The Night of Power (Layla tul -Qadr)
In a short, often recited Surah of the Holy Qur'an there is a mention of a remarkable night called laylah al-qadr:
"We have indeed sent down (this Qur'an) in laylah al-qadr;
And what will explain to you what laylah al-qadr is?
Laylah al-qadr is better than a thousand months.
The angels and the spirit descend in it, by God's permission, on every errand. Peace! This until the rise of dawn." (97)
Qadr has two related meanings: power and destiny and is often the case in the Qur'an it is likely that both meanings are intended. Laylah al-qadr therefore means a night (laylah) when God asserts His power in a special way in order to move events in a direction that he has destined for them. The revelation of the Qur'an was the prime example of such a manifestation of divine power and will.
Laylah al-qadr is also mentioned in the first few verses of Surah 44, where it is called a blessed night (laylah mubarakah):
"We sent it down on a blessed night, for we were sure to warn; Every matter of wisdom is made distinct in it,
By command from Us, for We were bound to send (messages);
As a mercy from your Lord, for He hears and knows (all things)." (44:3-6)
When the Qur'an says that "We indeed sent this (Qur'an) on the night of power" or that "We sent it down on a blessed night" (or that "the month of Ramadan is one in which the Qur'an was sent down (2:185)) the meaning, of course, is not that the whole of the Qur'an was sent down on one night or in one month. What is meant is that the revelation of the Qur'an began in Ramadan on the night of power. The beginning of the revelation is equated with the whole act of revelation because:
1) The essence of the message revealed in the Qur'an was made clear to the Prophet on the first occasion of revelation. Later communications simply provided detailed expression of that message.
2) The beginning of a divine act is like the whole act, since, by virtue of its being a divine act, its completion can be taken for granted. Indeed, a divine act, even when it has not yet begun, can be considered as having already taken place, because nothing can prevent its happening. And, God does not live a time zone, He is beyond time. To Him anything that 'is to happen' is as if it has already happened.
COMES AGAIN AND AGAIN
The night of power comes again and again. This is shown by the present tense in which the Qur'an talks about the night of power. For example, it says:
"Angels and the spirit descend in it."
The Arabic word for descend is tanazzalu which implies repetition. If we go by Hadith, there are numerous traditions that show that the night of power comes again and again.
EXISTED BEFORE THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Since extraordinary manifestations of divine power have occurred among all nations and changed human destinies in all ages, we should expect that the night of power has existed throughout history. This is supported by a tradition in Nisai, in which a Companion asks the Prophet whether the night of power existed only during the lives of the prophets or did it also come after them and the Prophet replies that it also came after them. In this tradition it is taken for granted that the night of power existed during the lifetime of every prophet and the question only is whether it also existed after the departure of the prophet, which question is answered in the affirmative by the Prophet.
BETTER THAN A THOUSAND MONTHS
The night of power can make sense to, or benefit, those who believe in the Unseen (or ghayb), in a world beyond this world, in the existence of a part of reality that we cannot perceive or comprehend through our senses (with or without the aid of scientific instruments) or through logic and reason. Belief in the Unseen is a gift, for it enriches a person's life and gives it meaning provided it does not entangle him in all kinds of superstitions.
The Unseen continually interacts with the Seen, but once in a while this interaction is very intense. The night of power is a time of such intense interaction. If we liken a normal interaction of the Unseen with the Seen as a drizzle from the sky, then the night of power is like a heavy rainfall. According to numerous ahadith, the Prophet actually had a vision of the night of power as a night of torrential rain. Talking about the night of power he once told some of his Companions: "I had a dream in which I saw myself prostrating in mud and water". This refers to heavy rainfall which so wet the floor of the Prophet's mosque that while praying one had to prostrate on mud and water.
In terms of this analogy we can better understand the Qur'anic statement that "the night of power is better than a thousand months." just as the amount of water that can fall in a very heavy rain can be greater than the amount that falls in thousands of brief drizzles, so also the blessings that descend on this world on the night of power are greater than the blessings sent down in a thousand months.
It is often asked, especially by non-Muslim students of Islam, how can the night of power be better than a thousand months considering that a thousand months consist of about 83 years and can contain several (even 83) nights of power. This question is based on literalism which is unwarranted here. Moreover, there is nothing to prevent us from counting the thousand months from among those that do not contain a night of power.
