LAYLATUL QADR (NIGHT OF POWER)

 

Allah (SWT) says in Al-Qur’an, “There is a night in the month which is ... better than a thousand months".

(Al-Qur’an 97:3)

The night of “Laylatul Qadr” is described as being greater in blessedness and spiritual virtue than 1,000 months. Therefore fortunate is that person who attains the full blessings of this night by spending it in the worship of Allah (SWT).

  

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (Radi Allah Anhu) : Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramazan. Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it should search in the last seven nights of Ramazan." [Sahih Bukhari : Volume 3, Book 32 "Taraweeh", Number 232]

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Seek Laylatul Qadr in the last ten nights. If one among you shows slackness and weakness in the earlier part of Ramadan, it should not be allowed to prevail upon him in last week”.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2621)

During the last third of Ramadan, one should read more of Al-Qur’an and remember Allah (SWT) more often, even constantly. For Muslims, the last ten days should be a time to perfect one’s fast and avoid anything that may break it. It is a time to give more charity and to settle disputes and forgive one another. It is also a time for soul searching, evaluating one’s life, supplicating, and asking forgiveness. This should be done sincerely because if Allah (SWT) accepts the supplications, the reward is the remission of one’s sins. The best time to do it is in the last part of the night.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “When the last one third of the night remains, Allah, the Glorious One, descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims “Is there anyone supplicating to Me, so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything, so that I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness, so I forgive him?” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 333)

Allah (SWT) has concealed the exact date of the Night of Power so that we would double our efforts during the last ten days. He is also testing the serious and the non-serious. The seriously interested person will earch for it late at night and in the early hours until he or she attains it, regardless of the hardship. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever stands in prayers and worships on the night of Power, with complete faith and sincere hope of gaining reward, all his previous sins are forgiven”. (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 32, Number 226)

It is recommended to seek the night and spend it diligently in devotion, including night Sunnah prayers (Tahajjud) and recitation of Al-Qur'an. This citation indicates that regardless of whether a person knows the night or not Allah (SWT) will grant forgiveness for previous shortcomings. The Prophet (pbuh) used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time. (Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2644)

During this time, he limited his contact with people and intensified his supplications and du’as to Allah (SWT). The Prophet (pbuh) did this in order to attune his heart even more with Allah (SWT) and to free his mind from the concerns of the world. With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, The Prophet (pbuh) used to work hard and used to offer Salaat (prayers) all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the Salaat (prayers). (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 32, Number 241)

One of the best du’aa’s that may be recited on Laylat al-Qadr is that which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught to ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her). Al-Tirmidhi narrated, and classed the report as saheeh, that ‘Aa’ishah said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say on that night?’ He said, ‘Say: Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me).”

Jazakallah Khair



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Best Regards,

Syed Ibrahim Ahmed (Talha)