The Night of Power: Do Not Miss!

Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) (1) And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?

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[Ramadan Series] The Night of Power: Do Not Miss!
by Nabeel Nasir
 
In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Beneficient
 
{Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) 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 Allah 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 Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees, (4) Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.} [Surat Al-Qadr]
 
{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} سورة القدر
 
Transliteration: Inna anzalnahu fee laylati alqadri (1) Wama adraka malaylatu alqadri (2) Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahrin (3) Tanazzalu almalaikatu waalrroohu feehabiithni rabbihim min kulli amrin (4) Salamun hiya hattamatlaAAi alfajri
 
Indeed, Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power) is a glorious and honorable night that is so grand, it’s beyond our comprehension. It was on this night that the Qur’an was first revealed to Rasullulah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (prayers and peace of Allāh be upon him) by the greatest of all angels, Angel Jibril. It is a night filled with importance and rahma (mercy), one that we should reflect upon.
 
 
Laylatul-Qadr is greater than 1000 months of worship
 
This one majestic night ALONE is superior to the equivalent of 83 years and four months of worship. The scholars have further defined this to be not just regular worship – but continuous worship of the highest-quality over 1000 months.
 
To put this into perspective, throughout that span a practicing Muslim would accomplish at a minimum:
 
·         147,654FARD salat
·         2,450days of fasting in the month of Ramadan
·         166days of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha
·         4,333Jum’a prayers
·         83 years worth of Zaka’at
 
Laylatul-Qadr, in that one special night, is MORE worthy of blessings from Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) than the blessings you would receive if you were to accomplish the above. Subhanallah!
 
Laylatul-Qadr is the opportunity to earn a lifetime of rewards in just ONE night. Think about that!
 
 
The descendance of the Malaikaat
 
Throughout this blessed night, the Malaikaat (Angels) will descend and fill the sky. There will be a constant flow of Angels coming to give their salams and immediately leaving. In other words, Angels will be coming and going throughout the night delivering salams upon those who are worshipping.
 
It is the nature of the Angels to love those who perform Ibadaat and turn to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) in repentance. They love those who praise and glorify Allah. They seek out those who perform such acts and pray for them.
 
Angel Jibrail will also be one of those Angels that will descend on this night. The very same Angel that was blessed to carry the wahi (revelation) to our messengers, including Rasullulah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (prayers and peace of Allāh be upon him). How amazing is such a night, to be in the presence of such an Angel!
 
One of the signs of Laylatul-Qadr is that on the morning after that night, the sun will be bright and clear, but the rays of the sunlight will not be as visible. It is said that because of the wings of the Angels on that morning, the rays of the sunlight will be blocked.
 
Although we cannot see the Angels, we can try to reflect on the sheer magnitude of what is happening on that night
 
Here are some recommendations on how to make the most out of your search for Laylatul-Qadr.
 
 
1.     I’tikaaf – This was a practice of Rasullulah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (prayers and peace of Allāh be upon him)
 
Abdullah bin Umar narrated that Rasullulah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (prayers and peace of Allāh be upon him) used to practice Itikaf in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan [Muslim]
                                                                                   
«أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يعتكف العشر الأواخر من رمضان» رواه مسلم
 
Dedicate the last ten days and nights of Ramadan to the worship of your Creator, Al-Khalaq. Spend the time performing dhikr, reading Qur’an, praying supererogatory prayers, tahajjud, etc. If you can’t devote the full 10 days and nights, it’s encouraged that you do what you can, even if it’s a night or two.
 
 
2.     Make a master du’a list
 
 Take some time and brainstorm all the things you would like to ask from Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) in your du’a. Include anything and everything, whether it be things in this dunya or in the akhira. Don’t feel shy, as Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is Ar-Razzaq (the One Who Provides your Sustenance), Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful) and Al-Wali (the One Who Protects you the Most).
 
Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) loves for His servants to supplicate and ask for their desires to be met. He is Al-Ghani (the Rich), and His Provisions do not diminish by answering the du’as of His servant. In fact, it is out of the arrogance of us if we do not seek Allah’s guidance, mercy and provisions by supplicating in du’a.
 
Now with this exhaustive list of things you would like to ask Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), begin to segment and categorize these items. Group like items with each other. You should be left with a list of high-level categories with the detailed items beneath it.
 
Having an organized list will help you visualize and remember your list, so that when you make your du’a to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) you will be prepared, knowing exactly what you desire and being efficient in your supplications. Also, be sure to include some of the du’as that were commonly recited by Rasullulah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (prayers and peace of Allāh be upon him).
 
Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni. “O Allah, indeed You are the Pardoner, You love to Pardon, so Pardon me.”
 
This is a very simple, yet powerful du’a. One of the beautiful names of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is Al-Afuw, the One Who Pardons your sins and Removes them from your record (as if you never committed them). Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) loves to pardon so ask Him for your pardon. He loves to forgive those who sin and ask for their forgiveness.
 
 
3.     Reflect on the Words of Allah
 
During these last ten nights, use the opportunity to become closer to kalam-Allah (the speech of Allah). Reflect and ponder over its meaning. Read what the scholars of Tafseer and the Ulema have commented on the Qur’an and try to derive lessons that you can immediately implement into your daily life.
 
 
4.     Pray Tahajjud/Qiyaam
 
Rasullulah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (prayers and peace of Allāh be upon him) said, “Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in (the night of) Laylatul Qadr out of faith and expectation (of Allah’s reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
                                                                                   
«من قام ليلة القدر إيمانًا وأحتسابًا غُفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه» رواه البخاري ومسلم
 
Strive to perform prayer in the last 3rd of the night as that is the most virtuous portion of the night. Abu Huraira reports that Rasullulah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (prayers and peace of Allāh be upon him) said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: ‘Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?’” [Al-Bukhari]
                                                                                   
«يتنزل ربنا تبارك وتعالى كل ليلة إلى السماء الدنيا، حين يبقى ثلث الليل الآخر، يقول: من يدعوني فأستجيب له، من يسألني فأعطيه، من يستغفرني فأغفر له» رواه البخاري
 
 
5.     Avoid sins
 
As much as we plan on striving to increase our ibadaat during these nights, it’s important to refrain from those actions which displease Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). Minimize idle conversations and actions which take you away from the remembrance of Allah.
 
 
6.     Be extra generous
 
Rasullulah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (prayers and peace of Allāh be upon him) was well known to be generous – but he was especially generous during the month of Ramadan. Aim to be charitable during these nights, whether you donate your time, your effort in volunteering or just being kind to your fellow Muslims.
 
 
A Final Note
 
There are many things you can do to realize the blessings of this merciful night. Encourage your family members to join in on the search for Laylatul-Qadr. The magnitude of this night demands our effort and sacrifice.
 
 
Source: ProductiveMuslim
Slightly modified