The Most powerful night, Al Qadr night
AL Qadr night, the night of power is one of the last nights of the blessed month of Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, and it is not limited to a certain night. As it is proven in Sahih al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Sa`id al-Khudri – may God be pleased with him – that the Prophet – may blessings be upon him – said:
“‘I have been shown Laylatul-Qadr, then I was caused to forget it, so seek it in the last ten nights, on the odd-numbered nights.’”
God has singled Laylat AL Qadr out for a great deal. The Holy Qur’an was revealed on this night during one of the stages of its descent. Our lord said in the surah AL Qadr:
“Indeed, We sent it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down during the Night of Decree.”
And laylat AL Qadr is a blessed night when God Almighty decides what will be in the year. Allah said:
(Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. Therein [i.e., on that night] is made distinct every precise matter — Or “is separated” or “apportioned,” from what is inscribed in the Preserved Slate. The angels record and descend with whatever Allāh has decreed for the coming year.)
The importance of laylat AL Qadr :
Laylatul Qadr the night of power is considered to be the holiest night of the year for Muslims. And the reward for good deeds in Lailat AL Qadr is better than worshipping for a period of 1000 month, God almighty said :
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”
The Messenger – may prayers and peace be upon him – used to investigate the Night of Power, laylat al qadr, in the final days of the month of Ramadan, and strive hard in laylat al qadr with acts of worship and obedience that he does not strive for in others. It was reported that he said:
“Whosoever performs Qiyam during Laylat AL Qadr (Night of power), with Faith and being hopeful of Allah’s reward, will have his former sins forgiven.”
Thus it is appropriate for Muslims to spend the effort in hastening to perform righteous deeds and acts of worship on the power night,laylat al qadr, because of its great and good impact in this world and the hereafter.
The date of laylat AL Qadr :
Laylatul Qadr which is translated in English as the night of decree is the best night in the Islamic calendar. Laylat AL Qadr is expected to be a night during the last third of the month of Ramadan.’Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan and say,
“Seek Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadan.” [Al- Bukhari].
However, the sayings differed in determining the Night of Power(laylat al qadr) timings. It was said that it is on the odd nights of the last ten days as evidence for what was narrated on the authority of the Mother of the Believers, Aisha, may God be pleased with her. And it was said to be in the last seven days of Ramadan:
Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
Some of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) saw Laylatul-Qadr (Night of power ) in their dreams in the last seven nights of Ramadan, whereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“I see that your dreams all agree upon the last seven nights. Whosoever seeks it, let him seek it in the last seven nights.”
And it was said that laylat al qadr is commuting without being limited to odd nights or even one.
Signs of Laylat AL Qadr
There are special signs that mark this holy night of destiny known as Laylat UL Qadr. The observance of these signs is done by some people.
Muslims are keen to track the qadr night. To know the signs that indicate its occurrence, note that its signs do not appear until after it has occurred. And among the most prominent signs :
- The sun rises without rays the next morning Abu.Zirr said:
“I said to Ubayy bin Ka’b: ‘O Abu Al-Mundhir! How do you know that it is the night of the 27th of Ramadan ?’ He said:
‘Rather, the Messenger of Allah informed us that it is a night (after which) the sun rises without rays, so we counted and we remembered it. By Allah! Ibn Mas’ud learned that it is in Ramadan and that it is the nigh of the 27 th, but he did not want to inform you lest you would depend on it.”
- Mild weather in it; It is not described as heat or cold .
- Purity and serenity.
- The angels descend in droves. The almighty SWT says in surah AL Qadr :
“The angels and the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Bringing the exact measures apportioned for everything by Allāh in the course of the coming year.”
The Wisdom Of hiding the date of that night :
Laylat AL Qadr is a very valuable night of the month of Ramadan when the first verses of the holy Quran were revealed to our beloved prophet Muhammad.
From Islamic history, we can detect how the Prophet Muhammad and his companions made the best use of laylat AL Qadr. They were seeking forgiveness and reciting the Quran in its divine hours.
So The reason for concealing the Night of Power,laylat al Qadr, and not determining it is to encourage and motivate the worshipers to continue and persist in worship, perseverance with it, and exaggeration in it throughout the last ten days of Ramadan, lest they be restricted to acts of worship and obedience in one night; Therefore, it was worthy of Muslims to fully explore the last ten nights of the blessed month, and their resurrection, and persevere in the remembrance of God, supplication, prayer, and reading the Qur’an. And thus Muslims occupy themselves and all their time in obedience to God Almighty.
Good Deeds in the Night of power:
Muslims can do different acts of worship in Laylatul Qadr. A Muslim may take advantage of the Night of Power by a great deal of supplication, dhikr, praise, and asking the lord Almighty to be set free from the fire and seek refuge from it, as during laylat ul qadr supplication is answered, and diligence is desirable.It is desirable for a Muslim to recite the verse s of the Noble Qur’an during the month of Ramadan, and it is not a condition that it is finished completely on that night. But he may receive great reward, and merit if he finishes it.
Laylat alqadr is a night that may change your entire life if you make use of it well. A great opportunity is given to believers in that night.
Some people may do their utmost only in the 27_th night thinking it is surely al qadr night. Of course this is wrong as we should keep obedience all the time. God may bless us by guidance in response to our prayers in qadr night.
May Allah guide us to the best way to benefit from laylat alqadr and give us power to change ourselves.