Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power)

Laylatul Qadr is the crowning glory of the holy month of Ramadhaan. It is associated with the sending down of the Qur'an Majeed, the last Book of Allah on His last Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), for the guidance of mankind. The Qur'an Majeed describes this Night. "We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibraeel) by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn!" (597: V1-5). The Night of Power is the night of spiritual bliss. Our Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said concerning Ramadhaan: "Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a night which is better than a thousand Months. Whosoever is deprived of it, is deprived of all good; and none is deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person". (Ibn Majah). "Whosoever stands up (in prayer) at the Night of Power out of faith and hopeful of reward, all his past sins will be forgiven." (Targhib) Better than a thousand months A thousand months are equivalent to 83 years and 4 months. Fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer. The man or woman, who prays for the whole night during this Night, will deserve blessings and reward for the period as if he or she had been praying for eighty three years and four months consecutively. Since the Night of Power is better than one thousand months no one can actually measure the extent as to how much better it is. Exclusive The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Laylatul Qadr has been bestowed by Allah to my Ummah (People). It was not given to any people before this." (Dur-Mansoor). How manifest and replete the special bounties and mercies of Allah Ta'ala are upon this Ummat is quite really beyond imagination. It will therefore be extremely foolish to allow ourselves to be deprived of these great blessings at the expense of sheer laziness and a few hours of extra sleep. Which Night is it? Although there are different reports in different traditions regarding the exact night, it is almost unanimous that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan and more probably in one of the last ten odd nights i.e. 2lst, 23rd, 25th 27th or 29th night. The popular opinion is, however, in favour of the 27th Night of Ramadhaan but that is not absolutely certain. The traditions indicate that it is to be sought in one of the last ten nights and referrably in the last three odd nights. It was therefore the practice of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and his companions to make I'tikaaf in the Mosque for the whole time offering Divine service during the last ten days of Ramadhaan. Hazrath Aisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reported that the Apostle of Allah said: "Search for the Blessed Night in the odd (nights) from the last ten (nights) of Ramadhaan" (Bukhari). Hazrath Aisha has narrated another saying: "I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me if I were to find a Night of Power, what should I recite therein?" Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised her to recite: Al-laa-hum-ma in-na-ka 'a foow-wan tu-hib-bul-'af wa fa-fu 'an-ni. O Allah! You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me. (Bukhari). Special attention should therefore be given to the excessive recitation of this dua on the blessed night. Furthermore one may engage in lengthy rakaats of Tahajjud salaat, Tilaawat of the Qur'an¬ Dua, Zikr, etc. The worship and the vigil of the Night of Power are a treat to the soul. The heart tends to melt into tears of heartfelt gratitude. The body is in a state of angelic ecstasy The soul strives to reach nearer to Almighty Allah. In this holy month of Ramadhaan let us strive to seek the Night of Power and its bliss. May Allah reward us with His bountiful blessings. Aameen.

Laylatul Qadr and its Origin

Amongst the nights of Ramandhan there is one called " layalatul Qadr " a night that is noted for its great blessings. The Qur'aan Kareem describes it as being greater in blessedness and spiritual virtue than a thousand months which in turn means that it is greater than eighty three years and four months. Fortunate indeed is that person who attains the full blessings of this night by spending it in 'ibadaadah of Allah, because he has then attained reward for 'ibaadah of eighty three years abd four months and even more. Indeed the granting of this night to the faithful muslim is a great favour.

