Lailat-ul-Qadr
(Night
of Power When The Holy Qur'an Descended)
M.
M. Ansari
The expression “a thousand months” used in the verse is not
to be taken literally. It rather points to an indefinitely long span of time, a
time beyond human count, or timeless time so to say. Time has not only a
quantitative but also a qualitative connotation. Related to the revelation of the
Word of God, It touches the very apex of excellence.
“We
have indeed revealed this (Our’an) on Lailat-ul-Qadr. And what will explain to you
what Lailat-ul-Oadr is? Lailat-ul-Qadr is better than a thousand months. In it
come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibrail), by God's permission, with all
decrees. Peace! – This until the break of the dawn.” (Al-Qur'an, Surah: 97).
The
Arabic word Qadr (قدر) has several shades of
meaning. It stands for Power, Measure, Honour, Worth, Destiny, Determination,
etc. Commenting on the above cited Qur'anic Chapter, Hazrat Shah Abdul Oadir (RA)
says, “Revelation of Holy Qur‘an began on this night, i.e. Lailat-ul-Qadr. Then
Al-mighty God did bless it forever with three excellences. First, to do good
this night is like practicing goodness over one thousand months. Secondly, the
phenomena that are predestined to occur in this world, come down upon the firmament
of the earth this night. Thirdly, it is during this night that God sends
spiritual peace that lends sweetness and delight to man's acts of devotion to
God.”
The
revelation of Al-Qur'an by itself is the choosiest gift of love and
consideration to man from the Creator. It contains His final Word sent to the fast
of His apostles for the guidance of entire
mankind for all times. Almighty God elucidates:
We
have made this (Qur'an) a light with which We guide such of Our servants as We
will...” (42: 52).
The
event of the descent of the Glorious Qur’an, the Divine Book of Wisdom and Guidance,
demands spirited celebration and earnest thanksgiving to God, the Most
Merciful. Lailat-ul-Qadr undoubtedly otters for this purpose a most welcome
opportunity to the believers.
A
Thousand Months:
The
expression “a thousand months” used in the Qur'anic Verse is not to be taken
literally. Lt rather points to an indefinitely long span of time, a time beyond
human count, or timeless time so to say.
It is
said that once Hazrat Rabi'a of Basrah sent to Hazrat Hasan of Basrah (RA) a
wax-candle, a needle, and a hair. In the accompanying message to the
contemporary saint she said, “Be like a candle to illumine the world while you
yourself burn. Be like a needle which is always at work to sew clothes tor
others but cares not tor a costume for itself. When you have done these two things,
a hair's worth of time will be like a thousand years for you.”
This
anecdote illustrates how human beings, through their selfless acts of piety can
add new dimensions to the limited time at their disposal. We measure life in
terms of the profane time divided into nights and days, but righteousness and
its intensity is the Divine perimeter for it. It is the quantum of reward from
God that man earns in a given time that makes one night equivalent to “a
thousand months”. It depends on the quality of one's acts of goodness and
worship. To illustrate, about the Ramadan fasting the Holy Prophet (ﷺ)
said: –
“Every
good action of the son of Adam will be multiplied from ten up to seven hundred
times.” (Bukhari and Muslim).
Search
tor the Night:
Speaking
of the sanctity and bliss of Ramadan, Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
said that its first ten days comprise the full bloom of Mercy: the middle ten,
of Forgiveness, and the fast ten, of Salvation. (Baihaqi). Great indeed are the
blessing’s of the holy month of Ramadan, and of its fast ten days in particular
when acts of worship reach their climax and which also include Etikaf and
Lailatul-Qadr devotions.
There
was inquisitiveness among the early believers to know which particular night was
Laitat-ul-Oadr. When the Companions asked about it from the Holy Prophet (ﷺ),
Hazrat ‘Ayesha (RDA) has reported that he said:
“Search
for it in the odd ones of the fast ten nights of Ramadan.” (Bukhari)
The
consensus of scholars in Islam is that it is the twenty-seventh night of
Ramadan.
Poet-savant
Shaikh Sa’di of Shiraz (RA) has succinctly put, “If every night were the Night
of Oadr, the Night of Qadr would be of no worth.” The believers set out in
search of this night in the fast decade of the month of Ramadan. The pleasure of this
spiritual quest is unique. Hazrat ‘Ayesha (RDA) has narrated another tradition of
the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) as follows.
“I
asked: O Messenger of God! Tell me ii l were to discover the night that be
Leila!-ul-Qadr, what should I recite in it?”
The
Holy Prophet (ﷺ) advised her to make the following supplication to God:
“O God!
You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so do forgive me.” (Bukhari).
Night
of Power: God’s Sign:
God
manifests His Power not only in the fitful furies of nature such as tempests,
rains, and thunder, but also in regular and routine happenings in the cosmic
system like the passage of time. Says
He: -
“It is
God Who alternates the Night and the Day: Verity in these things is an instructive
example tor those who have vision” (24:44)
He
proclaims “by the Night as it conceals” (92-1), and “by the Night when it is still”
(93:2), and “by the Night when it retreats” (74:33), and ‘by the Night when it
passes away” (89:4). He also proclaims “by the Ten Nights” (89:2) whose
identity is shrouded in mystery. He asks His Messenger:
“Stand
(to prayer) by night, but not all night, half of it or a little lesser a little
more; and recite the Qur’an in slow, measured rhythmic tones. (73:2-4).
Conclusion:
In
God's scheme of things, night has a charm of its own. It claims any God-fearing
man’s attention for devotional practices. The Night of Power, or Lailal-ul-Qadr
as a special significance of its own. Throughout the mundane life, man oscillates
between a fixed late and a limited free will. Lailat-ul-Qadr offers a unique
opportunity for the exercise of man’s limited free will within a limited time
to seek the good pleasure of God by totally resigning himself to His command.
The believers all over the world spend this night in the recitation of Qur'an
Majeed, offering long-drawn special prayers, observing night vigil for meditation
(Fikr) and remembrance (Zikr).
And
God, the Most Merciful, listens to man's prayer and responds to His servants’ beseeching,
as He tells His Messenger:
“When
My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the
prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will,
listen to My call and believe in Me, so that they may walk in the way that is
straight.” (2:186).
May
Allah guide us to the Straight path. Ameen!
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