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Its excellence is great, since in this night the Noble Qur'aan was
sent down, which leads one who clings to it, to the path of honour
and nobility, and raises him to the summit of distinction and
everlasting life. The Muslims who adhere strictly to the Sunnah of
Allaah's Messenger SAW do not raise flags on this night, nor suspend
colourful decorations. Rather they vie in standing during it (Lailatul-Qadr)
in Prayer out of sincere faith and hoping for reward. Here, O
Muslim, are the Qur'aanic Aayaat and authentic prophetic ahaadeeth
referring to this night:
* Its excellence
As regards its excellence it is more than sufficient to mention that
Lailatul-Qadr is better than a thousand months, He, the Mighty and
Majestic, says:
" Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'aan) down in the Night of Decree
(Lailatul-Qadr). And what will make you know what the Night of
Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (i.e. Gabriel) by Allaah's
Permission with all Decrees, Peace! until the appearance of dawn."
(Al-Qadr 97: 1-5)
And in it every decreed matter for the year is conveyed, He, the
Most High says:
" We sent it (this Qur'aan) down on a blessed Night. Verily, We are
ever warning (mankind of Our Torment). Therein (that Night) is
decreed every matter of ordainment. Amran (i.e. a command or this
Qur'aan or His Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever
sending (the Messenger). (As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is
the All-Hearer, the All-Knower." (Ad-Dukhaan 44: 3-6)
* When is it? |
It is reported from the Prophet SAW that it is within the
twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh,
twenty-ninth or the last night of Ramadaan.
Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee, rahimahullaah, said: To me it is as the Prophet
SAW used to answer according to the question posed, it would be said
to him: "Shall I seek it in such and such night?" So he would reply:
"Seek it in such and such night." And Allaah knows best. (Reported
from him by al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah)
The most correct saying is that it occurs in the odd nights of the
last ten nights of Ramadaan and this is shown by the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah,
RA, who said: "Allaah Messenger SAW used to practice I'tikaaf in the
last ten nights and say: 'Seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the (odd nights)
of the last ten days of Ramadaan." (Bukhari, Muslim )
However if the servant is too weak or unable, then he should at
least not let the last seven days pass him by, due to what is
reported from 'Ibn 'Umar, who said: Allaah's Messenger SAW said:
"Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable
then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven." (Bukhari,
Muslim)
This explains his, SAW saying: "I see that your dreams are in
agreement (that it is in the last seven) so he who wishes to seek it
out then let him seek it in the last seven." (Bukhari)
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It is also known from the Sunnah, that
knowledge of the exact night upon which Lailatul-Qadr falls was
taken up because the people argued, 'Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit, RA said:
The Prophet SAW came out intending to tell us about Lailatul-Qadr,
however two men were arguing and he said: "I came out to inform you
about Lailatul-Qadr but so and so, and, so and so were arguing, so
it was raised up, and perhaps that is better for you, so seek it on
the (twenty) ninth and (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth." (Bukhari)
Some ahaadeeth indicate that Lailatul-Qadr is in the last ten
nights, while others indicate that it is in the odd nights of the
last ten, so the first are general and the second more particular,
and the particular has to be given priority over the general. Other
ahaadeeth state that it is in the last seven - and these are
restricted by mention of one who is too weak or unable. So there is
no confusion, all the ahaadeeth agree and are not contradictory.
In conclusion: The Muslim should seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the odd
nights of the last ten: the night of the twenty-first (the night
before the twenty-first day), the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth,
the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. If he is too weak or unable
to seek it out in all the odd nights, then let him seek it out in
the odd nights of the last seven: the night of the twenty-fifth, the
twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. And Allah knows best.
* How should a Muslim seek Lailatul-Qadr?
One who misses this blessed night then he has missed much good for
no one misses it except one from whom it is withheld. Therefore it
is recommended that the Muslim who is eager to be obedient to Allaah
should stand in Prayer during this night out of Eemaan and hoping
for the great reward, since if he does this, Allaah will forgive his
previous sins.
He SAW said: "Whoever stands in (Prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of
Eemaan and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven." (Bukhari)
It is recommended to supplicate a great deal in it, it is reported
from 'Aa'ishah, RA that she said: "O Messenger of Allaah! What if I
knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?"
He said: "Say: Allaahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee."
(O Allaah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon,
so pardon me.) (at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)
O brother! You know the importance of this night, so stand in Prayer
in the last ten nights, in worship, detaching oneself from the
women, ordering your family with this, and increasing in actions of
obedience and worship in it.
From 'Aa'ishah, RA who said: "The Prophet SAW used to tighten his
waist-wrapper (izaar) - (meaning detached himself from his wives in
order to worship, and exerted himself in seeking Lailatul-Qadr),
spend the night in worship, and wake the family in the last ten
nights." (Bukhari, Muslim)
From 'Aa'ishah, RA: "Allaah's Messenger SAW used to exert himself in
the last ten nights more than he would at other times." (Muslim)
* Its sign
[Many people believe in all sorts of superstitions about
Lailatul-Qadr, and false beliefs from them are that the trees
prostrate, and buildings sleep! And these things are clearly futile
and baseless.] Allaah's Messenger SAW described the morning after
Lailatul-Qadr, so that the Muslim may know which day it is. From
Ubayy, RA who said: that he SAW said: "On the morning following
Lailatul-Qadr the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a
brass dish, until it rises up." (Muslim, Abu Dawood, at-Tarmidhi,
Ibn Majah)
From Abu Hurairah, RA who said: "We were discussing Lailatul-Qadr in
the presence of Allaah's Messenger SAW, so he said: 'Which of you
remembers (the night) when the moon arose and was like half a
plate?'" (Muslim) [Qaadi 'Iyaad said: "It contains an indication
that it was towards the end of the month - since the moon does not
appear like that when it arises except towards the end of the
month."]
From Ibn 'Abbaas, RA who said: Allaah's Messenger SAW said: "Lailatul-Qadr
is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its
morning being feeble and red." (at-Tayaalisee, Ibn Khuzaimah, al-Bazzaar
with hasan isnaad)
Let us seek abundance rewards from our Creator by performing extra
actions in these last few days of the noble month of Ramadaan as it
could be our last...
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By Sheik Ahmad Al-Qattan,
Kuwait
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