NO FIXED DATE
The night of power does not fall on any fixed date of the calendar. It is not the anniversary of the night when the Qur'anic revelation began. This is indicated by the uncertainty found in the Traditions about the date of the night of power.
For example, according to one tradition some Companions had a dream that the night of power was in the last seven nights of Ramadan. The Prophet confirmed the dream and said: "Whoever wants to search for (this night) should search in the last seven nights (of Ramadan)." Yet in another tradition the Prophet is reported to have said: "Look for the night of power when nine, seven or five nights remain in Ramadan (i.e. from 20th to 25th of Ramadan, inclusive)." But on the other hand, "search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th" of Ramadan. All these traditions are from Bukhari. If to these we add traditions from other Hadith collections, the uncertainty increases. Traditions in these other collections fix the date of the night of power as the 1st, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 27th or the last date of Ramadan.
This uncertainty about the date of the night of power would be inexplicable if the night of power had a fixed date as the anniversary of the beginning of the Qur'anic revelation. The revelation of the Qur'an was a tremendous event which profoundly impressed the Prophet's mind. It is almost impossible that he forgot when and where this most important event in his life, and indeed in the whole history of mankind, started. Some of his early companions such as Khadijah, Abu Bakr and Ali must also have known about its date.
The truth of the matter seems to be that the night of power has no fixed date. In principle it may not even fall in the month of Ramadan, as is suggested by a saying attributed to Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: "Everyone who gets up for prayer every night of the year will hit upon the night of power."(1) It is also possible that in some years there is no night of power. It is like a heavy rain in the desert, which does not fall according to a fixed calendar. This whole world is a spiritual desert. God now and then showers it with abundance of spiritual blessings but not on fixed dates. Very important things do not have fixed dates. But Allah knows best.
What about the traditions that advise searching for the night of power in this or that part of the month of Ramadan? These traditions, if they are authentic, must be understood as talking about the probability of encountering the night of power on the suggested dates in the particular years in which those dates were suggested. They are not meant to fix the date or week or month of the night of power for all future years. We must also understand in the same way those traditions (if authentic) which say that the Prophet was about to inform the Companions of the date of the night of power but its knowledge was withdrawn because he saw two Muslims fighting or because someone disturbed him in his dream while he was being shown the date of the blessed night.
TRADITIONAL NIGHT-LONG PRAYERS WORTH KEEPING
Muslims of many different persuasions spend nights in Ramadan (e.g. the 27th) in prayer in the hope of encountering the night of power. This tradition is worth keeping even though the night of power has no fixed date. For one thing, a night of prayer in hope of God's mercy and showers of His blessings cannot but be good. For another, the chances of encountering the blessed night are perhaps higher on one of these traditional dates than on other nights (since things can sometimes happen if sufficiently many people start believing that they are likely to happen). Moreover, the tradition of spending some night(s) in prayer keeps alive in the Ummah the search for the night of power and what it stands for.
WHAT THE NIGHT OF POWER STANDS FOR
The night of power stands first of all for belief in the Unseen, its power and its continued relevance. The Qur'an says that the angels descend on the night of power. Since angels are the symbols of the powers of the Unseen , their descent on recurring nights of power means that the Unseen does still continue to interact with the human world.
The night of power also stands for knowledge and enlightenment. For the Qur'an also says that the ruh or the spirit is sent down on this night. In the Qur'an the ruh or the spirit (equated sometimes with the angel Gabriel) is a source of knowledge and life. Its descent on the night of power means that the coming of this night results in an unusual increase in knowledge and enlightenment in the world and in a corresponding enhancement of human life.
Finally, the night of power stands for salam and barakah, as the Qur'an says:
"Salam! This 'till the rise of dawn" and "We revealed it in a night of barakah."
Salam (peace) and barakah (blessings) include all that is good and make life wonderful.
The fact that the night of power comes again and again means that some doors of divine mercy will always remain open even though the prophetic revelation has come to a conclusion. Believers can, and do, still receive power, knowledge and enlightenment from the Unseen. The angels still come and help the believers. The spirit still descends to guide the believers and to inspire them to rise and declare the truth. This is a point on which those members of some religious groups should ponder who lead their religious lives as if the Seen has been cut off from the Unseen and the angels and the spirit have retired.
The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan - Don't Miss!
The last ten nights of Ramadan are very special.
The first of these nights occurs on the eve of the 21st day of Ramadan. In other words, it is the night that commences after the completion of the 20th day of fasting.
