The Night of Power

09 Sep The Night of Power

The process in which the Qur’an being revealed came in different stages. In the first stage, the whole content of the Qur’an was transferred, all at one time, to a place of ultimate custody of Allah called Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz. The time of the transportation and the place it came from, only known to Allah, the Most High. “Nay! This is a Glorious Qur’an, (inscribed) in Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz.” (Surah Al-Buruj 85:21-22) Then in the second stage, the entire content of the Qur’an was transferred down, all at one time, from Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz to Baitul I’zzah (a place in the lowest heaven) during Lailat-ul-Qadr. “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. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees. There is peace until the appearance of dawn.” (Surah Al-Qadr 97:1-5) “By the Qur’an that makes things clear. We sent this Qur’an down on a blessed night. Verily, we are ever warning (mankind). There (in that night) is cleared every matter of occurrences (like deaths, birth etc).” (Surah Ad-Dukhan 44:1-4) “…The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for people, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong)….” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185) The verses in Surah Al-Qadr and Surah Ad-Dukhan clearly stated that the Qur’an was revealed at night. In a verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, the Qur’an revealed that the night was in the month of Ramadan and was sent as a guidance not for the Arabs only, nor was it sent for the Muslims only, but rather for all mankind. According to many schools of philosophy, “Night” means darkness, emptiness, hollowness and nothingness. When the day dawns, a light makes everything crystal-clear. Likewise, humanity was in total darkness and when the Qur’an was revealed, it changed this darkness into light through its clear-cut guidance that made absolute distinctions between the right and the wrong. The first revelation of the Qur’an on earth, happened in the cave Hira when Angel Gabriel came down to this world to teach Prophet Mohamed (sallalahu alayhi wa salaam). to recite Surah Al-’Alaq (The Clot), the first surah that was revealed to him. Soon after the revelation, he embarked into a journey of Prophet hood and started to perform his duty in conveying the message of the Qur’an, not only to his own people but also to the whole of humanity. It would be a message that would take people out of the depths of darkness and onto the path illuminating the truth. Surah Al-Qadr clearly stated that, during the night of power, the angels descend to the God-loving people who are sincerely striving in worship, hoping to receive the Mercy of God. Gabriel and other angels appointed at Sidratul-Muntaha come down to the earth and made a special plea to Allah for those whom they saw engaging in remembrance of Allah , sitting or standing. This night of power is the night of total peace and goodness, a peaceful state that lasts till dawn. Some people may have some extraordinary experiences during that night. Lailat-ul-Qadr is a night that is better than the nights of a thousand months in which one thousand months is equal to eighty-three years and four months. This means that the worship during the night of power is better than the worship over eighty years of continuous submission to Allah that is, the worship during this night is better than a very large number of nights. It is clear that Lailat-ul-Qadr is a special gift from Allah our Prophet Mohamed(sallalahu alayhi wa salaam) and his followers. It is the unique characteristic of the Ummah of Prophet Mohamed(sallalahu alayhi wa salaam) Although the followers of the earlier prophets had fasting prescribed for them, only the Ummah of Prophet Mohamed (sallalahu alayhi wa salaam) is granted the supreme distinction of having a night of power during the holy month of fasting. Lailat-ul-Qadr is once in a year, every year, one of the nights during the last ten days in the month of Ramadan. No one knows the exact night of Lailat-ul-Qadr. Some say it is the 19, 21, 23 or the 27 of the month and others say it varies from year to year, but always among the last ten days of Ramadan. Hazrat Ubaadah bin Saamit (radhiyallahu anhu) said: ‘Once Rasullullah (sallalahu alayhi wa salaam) came out to inform us of the (true date of) “Laylatul Qadr”. Unfortunately, a quarrel took place between two Muslims, whereupon he said: “I came out to inform you as to when “Laylatul Qadr” occurs, but because two people quarrelled with each other, the knowledge of the correct date was taken away; perhaps that is better for you. Who knows that this forgetting was better in Allah’s knowledge of things. So, seek it among the ninth, seventh and fifth nights.” (Bukhari, Mishkaat) The Prophet Mohamed(sallalahu alayhi wa salaam). said; “Seek the Night of Power in the last ten days of Ramadan.” (Related by Imam Muslim) “Seek the Night of Power in an odd (night) among the last ten (nights) of Ramadan”. (Related by Imam Bukhari) Such a great night, a night better and more worthy than a thousand months deserves to be found and the only way to be certain of finding it, is to spend all ten nights in sincere worship of Allah, the Most High. Prophet Mohamed (sallalahu alayhi wa salaam) said; “One who spends the Night of Power in worship, with faith and hoping for its reward, will have all of one’s previous wrong actions forgiven.” (Related by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim) Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa salaam) said:Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim). When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim). In other words, if we have found ourselves slacking off..these days, this should be our motivation to revive ourselves and get it together. This is an opportunity that we do not want to neglect. How to Prepare oneself for The Night of Power (Lailatul-Qadr). Preparing Mentally: Strive to keep Allah at the fore of one’s mind the whole night long. All the Ibadah done should be recited in the state of being completely awake, aware, conscious, and with a live heart If one feels that one will not be able to concentrate then start reciting from now “We are from Allah and towards Him is our return.” – Holy Qur’an (2:156) for it is considered as a tragedy if one can not in this night receive the divine grace in supplications.“Their prayers ascend upwards and reaches Allah, their words are accepted, and Allah loves to listen to their prayers the way a mother likes her own child.” Is not it shameful that the prayers which ascend upwards should be recited from the tip of the tongue, while the heart and soul remain occupied in worldly affairs? Preparing Physically: The other preparations to be done for this night are, For worshipping in this night a suitable place, dress, and perfume should be arranged in advance (comfortable dress which does not distract us) Paying alms during this night – to the people who really deserve financial support Follow the translation of the duas in order to understand what you are reciting for lutf is only got when one knows what one is reciting. Preparing Spiritually: Increase ones eagerness for receiving the promised bounties and blessings; Select worships and deeds which are more in harmony with ones mood When one stands for prayer, or any other ibadah, to briefly spare a moment to think about the wisdom of that action/its meaning etc for e.g. Why am I standing towards Mecca? To realize that when I stand on my two feet, it indicates my hope and fear about the acceptance of my worship Don’t forget this dua” ”Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee” Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’”Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuh.ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee – O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me.” [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi. Verified to be authentic by Al-Albani]