The Night of Power – A night worth more than 1000 months – Laylatul Qadr!

Allah says, “Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees, (All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn” [Al-Qadar 97:1-5]

May Allah help us enter Laylatulqadr (translated as “The Night of Power” or “The Night of Decree”!! While we cannot afford to miss any second of the blessed month of Ramadhan, here we are about to seek the night of power in the last 10 nights of the month, in sha Allah.Certain days and occasions are more blessed as compared to normal days. For example: the day of Jumah or the days of Hajj or the month of Ramadhan. We get to know about the uniqueness of and barakah in them through various authentic sources, but here lies the beauty of Laylatul Qadr for which Allah has dedicated a whole Surah (97th – The translation of which is mentioned above) of the Quran – a treatment not given to any other blessed occasion, Ma sha Allah.So, what makes this night special?

1. Qur’an (the guidance for mankind) was sent down in this night.

“We sent it (this Qur’an) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]” [al-Dukhaan 44:3]

As per Ibne Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) on this night the whole Qur’an was sent down from the 7th heaven to the 1st heaven and thereafter from the 1st heaven to the world it was revealed over a period of approximately 23 years.

1. Allah himself mentions that the night is better than a 1000 months, meaning the worship we do in this night earns rewards of a life time, if Allah permits. “better than 1000 months” can mean at least the reward of 1000 months of worship with no cap on the maximum limit, which means, if Allah wills, he(swt) can give us much more and multiple rewards. May Allah give us tawfeeq to search for this night and utilize it for our salvation.
2. Special guests (Angels along with the head of the Angels, Jibreel) descend to the world on this night, with Allah’s permission. These Angels, with the permission of Allah, leave all their tasks that have been appointed to them and come down to mark the specialty of this night.

So how should we, as Muslims, strive to seek this special and blessed night?

First and foremost, we need to be clear of the fact that as per the authentic sources, the night might occur in any of the last 10 nights of Ramadhan with the high possibility of it occurring on the odd ones (i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th) and this might change each year. It, therefore, becomes of utmost importance that this night has to be sought.

With the fasting and tight schedule although it is challenging to find it and therefore worshipping and struggling to find it is highly rewarding as well, Alhamdulillah.

Brothers and Sisters, we don’t even need to worry as Allah’s deen (way of life) has been made very easy as He (swt) sent us Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a role model. Let us therefore see what he (Peace and blessings be upon him) did to seek this special night.

1.Strive hard: The prophet (peace be upon him) strove hard specially during these nights. It is mentioned in both Bukhari as well as Muslim that the prophet (Peace be upon him) stayed up and encouraged his family as well to stay up and he (peace be upon him) stayed away from marital relations.

From other authentic narrations we get to know that he (peace be upon him) worshipped maximum (praying, reading Qur’an, making dua etc.) during these nights as compared to any other time of the year.

2. Niyyah(Intention): It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends the night of Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.”

3. Dua(Supplication): The prophet (Peace be upon him) taught a special dua to the ummah specially for this night.

Aa’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: I said: “O Messenger of Allaah, If I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?” He said: “Say: Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al- ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are All-Forgiving and You love forgiveness so forgive me).”

4. I’tikaaf(seclusion in the mosque) : It was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadaan in i’tikaaf until he passed away, then his wives observed i’tikaaf after him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1922; Muslim, 1172.

Not only is it sunnah to observe i’tikaaf in the last 10 days of Ramadhan but also one of its main aim is to search for the blessed night of Qadr.

5. Avoid Innovation: Finally, one needs to ensure that one abstains oneself from things that have no basis or are not backed up by the authentic textual evidence not only during the last 10 nights but throughout one’s life.

Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours [Islam] that is not part of it will have it rejected.” And he said: “Whoever does any action that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.”

May Allah protect us from the newly innovated matters and guide us to the straight path and help us attain the special night and fill our lives and the hereafter with peace and comfort.

Your brother in Eeman and Humanity and the slave of Allah,

Praying you will benefit,
Abdullah

JazakAllahu Khair
Team UQA