Sometimes there are only nine nights, whenever the month of Ramadan lasts for only 29 days. Nevertheless, they are still traditionally referred to as "the last ten nights".
The last ten nights of Ramadan are very special. These are the nights that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would spend in constant worship. Among these nights is Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) – a night more blessed than a thousand months.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to single these nights out for worship and the performance of good deeds. He would exert himself in worship during these ten nights more than any other nights of the year.
Aisha tells us: "During the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would tighten his waist belt and spend the night in worship. He would also wake up his family." (Al Bukhari)
Aisha also says: "I had never known Allah`s Messenger (peace be upon him) to read the entire Quran in a single night, or to spend the whole night in prayer up until the morning, or to spend a whole month in fasting – except in Ramadan." (An Nasai` & Ibn Majah)
When we say that the Prophet Muhammad spent the whole night in worship, we should qualify it. This is because he would spend some time eating dinner, partaking of his pre-dawn meal, and other similar activities. However, he would spend most of the night in worship.
Waking Up the Family
Aisha informs us that the Prophet used to wake up his family during the last ten nights of Ramadan. Indeed, he used to wake up his wives for prayer throughout the year, but that was so that they could pray for a small fraction of the night.
We know this, because Umm Salamah, the Prophet`s wife, relates that the Prophet woke her up one night and said:
"Glory be to Allah. What has been sent down of trials during this night? What has been sent down of treasures, so that the denizens of the bedchambers will be awakened? O Lord! To be clothed in this world by naked in the Hereafter." (Al Bukhari)
During the last ten nights of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad would wake up his wives to pray for a much longer portion of the night than during the rest of the year.
Exerting Oneself in Worship
Aisha tells us: "The Prophet would exert himself in worship during the last ten nights more than at any other time of the year." (Muslim)
The great jurist, Al-Shafi`i, declares: "It is Sunnah for one to exert greater efforts in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadan."
When Aisha tells us that Prophet Muhammad would "tighten his waist belt", she is speaking figuratively. The phrase means to set about to devote oneself fully and wholeheartedly to the task at hand.
Seeking Out Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power)
One of the greatest distinctions of these ten special nights is that one of them is Laylat al-Qadr. This is the greatest night of the year – better than a thousand months. This means that a Muslim can earn more rewards on the Night of Power than he would if – excluding this special night – he were to worship his Lord for eighty-four years straight. This is one of the immense favors that God has bestowed upon the Muslim community.
Imam Ibrahim Al-Nakha`i says: "Good works performed on this night are better than those performed consistently for a thousand months."
Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer, believing in Allah and seeking His reward, will be forgiven all of his past sins." (Al Bukhari& Muslim)
"Believing in Allah", in this hadith, means not only to believe in God, but to believe in the reward that we are promised for observing prayer on this night.
Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) is on one of the odd nights. Aisha relates that Prophet Muhammad said:
"Seek out Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights during the last ten nights of Ramadan." (Al Bukhari & Muslim)
It is most likely one of the last seven odd nights. Ibn Umar relates that Prophet Muhammad said:
"Look for it in the last ten nights. If one of you falls weak or unable to do so, then he should at least try on the seven remaining nights." (Muslim)
The most likely candidate for Laylat al-Qadr is the 27th night of Ramadan. This is indicated by the statement of Ubayy ibn Ka`b: “I swear by Allah that I know which night it is. It is the night in which Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) ordered us to observe in prayer. It is the night on the eve of the 27th of Ramadan. Its sign is that the sun will rise in the morning of that day white without exuding any rays.” (Muslim)
A Muslim should seek out this special night by spending the last ten nights of Ramadan engaged in various acts of worship. These include reciting the remembrances of God, reading the Quran, and begging God`s forgiveness.
It is best for us to strive hard on all ten nights, because the Prophet Muhammad said:
"The way we "look for" Laylat al-Qadr is by engaging in extra worship."
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Look for it in the last ten nights" he did not mean that we should literally "look for" signs and indications that distinguish Laylat al-Qadr from other nights. The things that distinguish this night from other nights are part of the Unseen.
God says: {Surely We revealed it on a blessed night. Surely We ever wish to warn (against evil) – On this night, every wise matter is made distinct.} (Ad-Dukhan 44: 3-4)
God says in the Quran: {Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with every decree. (This night is) peace, until the rising of the dawn.} (Al-Qadr 97: 3-5)
These are the ways in which Laylat al-Qadr is special. They are not things that we can see with our eyes. No one after the Prophet can see the angels.
