Lailatul Qadr: The Night of Power

[SBK786]

Introduction to Lailatul Qadr
Well to start with its an important night in the last Ashra. It is to be found in the last ten odd nights of Ramadan. To signify its importance it is said that the Ibadah on this one night is better than Ibadah of 1000 months.

In each of the daily prayer we offer, we solemnly declare to Allâh, “Iyyaka na’budu” (You alone do we worship). While the intelligent and committed believer realizes that his very lifestyle spells worship, he knows, remembering the words of our Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam that “Du’aa’ (supplication) is worship” [Tirmidhi, Abu Dawûd] Allâh, the Most Merciful, has encouraged the believers to take advantage of certain times during the year to make du’aa’. Such an occasion presents itself annually during Ramadhân — especially on the Lailatul Qadr, the Night of Power. On this night, the single most important event in human history unfolded as, after the Glorious Qur'ân was preserved in the Protected Tablet, Jibril descended with the blessed book to reveal it, upon Allâh’s command, to His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. Accentuating its significance, Allâh says "and how would you know (the value of the) Night of Qadr" [97:2]

Allâh's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights. [Muslim]
So valuable is this Night of Qadr that the Qur'ân devotes a special Sûrah to it “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months” [97:3] This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights.

What to do on Lailatul Qadr
1. Recite the Quran Abundantly Az-Zuhri used to say upon the coming of Ramadan“It is only about reciting the Qur’an and feeding the poor.”
Abdur Raziq Said “When Ramadan came, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would give up all acts of (voluntary) worship and devote himself to the recitation of the Qur’an.”

2. Strive to gain forgiveness
One should strive and do their utmost to gain the mercy of Allah especially in the odd numbered nights of the last ten days. If one leaves Ramadan without gaining the mercy of Allah then surely they are the most unfortunate ones and are the biggest losers in this world and the next. The main Dua for Laylatul Qadr is the following:
Aisha (Ra) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' “

"Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee" (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).


Gaining forgiveness on laylatul Qadr

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

We should sincerely repent for past and present sins with the intention of not repeating them again and ask of Allah Ta’aala to help us prevent ourselves from doing them again and ask Allah to perfect our characters and to help us improve ourselves in everyway possible.

3. Do much Superogatory Prayers (Nafil)


Rabi'ah ibn Malik al-Aslami reported that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: "Ask (anything)." Rabi'ah said: "I ask of you to be your companion in paradise." The Prophet said:"Or anything else?" Rabi'ah said: "That is it." The Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said to him: "Then help me by making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers)." (Muslim)

The Prophet peace be upon him said: “Whoever draws near to Allaah during it (Ramadaan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.” – Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887.

In this most blessed month of Ramadhan all good deeds are multiplied by 70 or more. Every Nafil one prays one will gain the reward of a Fard Salaah and every Fard Salah is the reward of 70 Fard salaah. Subhanallah what other time of the year is this possible? NONE! So let us make the best of these precious seconds and pray as many Nafil prayers as is possible!


Here are some Nafil prayers we can pray on Laylatul Qadr:


1. Two Rakat after performing Wudu (Ablution)


Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him): “Tell me about the best of your deeds (i.e. one which you deem the most rewarding) since your embracing Islam because I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “I do not consider any act of mine more rewarding than that whenever I make ablution at any time of night or day, I perform Prayer for as much as was destined for me to do.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)”


2. Tahajjud

Imam Abu Sa'id al-Khadimi said,

"There is scholarly consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous acts is the night vigil prayer." [al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]

The scholars derived the following in regards to Tahajjud from the Qur'an and prophetic hadiths:

1. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 rakats. [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

2. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 rakats, because this was the general practice of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions). [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

3. Lengthier recitation is superior to a larger number of rakats prayed. [Durr al-Mukhtar, Radd al-Muhtar]

4. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short rakats, because of the hadith of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "It you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats." [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "I cannot pray at night." He said, "Your sins have prevented you."



4. Increase in Dhikr (Rememberance of Allah)


We should glorify Allah night and day, especially in the last odd nights.

Here are some easy and very beneficial Dhikr and glorification we can do throughout the last ten odd nights:

1. Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee

2. Subhanallah

3. Alhamdulillah

4. Allahu Akbar

5. Laa ilaha ilallah

6. LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH

7. Asthaghfirullah

8. SUB-HAN'ALLAH HIL AZEEM WA BI-HAM'DIHI,

9. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm

10. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr

Or the shortened version:

11. Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer

One can also recite the durood that one recites in one's Salaah or a Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim


5. Make much dua


We should be very busy in Dua as much as we can especially in the last 10 odd numbered.

Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:

"When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186]

The place of duaa is so high to Allah, that the Prophet(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim) had said:"Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than du`a." [Sahih al-Jami` no.5268].

Almighty Allah also said: "The most excellent worship is du`a." [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1133]

Therefore let us devote much of the night of Qadr in dua asking of Allah for his mercy and forgiveness for all of our past sins and making firm intentions to Allah that we will change for the better and strive to become closer to him as well as make our deen a FULL part of our lives and not just a little part of our life as Allah says:

Allah tells us In the Qur'an to enter fully into our deen and not partly:

O believers enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, surely he is your clear-cut enemy.... (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 208-210)

Allah Knows best.

[glo]

When is the Night of Power?

[SBK786]

When is the Night of Power?

Nobody Knows Brother. The scholars haven't agreed a certain date, that's why the Prophet Muhammad Sallahu Alaeyhi Wassalm, did Itikaf for the last ten days.

'Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan" [Bukhari]

Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from 'Aishah that during the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship). A narration in Muslim states: "He would strive [to do acts of worship] during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time."

[SBK786]

Sister* My bad. Please forgive me for un-deliberately insulting you.

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[SBK786]

Itikāf is an Islamic practice consisting of a period of retreat in a mosque for a certain number of days in accordance with the believer's own wish. It is most common during the month of Ramadan , especially the last ten days. In the mosque, you should do Dhikr, Read Quran, Durood Shareef etc.

[glo]

Sister* My bad. Please forgive me for un-deliberately insulting you.

No offense taken. :)

Thank you for your informative replies.
So the Night of Power is on one night during the last 10 days of Ramadan?

[SBK786]

No offense taken. :)

Thank you for your informative replies.
So the Night of Power is on one night during the last 10 days of Ramadan?

Yes sister. Thank you.

[glo]

Sorry, if I am sounding ignorant, but as a Christian I associate the word power with 'God's power' or 'God's Spirit'.
So it makes me wonder, as people pray specifically during the last 10 days, do they ever have a sense of 'God's power' on one of those nights and feel that this WAS the Night of Power?

Or am I misunderstanding what the Night of Power is about completely?

[SBK786]

Sorry, if I am sounding ignorant, but as a Christian I associate the word power with 'God's power' or 'God's Spirit'.
So it makes me wonder, as people pray specifically during the last 10 days, do they ever have a sense of 'God's power' on one of those nights and feel that this WAS the Night of Power?

Or am I misunderstanding what the Night of Power is about completely?

Sister its fine, your not sounding ignorant. The word Lailatul Qadr itself means ''The Night of Power'', this was one of the last ten days which The Holy Quran, was revealed from The Lord of the Universe Allah, to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Quran was revealed in Ramadan (2:185), and traditionally Muslims celebrated the Night of Power on the 27th night of Ramadan. God describes this night as better than a thousand months. This Hadith answers your question Ubaadah bin Saamit (Radhiallaho anho) reports that he asked the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) about Laylatul Qadr. He replied: "It is in Ramadhan, during the last ten days, on the unevenly numbered nights, either the 21st 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th or the last night of Ramadhan. Whosoever stands in "Ibaadah" on this night, with sincere faith and with genuine hopes of gaining reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. Among the signs of this night is that it is a serene, quiet, shining night, neither hot, nor cold but temperate as if a moon is shining clear, and no meteors are shot at the "Shayateen" on that night; it lasts until the break of the dawn. Another sign is that at morn, the Sun rises without any radiant beams of light, appearing rather like the moon in it's fullness. On that day, Allah prohibits the "Shayateen" from rising up with the Sun."

I hope it answers your question.

[ardianto]

Assalamualikum, and greeting.

Translate "Lailatul Qadr" as the night of power actually less accurate. "Qadr" is "honor" or "apraise". Like mentioned in this ayaah

wamaa qadaruu allaaha haqqa qadrihi.. "And they did not appraise Allah with true appraisal.."
(Al-Anam: 91)

"Lailatul Qadr" is "the night of honor(or glory)" which this night is blessed. This is ayaah about "Lailatul Qadr"

innaa anzalnaahu fii laylatin mubaarakatin ... "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]"
(Ad-Dukhan: 3-4-5)

Sorry, if I am sounding ignorant, but as a Christian I associate the word power with 'God's power' or 'God's Spirit'.
So it makes me wonder, as people pray specifically during the last 10 days, do they ever have a sense of 'God's power' on one of those nights and feel that this WAS the Night of Power?

Or am I misunderstanding what the Night of Power is about completely?

Muslims who did I'tikaf (stayed at masjid) and got Lailatul Qadr, would not feel "the power". They did not realize and did not know in exactly when they got Lailatul Qadr. But Insha Allah, they got special honor.