during the last days of ramadhaan, the righteous predecessors stood (in prayer) at night, awakened their families, engaged in worship more diligently, kept aloof from women, and stood day and night in prayer and in worship of their lord, in expectation of his reward. they raised their hands towards allaah the almighty, supplicating him not to let them return with failure, to grant them his bounties, and to do good to them. at the same time, they would adorn themselves on those nights, in which the night of al-qadr is expected. they got adorned outwardly and inwardly, though the internal adornment is more important. some of the companions of the messenger of allaah, , would wear new clothes on those nights. tameem had a new suit which he used to wear on the night of al-qadr, and then fold it until the coming year. in doing so, he prepared himself for the meeting of allaah the almighty, and entering upon the lord, and adorned himself, waiting for the reward of allaah the exalted.

during the period of i‘tikaaf (seclusion), eminent imaams such as imaam  ahmad and others refrained from talking to anyone -- even for the purpose of knowledge and religious study. they did so in order to be able to devote themselves wholeheartedly to the lord, seek to fulfill the responsibility of faith and the means of forgiveness he should strive against himself to attain.

as high as his degree might be, the messenger of allaah, , did all of this relentlessly throughout those days. it was narrated that it was said to him: "you continue fasting without a break." the hadeeth (narration) shows that he continued fasting without a break, especially throughout his last days, to dedicate his time and effort to approaching his lord, devote his heart and mind to allaah the almighty, and receive the divine revelations and pleasure, love and closeness to his lord and be reassured by remembering him. that was his means of sustenance. hence, he said: "i am not like anyone of you, because during the night i am given food and drink by my lord." [al-bukhaari and muslim] of course he did not mean real food and drink, otherwise, he would not be considered to have continued fasting without a break. he rather meant the divine revelations that he received, the remembrance of allaah the almighty, solace with him, approach to him, and those great gifts of allaah the almighty.

this is why the prophet, , continued fasting without a break, and so did his companions. they did so in order to follow his guidance, devote themselves to the worship of allaah the almighty, and engage their mind in drawing closer to their lord, in the expectation of his prize, and seeking that night, the night of al-qadr, perchance they would witness it and receive its blessings.