Observing a Retreat in the Mosque (I`tikaf)
Observing a retreat in the mosque is of the best things we can do during the last ten nights of Ramadan. Aisha tells us: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to observe a retreat in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan up until he died. His wives continued to observe this practice after his death." (Al Bukhari & Muslim)
The practice of i`tikaf is a strongly recommended act. It is defined as remaining in retreat in the mosque for the express purpose of worship. The purpose of doing so is to devote one`s heart exclusively to God. The person engaging in i`tikaf keeps this intention close to mind and seeks God`s blessings. He should not forget the reason why he is observing this retreat.
A person observing i`tikaf does not leave the mosque except for what is absolutely necessary (like going to the bathroom). While in the mosque, he should busy himself with the remembrance of God. He should make sure to offer the remembrances of the morning and evening and the prescribed remembrances for the five daily prayers. He should perform all of the Sunnah prayers. He should read as much of the Quran as he can.
He should spend less time eating and sleeping as little as possible. He should avoid unnecessary talk. However, he should engage in advising his fellow Muslims and in enjoining them to truth and to patience.
Generosity
It is encouraged for us to be extra generous during the last ten nights of Ramadan, without being extravagant or ostentatious in our giving. Ibn `Abbas relates that: "Allah`s Messenger (peace be upon him) was the most generous of all people in doing good, and he was at his most generous during the month of Ramadan. Gabriel used to meet with him every year throughout the month of Ramadan, so the Prophet could recite the Quran to him. Whenever Gabriel met with him, he became more generous than a beneficial breeze." (Al Bukhari & Muslim)
Al-Nawawi, the Muslim scholar, states:
"Generosity and open-handedness are strongly encouraged in Ramadan, especially during the last ten nights. By doing so, we emulate the example of Allah`s Messenger (peace be upon him) as well as of our Pious Predecessors. Also, this month is noble, and good works carried out in this month are more blessed than they are at any other time. Also, during this month, people are preoccupied with fasting and worship, and this distracts them from their livelihood, so they might need some assistance during this time."
The Last Ten Nights of Ramadan - Don't Miss!
The last ten nights of Ramadan are very special.
The first of these nights occurs on the eve of the 21st day of Ramadan. In other words, it is the night that commences after the completion of the 20th day of fasting.
Sometimes there are only nine nights, whenever the month of Ramadan lasts for only 29 days. Nevertheless, they are still traditionally referred to as "the last ten nights".
The last ten nights of Ramadan are very special. These are the nights that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would spend in constant worship. Among these nights is Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) – a night more blessed than a thousand months.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to single these nights out for worship and the performance of good deeds. He would exert himself in worship during these ten nights more than any other nights of the year.
Aisha tells us: "During the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would tighten his waist belt and spend the night in worship. He would also wake up his family." (Al Bukhari)
Aisha also says: "I had never known Allah`s Messenger (peace be upon him) to read the entire Quran in a single night, or to spend the whole night in prayer up until the morning, or to spend a whole month in fasting – except in Ramadan." (An Nasai` & Ibn Majah)
When we say that the Prophet Muhammad spent the whole night in worship, we should qualify it. This is because he would spend some time eating dinner, partaking of his pre-dawn meal, and other similar activities. However, he would spend most of the night in worship.
Waking Up the Family
Aisha informs us that the Prophet used to wake up his family during the last ten nights of Ramadan. Indeed, he used to wake up his wives for prayer throughout the year, but that was so that they could pray for a small fraction of the night.
We know this, because Umm Salamah, the Prophet`s wife, relates that the Prophet woke her up one night and said:
"Glory be to Allah. What has been sent down of trials during this night? What has been sent down of treasures, so that the denizens of the bedchambers will be awakened? O Lord! To be clothed in this world by naked in the Hereafter." (Al Bukhari)
During the last ten nights of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad would wake up his wives to pray for a much longer portion of the night than during the rest of the year.
Exerting Oneself in Worship
Aisha tells us: "The Prophet would exert himself in worship during the last ten nights more than at any other time of the year." (Muslim)
The great jurist, Al-Shafi`i, declares: "It is Sunnah for one to exert greater efforts in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadan."
When Aisha tells us that Prophet Muhammad would "tighten his waist belt", she is speaking figuratively. The phrase means to set about to devote oneself fully and wholeheartedly to the task at hand.
