The Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20
By
Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam
Translated
into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
11
April 2023
Lesson
20 on the Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr
The
Background Of The Qadr Night
Tafsir-e-Azizi
mentions that the Qadr Night has also been described as a gift for the
community of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). (Tafsir-e-Azizi,
vol.4, p.434)
There
is a hadith in the Muwatta of Imam Malik that reads, "The
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was shown the lifespan of the people
(who had gone) before him, or what Allah had intended of that, and it seemed as
though the lives of the members of his community had grown too brief for them
to be able to carry out as many good deeds as those before them had been able
to with their long lives, so Allah gave him Lailat al- Qadr, which is
better than a thousand months.
In
addition to the significance relating to Divine decree and providing the
Prophet's Ummah with a particular opportunity for devotion as described
above, the Qadr Night has a special connection with the Qur'an. On this
night, the Qur'an was revealed, according to Surahs al-Qadr (97:1) and
al-Dukhan (44:3).
It
was explained by Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) on the Qadr
Night that the complete Qur'an was revealed from the highest heaven to the
lowest heaven and was then deposited in a unique chamber known as Bayt
al-'Izzah (the House of Honor). From there, it was revealed gradually over
a period of 23 years to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Meaning
of The Night of Qadr
The
Arabic term ‘Qadr’ means greatness, honour, or dignity. This is the
interpretation offered by Zuhri and other academics. Because it is a
night of glory, honour, majesty, and dignity, it is known as the Night of Qadr.
According to Abu Bakr Warraq, this night is so named because a person gains
honour and dignity by confessing his sins, asking for forgiveness, and
performing good deeds during this time, but before this, he might have lacked
these qualities due to an unrighteous lifestyle he may have led. Another
meaning of the word Qadr is predestination.
The
Qadr Night in the Quran
Allah
Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night
of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of
Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend
therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the
emergence of dawn.” [97:1-5]
“Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night.
Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night is made distinct every precise
matter – [Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger]
As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” [44:3-6]
The
Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever performs prayers on Lailatul
Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven,”
(Bukhari and Muslim).
The
fact that Allah Almighty raised us, sinners, from such a glorious night is a
special blessing. Those who worship during this one night are rewarded for
their worship of eighty-three years and four months or more than a thousand
months. The extent to which the Lord nourishes the servant with His favour is a
well-known fact, and only Allah Almighty and His beloved Messenger [peace be
upon him] are aware of it.
Hazrat
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that once on the
occasion of the arrival of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
said:
There
has come to you a month in which there is a night that is better than a
thousand months. A person who is deprived of this night is as if he is deprived
of all the good virtues. And no one is deprived of its goodness except the
person who is truly deprived. (Sunan Ibn Majah)
According
to a tradition mentioned in Tafsir-e-Saawi, the Sidrat al-Muntaha
angelic troop is said to descend to earth on Qadr Night under the direction of
the angel Jibreel (peace be upon him), and they carry four flags:
One
flag is hoisted over the revered shrine of the beloved Prophet (peace be upon
him), one flag over the Kaaba, one flag over Mount Sinai, and one flag
is displayed over Bait al-Maqdis. Afterwards, these angels go to the
residences of the Muslims, greeting each believer with "Peace be upon
you" (Salaam is the appellation of Allah the Mighty). These angels won't enter
the homes of drunkards, pork-eaters, or people who have unjustly severed ties
with their kin. (Tafir-e-Saawi)
The
number of angels who descend on the Qadr Night is more than the pebbles
on the surface of the earth, and they all descend with peace and mercy. (Tafsir-e-Durre
Manthur)
Hazrat
Abdullah Ibn Abbas narrated a hadith from the Messenger of Allah:
As
the night of Qadr arrives, on Allah's command, Hazrat Jibreel (peace be
upon him) takes a green flag and descends to the earth with a vast throng of
angels, waving it over the Holy Kaaba. Just that one night does Hazrat
Jibreel (peace be upon him) open two of his one hundred arms, which stretch to
the east, east, and west.
The
angels are then instructed by Hazrat Jibreel (peace be upon him) to welcome and
shake hands with any Muslim who is praying, doing dhikr, or
participating in qiyaam tonight, as well as to say Aameen to his
prayers. So, until morning, this cycle continues. At dawn, Hazrat Gabriel
(peace be upon him) orders the angels to return. The angels say:
O
Gabriel, what have you done to address the needs of Ummah of the
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? Hazrat Gabriel says that Allah Almighty
has especially looked upon these people and forgiven all people except four
types of people. The Companions asked, O Messenger of Allah, who are those four
types of people? It was said: They are (1) Addicted drunkards (2) Disobedient
to their parents (3) The ones who do not treat others mercifully (4) Those who
hold grudges against one other and cut ties with one another.
Date
of the Night of Qadr
The
Qadr Night takes place during the blessed month of Ramadan, according to the
Quran, but the precise date has not been revealed. It is therefore debated
among scholars. Over 40 recorded opinions are available. The Night of Qadr is
said to take place during the final ten nights of Ramadan, but no exact date
has been established. It might be one of the following nights, per genuine
Traditions: 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29.
"Seek
it [the Qadr Night] in the last 10 days, on the odd nights," said the
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) (Hadith, Bukhari and Muslim).
What
Dua Should You Recite On The Qadr Night?
The
Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) was once asked by Sayyidah 'Ayesha (may
Allah be pleased with her) what supplication she should make if she finds the
Night. The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) encouraged her to supplicate as
follows:
اللَّھُمَّ
اِنَّکَ عَفُوُّ تُحِبُّ العَفوَ فَاعفُ عَنِّی
Translation:
O Allah! Verily, You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so do pardon
me." [Tafsir-e-Qurtubi ].
She
also narrates that she questioned the beloved Prophet about the appropriate
supplication to offer if she encounters the Qadr Night. The Prophet of
Allah (peace be upon him) encouraged her to supplicate as follows:
اَللّٰہُمَّ اِنِّیْ اَسْءَلُکَ الْعَفْو وَ الْعَافِیَۃَ وَالْمُعَافَاۃَ
فِی الدِّیْنِِ وَ ا لدُّنْیَا وَالآخِرَۃِ۔
O
Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being and goodness in the Religion,
this world and in the Hereafter. (Tafsir-e-Ruh al-Bayaan)
(Continued)
Mufti
Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and
held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and
director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom
Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in
Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah
Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina
Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti
in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of
the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder
of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi
Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Previous Articles:
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and
First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan –
Part 2
Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The
Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the
Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4
Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part
7
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar –
Part 8
Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part
9
Thirty
Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part
10
Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and
Fidyah – Part 12
Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light
of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17
The
Rulings and Laws of Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18
The Virtues and Laws of I’tikaaf: Thirty
Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/virtues-lailatul-qadr-ramadan-part-20/d/129532
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