Significance of 'Lailathul Qadr' in Ramadan

M. Y. M. Meeadh

In Ramadan, 'Lailathul Qadr' (Night of Decree or Measure) is very significant for Muslims who observe fasting with the coveted objective of earning the highest merit with Almighty Allah.

It is a night of power and blessings for all those who love their Lord Allah. Lailathul Qadr literally means the Night of Decree or the Night of Measure in the anniversary of two very important dates in Islam that occurred in this month.

Its religious importance is based on the following Quranic verses:

1. "Verily, we have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree).

2. And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree)?

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. There in descend the angels and the Ruh (Jibril (Gabril) by Allah's permission with all decrees.

5. (All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of the dawn. (97: 1-5)

According to another Quranic verse 44:4, the Night of Al-Qadr is described by Allah as follows: "Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments" i.e. the matters of deaths, births provisions, calamities for the whole (coming) year as decreed by Allah.

"Further, there is a Hadees to explain the above Quranic verses. Narrated Aisha (Reli), Allah's messenger said, 'Search for the night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan" (Sahih Al-Buhari Vol. 3, Hadith 234).

However, the entire month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their precious time to fasting, praying, reciting Quran, remembering God (Dhikr) and giving charity.

However because of the significance of this Night of Power, Muslims strive harder in the last 10 days of Ramadhan since Lailathul Qadr could be one of the odd numbered days in these last 10 days of Ramadhan.

The Night of Power

The Night of Power-Lailathul Qadr is full of blessings because the noble Quran descended on this Night. It distinguishes between the good and evil and shows the way of peace and eternal joy for all humanity. Being this, the Night in which the Divine Book was sent down is worthy of great esteem.

On the night of power, pray to God with all your heart and He will definitely respond to all your prayers. During this night, as quoted in the above Quranic verse (97:1-5) the angels and the celestial spirit (Gabriel Alai) descends, its proximity to the Earth gives to a spiritual brightness to the hearts and souls of the believers. The Prophet (sal) on this night spent time in oration and adoration of God.

Hence we - Muslims too should spend the entire night in meditation and experience.

The pleasure of closeness to Allah. We should recite the Quran and look for the pardon of Allah and pray for the good of the world as well as in the next.

In Lailathul Qadr, the decisions are conveyed for the year to the concerned angels about the life and death, continuance and soon occurring in the lives of people. The Prophet (sal) said: "Explore the (occurrence) night of degree in the odd nights of the last Ashra (1/3rd) of Ramadan."

Bukhari

The Almighty Allah made the Prophet (Sal) forget the exact date of the night of decree he told, "the identification of the Night of decree has been withdrawn and it is perhaps better for you" (Bukhari).

However, the popular belief is that the night falls on 27th of Ramadan but in the books of Hadith, there are different versions favouring different nights.

Narrated Abu Saeed Khudri that the Prophet (sal) said, "I was shown the night of decree but later I forgot it." (I only remember that) on the morning after the night.

I prostrated on water and mud. Now that I have forgotten, you should seek it among the odd nights of the last 1/3rd of Ramadan.

The narrator further says, that (Prophet meant that) it rained on the night of Qadar (that year). As the roof of the mosque was made of Date branches the water seeped through (resulting in mud on the floor).

My eyes observed that there was mark of mud and water on the forehead of Prophet on the morning following 21st night." (Bukhari)

Reported Abdullah Bin Anees that he requested the Prophet to inform him of that night so that he could stay inside the mosque on that night as he lived in the forest and could not come on alternate nights. The Prophet told him to stay awake for 23rd night.

Later enquiries are made of his sons about his father's routine. He confirmed that his father entered the mosque after the Asar prayer on 22nd of Ramaden and did not come out for anything until the Fajr Salat of the next morning. After the Fajr, he found his horse at the door-step of the mosque and went to his in jungle. (Abu Dawood)

Reported Zir bin Hisb that when he asked (the companion) Ubai bin Ka'b, he replied that the night is 27th. Then, he swore and didn't say Insha Allah and said: indeed it is night of 27th.

Therefore, we Muslims should make up our minds to seek and attain Lailathul Qadr by continuing our Ibadath throughout the month of Ramadan.