Seeking Out Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power)
One of the greatest distinctions of these ten special nights is that one of them is Laylat al-Qadr. This is the greatest night of the year – better than a thousand months. This means that a Muslim can earn more rewards on the Night of Power than he would if – excluding this special night – he were to worship his Lord for eighty-four years straight. This is one of the immense favors that God has bestowed upon the Muslim community.
Imam Ibrahim Al-Nakha`i says: "Good works performed on this night are better than those performed consistently for a thousand months."
Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer, believing in Allah and seeking His reward, will be forgiven all of his past sins." (Al Bukhari& Muslim)
"Believing in Allah", in this hadith, means not only to believe in God, but to believe in the reward that we are promised for observing prayer on this night.
Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) is on one of the odd nights. Aisha relates that Prophet Muhammad said:
"Seek out Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights during the last ten nights of Ramadan." (Al Bukhari & Muslim)
It is most likely one of the last seven odd nights. Ibn Umar relates that Prophet Muhammad said:
"Look for it in the last ten nights. If one of you falls weak or unable to do so, then he should at least try on the seven remaining nights." (Muslim)
The most likely candidate for Laylat al-Qadr is the 27th night of Ramadan. This is indicated by the statement of Ubayy ibn Ka`b: “I swear by Allah that I know which night it is. It is the night in which Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) ordered us to observe in prayer. It is the night on the eve of the 27th of Ramadan. Its sign is that the sun will rise in the morning of that day white without exuding any rays.” (Muslim)
A Muslim should seek out this special night by spending the last ten nights of Ramadan engaged in various acts of worship. These include reciting the remembrances of God, reading the Quran, and begging God`s forgiveness.
It is best for us to strive hard on all ten nights, because the Prophet Muhammad said:
"The way we "look for" Laylat al-Qadr is by engaging in extra worship."
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Look for it in the last ten nights" he did not mean that we should literally "look for" signs and indications that distinguish Laylat al-Qadr from other nights. The things that distinguish this night from other nights are part of the Unseen.
God says: {Surely We revealed it on a blessed night. Surely We ever wish to warn (against evil) – On this night, every wise matter is made distinct.} (Ad-Dukhan 44: 3-4)
God says in the Quran: {Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with every decree. (This night is) peace, until the rising of the dawn.} (Al-Qadr 97: 3-5)
These are the ways in which Laylat al-Qadr is special. They are not things that we can see with our eyes. No one after the Prophet can see the angels.
Observing a Retreat in the Mosque (I`tikaf)
Observing a retreat in the mosque is of the best things we can do during the last ten nights of Ramadan. Aisha tells us: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to observe a retreat in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan up until he died. His wives continued to observe this practice after his death." (Al Bukhari & Muslim)
The practice of i`tikaf is a strongly recommended act. It is defined as remaining in retreat in the mosque for the express purpose of worship. The purpose of doing so is to devote one`s heart exclusively to God. The person engaging in i`tikaf keeps this intention close to mind and seeks God`s blessings. He should not forget the reason why he is observing this retreat.
A person observing i`tikaf does not leave the mosque except for what is absolutely necessary (like going to the bathroom). While in the mosque, he should busy himself with the remembrance of God. He should make sure to offer the remembrances of the morning and evening and the prescribed remembrances for the five daily prayers. He should perform all of the Sunnah prayers. He should read as much of the Quran as he can.
He should spend less time eating and sleeping as little as possible. He should avoid unnecessary talk. However, he should engage in advising his fellow Muslims and in enjoining them to truth and to patience.
Generosity
It is encouraged for us to be extra generous during the last ten nights of Ramadan, without being extravagant or ostentatious in our giving. Ibn `Abbas relates that: "Allah`s Messenger (peace be upon him) was the most generous of all people in doing good, and he was at his most generous during the month of Ramadan. Gabriel used to meet with him every year throughout the month of Ramadan, so the Prophet could recite the Quran to him. Whenever Gabriel met with him, he became more generous than a beneficial breeze." (Al Bukhari & Muslim)
Al-Nawawi, the Muslim scholar, states:
"Generosity and open-handedness are strongly encouraged in Ramadan, especially during the last ten nights. By doing so, we emulate the example of Allah`s Messenger (peace be upon him) as well as of our Pious Predecessors. Also, this month is noble, and good works carried out in this month are more blessed than they are at any other time. Also, during this month, people are preoccupied with fasting and worship, and this distracts them from their livelihood, so they might need some assistance during this time."
