramadan include night prayer (qiyam and Taraweeh), i'tikaf, reading the Quran and du'a. Give these acts a regular place in your Ramadan routine, with time for recitation and learning as well as prayer. If reading is difficult, keep practising and learning at a manageable pace. ## Why make more time for worship in Ramadan? Ramadan is an opportunity to give worship more attention throughout the month. The following narration brings together fasting, voluntary prayer, patience and charity: The Messenger of Allah (saw) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha\`ban, saying, “Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.” \[Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah\] The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said about good deeds in Ramadan: *“Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.” (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887)* For more on this theme, read about [hadith about the importance of Ramadan](https://muroujacademy.com/the-importance-of-the-month-of-ramadan-in-the-hadith-of-the-prophet/). ## What is night prayer in Ramadan? Night prayer, or qiyam, is a Sunnah prayer throughout the year. In Ramadan, it includes Taraweeh, which is often prayed in congregation. The learned Maliki scholar Al Dardir says in his commentary on the Khalil’s Abridged Maliki Fiqh Manual: “(al-Tahajjud) – the prayer performed at night after sleeping, and it is (also) said, it is called tahajudd in the general sense (i.e. after or before sleeping)”. Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to encourage us to pray at night in Ramadaan, without making it obligatory. Then he said, ‘Whoever prays at night in Ramadaan out of faith and the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.’ When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died, this is how things were (i.e., Taraaweeh was not prayed in congregation), and this is how they remained during the khilaafah of Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him), until the beginning of the khilaafah of ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him).” ‘Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhani said: “A man from Qudaa’ah came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! What do you think if I testify that there is no god except Allaah, and that you, Muhammad, are His Messenger, and I pray the five daily prayers, and fast in the month (of Ramadaan), and pray at night in Ramadaan, and pay zakaah?’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever dies on that will be among the siddeeqeen (those who tell the truth) and the martyrs.’” For practical guidance, see [how to pray Taraweeh at home](https://muroujacademy.com/how-to-pray-taraweeh-step-by-step/). ## What does i'tikaf involve? I'tikaf means staying in the mosque for worship while abstaining from certain actions during that stay. It provides time away from everyday concerns to focus on worshipping Allah. Imam Ahmad said, as was narrated from him by Abu Daawood: “I have not heard from any of the scholars that it is anything other than Sunnah.” Az-Zuhri said: “How strange the Muslims are! They have given up I’tikaaf, despite the fact that the Prophet never abandoned this practice from the time he came to Madinah until his death.” During i'tikaf, a Muslim refrains from sexual intercourse and does not leave the mosque except for necessity. I'tikaf itself does not mean abstaining from food and drink; this should not be confused with the Ramadan fast. You can also read about [the virtue of the last ten days of Ramadan](https://muroujacademy.com/the-virtue-of-the-last-ten-days-of-ramadan/). ## How can you make Quran reading part of Ramadan? Set aside time for Quran reading that you can maintain, and keep learning if recitation feels difficult. The encouragement to read includes those who struggle with the words as well as those who recite fluently. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said about the person who struggles: *“Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward.” \[Al-Bukhari and Muslim\]* If you are still learning to read, [Qaida classes for beginners](https://muroujacademy.com/courses/qaida-classes-for-beginners/) can be a starting point. If you want to work on your recitation, consider [one-to-one Tajweed classes](https://muroujacademy.com/courses/tajweed-classes/). ## How can you make du'a during Ramadan? Ask Allah for what you need throughout Ramadan. Make space for supplication alongside prayer and Quran reading. > And when My servants ask you, \[O Muhammad\], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me \[by obedience\] and believe in Me that they may be \[rightly\] guided. > > Surah Al-Bakarah -187 We ask Allah to accept our fasting and worship. ## How can a teacher support your Quran learning? If you would like help with Quran reading, you can [book a free trial class](https://muroujacademy.com/register-free-trial/) with Murouj Academy. Lessons are one-to-one, and you can choose your teacher and work with a personalised curriculum. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is night prayer in Ramadan obligatory? No. The narration from Abu Hurayrah above describes encouragement to pray at night in Ramadan without making it obligatory. ### Should I keep reading the Quran if I struggle? Yes, keep reading and learning. The hadith quoted above specifically encourages the person who recites with difficulty, so struggling is not a reason to give up. ### Does i'tikaf mean going without food and drink? No. I'tikaf means staying in the mosque for worship; the stay itself does not require abstaining from food and drink. Learn this with a teacher ## Islamic studies Murouj Academy teaches this in live one-to-one online lessons with native Arab teachers, including ijazah holders. You choose your teacher (women and girls learn with female teachers) and can start with a free trial class. [Explore our Islamic studies course](https://muroujacademy.com/courses/islamic-studies-for-kids/) ## Keep reading [Can a Woman Learn Quran From a Male Teacher?](https://muroujacademy.com/can-women-learn-quran-from-a-male-teacher/) [Quran for New Muslims: First Steps to Start Reading](https://muroujacademy.com/quran-for-new-muslims/) [What Does Al-Azhar Certified Mean for a Quran Teacher?](https://muroujacademy.com/what-does-al-azhar-certified-mean/) --- Book a free trial: https://muroujacademy.com/register-free-trial/