عَنْ عائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ الْأَوَاخِرُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ أَحْيَا اللَّيْلَ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ، وَجَدَّ وَشَدَّ الْمِئْزَرَ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: When the last ten [nights] of Ramadan entered, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would spend the night in worship, awaken his family, exert himself, and tighten his waist-wrapper. Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim).
الشرح · explanation
أيقظ أهله: أقام منهم من يطيق القيام للعبادة. جدّ: بذل جهده وطاقته في أداء الطاعة. شدّ المئزر: المئزر هو الإزار وكني بشدّه عن اعتزال النساء أو التشمير للعبادة، يقال: شددت لهذا الأمر مئزري أي شمّرت له.
"Awaken his family": he would rouse those of them who were able to stand for worship. "Exert himself": he devoted his effort and energy to performing acts of obedience. "Tighten his waist-wrapper (mi'zar)": the mi'zar is the lower garment, and tightening it is a metaphor for withdrawing from women or girding oneself for worship; it is said, "I tightened my waist-wrapper for this affair," meaning I girded myself for it.
الدروس · lessons
أنّ النّبيّ صَلَّى اللّهُ عليه وَسَلَّمَ كان يخصّ العشر الأواخر من رمضان بمزيد من الاجتهاد والعناية وتحرٍّي. عنايته صَلَّى اللّهُ عليه وَسَلَّمَ الخاصّة بأهله وحرصه على تحصيلهم لهذا الثواب العظيم.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would single out the last ten nights of Ramadan with added striving, attention, and seeking [of the Night of Decree]. His (peace and blessings be upon him) special care for his family and his keenness that they attain this great reward.