The Night of Al-Qadr

 

Allah Almighty has singled out this Mohammedan nation in preference to other nations with characteristics that He has sent to it the Messengers, Prophets and the last one of them. He has made it as the best nation. Allah Almighty has said, {You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad) and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind;} [Surat Al-’Imrân 3:110].

 

{كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ...} آل عمران: 110

 

Transliteration: Kuntum khayra ommatin okhrijat lilnnasi

 

He has revealed to this nation the Clear Book, the straight path, the great Book of Allah, the words of the Lord of mankind, Jinn and all that exists. Allah Almighty said, {Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’ân) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption} [Surat Al-Hijr 15:9]

 

{إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ} الحجر: 9

 

Transliteration: Inna nahnu nazzalna alththikra wainna lahu lahafithoona

 

And, {Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it: (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allâh).} [Surat Fussilat 41:42].

 

{لَّا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ ۖ تَنزِيلٌ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ} فصلت: 42

 

Transliteration: La yateehi albatilu min bayni yadayhi wala min khalfihi tanzeelun min hakeemin hameedin

 

Allah Glorified and Exalted has revealed the Noble Quran in a blessed night, it is the best of nights. It is a night which is distinguished by Allah in preference to the other nights. In such night, worshipping is better than the worshipping in one thousand months, which are eighty three years and four months. This is the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). Allah has declared its degree in two Surats. Allah Almighty has said in Surat Al-Qadr, {Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree). (1) And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? (2) The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). (3) Therein descend the angels and the Rûh [Jibrîl (Gabrîl)] by Allâh’s Permission with all Decrees, (4) (All that night), there is Peace (and Goodness from Allâh to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn} [Surat Al-Qadr 97:1-5].

 

{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ ﴿٢﴾ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴿٣﴾ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ ﴿٤﴾ سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ} القدر: 1-5

 

Transliteration: Inna anzalnahu fee laylati alqadri (1) Wama adraka ma laylatu alqadri (2) Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahrin (3) Tanazzalu almalaikatu waalrroohu feeha biithni rabbihim min kulli amrin (4) Salamun hiya hatta matlaAAi alfajri

 

Allah Almighty has said in Surat Ad-Dukhân, {We sent it (this Qur’ân) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Al-Qadr, Sûrah No. 97) in the month of Ramadân - the 9th month of the Islâmic 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]. (3) Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments} [Surat Ad-Dukhân 44:3-4].

 

{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ ﴿٣﴾ فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ} الدخان: 3-4

 

Transliteration: Inna anzalnahu fee laylatin mubarakatin inna kunna munthireena (3) Feeha yufraqu kullu amrin hakeemin

 

It was named as the Night of Al-Qadr (al-qadr in Arabic means the great status and degree) due to its great status and favor for Allah Almighty. In addition, the matters of deaths, births, provisions, calamities, etc. for the whole (coming) year are decreed by Allah, as He Almighty has said, {Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments} [Surat Ad-Dukhân 44:4].

 

{فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ } الدخان: 4

 

Transliteration: Feeha yufraqu kullu amrin hakeemin

 

 

The Reason of naming it the Night of Al-Qadr

 

Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him, said in (Al-Sharh Al-Momti’ (the Pleasant Explanation), p. 6494), “First, in this night, what is meant to happen in the year is decreed. So, what happens in such a year is written. This is from the wisdom of Allah Glorified and Exalted and a declaration of the mastery of His making and creation...

 

Second: it is named as the Night of Al-Qadr from nobility [in Arabic, when it is said that someone is of Qadr, it means he is of great and noble status and degree], as He Almighty has said, {And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? (2) The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).} [Surat Al-Qadr 97:2-3].

 

{وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ ﴿٢﴾ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ} سورة القدر: 2-3

 

Transliteration: Wama adraka ma laylatu alqadri (2) Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahrin

 

There is no doubt that a night which is better than one thousand months is a night of great nobility.

 

Third: it is named the night of Al-Qadr because worshipping in it is of great degree, as the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “And whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed upon]

 

«من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه» متفق عليه

 

This does not happen but in this night. So, if a man prays in the night of the middle of the month of Sha’ban or in the night of the middle of the month of Rajab, he will not attain such reward.”

 

The Sheikh, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “One attains its reward even if he does not know it, as the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Al-Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards.” If knowledge of the night is a stipulation for attaining the reward, the Messenger of Allah, would have clarified it.”

 

 

The Signs of the Night of Al-Qadr

 

Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned that the Night of Al-Qadr has accompanying signs and following signs.

 

 

The Accompanying Signs:

 

1 - The strength of light in such night; currently such sign is felt only by those who are away in the wilderness from lights.

 

2 - The increasing of light in such night.

 

3 - Tranquility, the tranquility of the heart and the relaxation of the believers, as they find relief, tranquility and relaxation in such night more than in the other nights.

 

4 - Winds in it are calm; i.e. there are no storms and the weather is suitable.

 

5 - Allah may show a man such night in the dream, as happened to some of the companions, may Allah be pleased with them.

 

6 - One finds more pleasure in performing the optional night prayers and remembrances in this night than in the other nights.

