With the Prophet (ﷺ) during Laylatul Qadr
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
By Sheikh Attiya Muhammad Salem (1420H)
The Prophet (ﷺ ) was exposed to the greatness of this night and honored about it by Allah as being a blessed night ;as there was a man from Bani Israel who wore a weapon for 1000 months fighting in Allah’s path. Hence, Allah gave Muhammad’s ummah the ability to spend the shortest period of time with the fewest number of deeds. He (تعالى)said:
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ (1) وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ (2) لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ (3) تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ (4) سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ (5)
1. Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)2. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?3. 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).4. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees,5. Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.
Its said the meaning of Al-Qadr is to have a high status and others have said it means decree. Both of these meanings are correct. The night of Qadr has a high status. It is the time and place when the affairs are decided for every year. Allah says in the Quran.
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ (3) فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ
We sent it (this Qur’an) down on a blessed night 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].4. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.
1000 months is equivalent to more than 83 years, so if a person stands that night, then it would be as if he stood for 83 years or worship, and without a doubt this is something worth striving for diligently. The Prophet (ﷺ) was the most diligent of people in striving to stand laylatul Qadr.
He would also perform ‘itikaf in the masjid separating himself from all the various duties and worldly affairs due to laylatul Qadr.He (ﷺ) said:
مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
Whoever stands the night of Qadr with faith anticipating Allah’s reward then his previous sins will be forgiven.
It’s worth noting here that the special traits of this night are that Allah has honored humanity with it by sending down the light of guidance, and removing the darkness of misguidance, and the spirituality of Revelation. Consequently, He((تعالى gave life through this night to the hearts(of the believers) to perform righteous deeds and everything that revives the Muslims on earth through sending the Angels and Jibril. This is all mentioned in the Surah. It is as if Allah pointing to the that fact that had He stopped sending Jibril with revelation to the Prophet then this wouldn’t have stopped what is found in that night. This night renews everything that has been eroded in one’s faith.
By Allah’s decree revelation and legislation were sent to mankind; so by Allah’s will the affairs of everything are decided and the yearly plan is laid out for all the people on earth. During this night the angels fill the sky for every Muslim offering them peace. The whole world on that night is rejoicing when the flags of peace, goodness and safety flutter over it.
This gives the Muslims the right to call the entire world to our religion. It has a message from our Prophet(ﷺ) to them. The religion of Islam carries a message of peace which renews its covenant with its lord every year.
This is what Muhammed(ﷺ) invited his ummah to do on that night. The message of peace. It’s a fact by worship, performing Itikaf , then refraining from harming others, and working diligently in everything that pleases Allah. We are fasting during the day and we are standing during the night. At the same time the Angels are sending us peace.
It is a unique picture, and uplifting in its subject matter. Whoever misses its bounty and is deprived of its goodness has wronged himself. It was explained to Aisha what to say in the event she reaches that night. He (ﷺ) said say :
للَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
(O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).
This supplication in a just few words. It combines all goodness miraculously.
The one who is given the pardon is given it in his body, soul, his judgement and account, thus he is victorious by attaining the happiness in both worlds.
Muhammed (ﷺ) made it clear to his companions that its occurrence is in the odd nights of the last 10 during Ramadan. There is no need to go into detail in specifying the one night which it may occur. In every odd night there is a text that clearly states it, so for this reason it is safe to say that in every year it changes. In one year, it could be on the 27th. In another year it could be on the 25th, the 23rd, or even on the 21st night. The Prophet(ﷺ) regularly maintained ‘itikaf in the last ten nights seeking laylatul Qadr.[1]
Translated by:
Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Battle
Doha,Qatar 1443©
[1] مجموع الرسائل المديني vol 1, pg 157-158 by Sheikh Attiya Muhammed Salim(1420H)