Regarding this night, in a Hadith reported by Anas in Durre Manthoor Rasulullah is reported to have said; "Laylatul Qadr was granted to my ummah and not to any other ummah before this ". Regarding the reason for the granting of Layalatul Qadr, various reasons are mentioned. One reason, according to some Ahaadith is given thus: Rasulullah used to look at the longer lives of the earlier people and was suddened when pondering over the much shorter lives of his own ummah. If his ummah had wished to complete with the people before them in the doing of righteous deeds, because of thier shorter lives it would be impossible for them to either emulate or surpass them. To compensate for this difference in their life span. Allah in his infinite mercy granted them with this night of great blessing. This means that if any fortunate one of this ummah spends during his life time ten such nights in the worship of his maker, he wold have gained the reward for 'ibaadah of eight hundred and thirty years and even more. Another report states that; Rasulullah once related to the sahaabah the story of a very righteous man from among the Bani Israa'iyl who used to spend one thousand months in jihaad.On hearing this, the sahaabah envied that person because they could not attain the same reward,whereupon Allah granted them the Night of power as a recompense.
Still another report states that our Nabi once mentioned the names of the four most pious people from among the Bani Israa'iyl who each spent eighty years in Allah's sincere service, worshipping Him, and not sinning in the least.They were Nabi Ayyoob alayhis salaam, Zakarriya alayhis salaam, Hisqeel alayhis salaam and Yu'shaa alayhis salaam. The sahaabahs appeared and recited Surah Qadr, wherin the bleesing of this night was revealed.
Apart fron these reports, there are others too, explaining the origin of the night of the Power. This type of difference in narration arises because after occurrence of several incidents only one aayah is revealed. That aayah then is reveant to any one of the incidents that took place. But no matter which of them we accept, the important fact that remains is that Allah has granted the ummah of Muhammad this night. This is a great favour and gift of Allah. To devote yourself on this night is also a blessing from Allah. How worthy of envy are those Mashaa'ikh who say they bacame of age . Now, as to which night it is, here again approximately fifty different views of the 'ulama are mentioned . It is not easy for me to enumerate them all. But the most accepted versions, as well as further discussions on this night shall follow in the ensuing pages of this book. The numerous excellences of this night are mentioned in various books of Hadith. These will also be mentioned. For the reason that the Qur'aan Majeed itself mentions the night, we shall commence with a short commentary on Surah Qadr. ( The translations are from A. Yusuf Ali ). " In the name of Allah the beneficient, the Merciful". " We have indeed reavealed this (message) the Night of Power". ( Suratul Qadr :1).

Reference here is made to the fact that on this special night, the Qur'aan was sent down from Al Lowhul Mahfuz ( The preserved Tablet ) to the heavens ( above the earth ). Because a great book like Qur'aan was reavealed in this night is in itself sufficient to explain its excellence, needless to mention all other blessings and virtues which are included. In the very next verse by way of drawing and increasing our interest in the matter under discussion, a question is asked :
" And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is ".( Suratul Qadr :3).
The true meaning here is that reward for spending this night in 'ibaadah is better and more than having spent one thousand months 'ibaadah, it is in fact more but as to how much rewarding it is, we are not told here.
" Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit by Allah permission on every errand". ( Surat ul Qadr :4).

A fine explanation is given in this verse by Imaam Raazi R.A. Commenting on this verse he explains that when man first appeared on earth, created by Allah as his vicegerent on earth, the Malaa'ikah looked on him with scorn. When Allah informed them of his intention of placing man on earth, they even ventured to ask : " Will you place in this earth one who shall commit evil therein and shed blood?
" Similarly, when his parents noted his original form as a mere drop of mani ( sperm ), they too looked upon it with scorn and resentment, so much so, that they considered it as something which polluted clothing and had to be washed away. But later when Allah made that same despicable sperm into a fine form of man, they began to love and cherish him. So far have things now progressed that when on this Night of Power we see that same man worshipping Allah and adoring him, those very same Malaa'ikah who had previously looked down on him with scorn, descend towards him, obviously repentant for the thoughts they had once harboured against him.
In this verse mention is made .... " and the spirit". Reference is clearly to Jibraeelalayhis salaam. Commentators of the Qur'aan have given various versions of this word. Let us look at some of them :

(a) The vast majority of the commentators are agreed that Jibraeel alayhis salaam is meant here, and according to Imaam Raazi, (R.A) this is the most correct meaning. Allah first makes mention of the Malaa'ikah and then because of Jibraeel's alayhis salaam status among them, special mention is made of him.

(b) Some commentators hold the view that " Sprirts" here means one angel of such extra ordinary gigantic proportion that before him heavens and earth appear as almost nothing ( as a morsel ).

(c) Another group of commentators opine that "Spirit" here means one such group of Malaa'ikah who never appear and only on this night are they seen by other Malaa'ikah.

(d) Some commentators again believe that the "Spirit" here designates one such creation Allah, which although it partakes of food and drink, still is neither man nor angel.

(e) There is also a view that "Spirit" here refers to 'Iysaa alayhis salaam who on this night comes down with the Malaa'ikah to view the righteous deeds of this ummah.

(f) The last view we wish to mention here is that "Spirit" means Allah's special mercy which comes in the wake of the angels descent. But already stated the first opinion is the most acceptable.