 

 

The Following Signs

 

The sun rises in such day with no rays. It is clear, unlike the other days. This is indicated in the Hadith of Ubayy ibn K’ab, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has informed us that, “On that day (the sun) would rise without having any ray in it.” [Reported by Muslim]

 

«أنها تطلع يومئذ، لا شعاع لها» رواه مسلم

 

The Night of Al-Qadr is a blessed night. It is amongst the nights of Ramadan. It can be sought in the last ten nights of it, especially the odd ones. The most probable night that it can be is the night of the twenty-seventh of the month of Ramadan. Ubayy ibn K’ab, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say, “By Allah, I know which night it is; it is the night on which the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, commanded us to observe night prayers. It is the night of the twenty-seventh.” [Reported by Muslim]

 

«والله! إني لأعلم أي ليلة هي. هي الليلة التي أمرنا بها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بقيامها. هي ليلة صبيحة سبع وعشرين» رواه مسلم

 

The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, used to seek the Night of Al-Qadr and used to order his companions to seek it. He used to awaken his family in the last ten nights of Ramadan so they might achieve the Night of Al-Qadr. He used to tighten his waist belt, which is a metonymy of his hard work, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, in performing acts of worship in such nights and his refraining from sexual intercourse in these nights. It was reported that some of the ancestors used to perform total ablution and put on perfume in the last ten nights; in seeking the Night of Al-Qadr, which is honored and reputed high by Allah.

 

That is why a believer must seek it in the whole ten nights following the Hadith of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, “Search for the Night of Al-Qadr in the last ten days of Ramadan.” [Agreed upon]

 

«التمسوها في العشر الأواخر من رمضان...» متفق عليه

 

Allah Glorified and Exalted has concealed its knowledge to let people worship hard in such nights and strive in seeking it in order to achieve it. They think that it is in each night. You see many people in such blessed nights prostrating, standing in prayers, supplicating and crying. O Allah, help us to establish the Night of Al-Qadr and make it to us better than one thousand months. By establishing such nights, people are rewarded, Allah willing, for establishing each night. Why not, while they are hoping that the Night of Al-Qadr is in each night. That is why it was a Sunnah for the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, to seclude himself in the mosque in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

 

The Night of Al-Qadr is not a specific night in all years. However, it moves. So, in one year it may be the night of the twenty-fifth and in another year, it is the night of the twenty-third and so on. It is not fixed to a specific night each year.

 

 

The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr

 

1 - It is the night in which the Quran was revealed. Allah Almighty has said, {Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree).} [Surat Al-Qadr 97:1].

 

{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ} سورة القدر: 1

 

Transliteration: Inna anzalnahu fee laylati alqadri

 

2 - It is a blessed night. Allah Almighty has said, {We sent it (this Qur’ân) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Al-Qadr, Sûrah No. 97) in the month of Ramadân - the 9th month of the Islâmic calendar].} [Surat Ad-Dukhân 44:3].

 

{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ} الدخان: 3

 

Transliteration: Inna anzalnahu fee laylatin mubarakatin inna kunna munthireena

 

3 - In it Allah writes the matters of deaths, births, provisions, etc. for the whole (coming) year. Allah Almighty has said, {Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.} [Surat Ad-Dukhân 44:4]

 

{فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ } الدخان: 4

 

Transliteration: Feeha yufraqu kullu amrin hakeemin

 

4 - Worshipping in it is better than the other nights. Allah Almighty has said, {The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).} [Surat Al-Qadr 97:3].

 

{ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ} القدر: 3

 

Transliteration: Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahrin

 

5 - Angels descend to the earth with goodness, blessing, mercy and forgiveness. Allah Almighty has said, {Therein descend the angels and the Rûh [Jibrîl (Gabrîl)] by Allâh’s Permission with all Decrees,} [Surat Al-Qadr 97:4].

 

{تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ} القدر: 4

 

Transliteration: Tanazzalu almalaikatu waalrroohu feeha biithni rabbihim min kulli amrin

 

 

6 - It is a night free from evil and harm. The acts of obedience, righteousness and Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allâh, etc…) increase in it. Safety from torture increases in it. The devil cannot achieve in it what it used to achieve in the other nights. All of it is peace. Allah Almighty has said, {(All that night), there is Peace (and Goodness from Allâh to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn} [Surat Al-Qadr 97:5].

 

{سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ} القدر: 5

 

Transliteration: Salamun hiya hatta matlaAAi alfajri

 

7 - In it there is forgiveness from the sins for this who establishes prayers in it and hopes to attain the reward from Allah, Glorified and Exalted. The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Al-Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed upon]

 

«من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه» متفق عليه

 

In a night of such virtues, characteristics and gifts we should work hard and increase supplication, asking for forgiveness and performing righteous deeds. It is the chance of life and chances do not last. Is there a greater virtue than this one for this who is blessed by Allah? Be keen, may Allah have mercy on you, in seeking this night and strive in performing good deeds to win its reward as the deprived is the one who is deprived of reward. The one who passes the seasons of forgiveness and stays burdened with his sins because of his negligent, shun and indifference is the deprived one. O you disobedient one, return to Allah in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness. He has opened for you the door of repentance, He has invited you for it and made for you the seasons of goodness in which good deeds are multiplied and sins are obliterated. So adopt the reasons of salvation for yourself.

 

O our Lord make us among those who were successful in establishing the Night of Al-Qadr so you generously gave them rewards and forgave their falls and sins. O our Lord, forgive us what we have done and what we will do, what we have done publicly and what we have done in secret, what you know better than us with Your mercy of You, O Exalted in Might, Perpetual Forgiver. Prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.