Lailatul Qadr 101

 We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr). And what will make you know what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit (the angel Jibreel) by Allah's permission, on every errand. Peace.... until the appearance of dawn!

 Surah Al Qadr, Holy Qur'an

We've already reached the last ten days of Ramadhan! Can you believe it? Time zoomed past us and the end of the month is here. We have every reason to be sad because life won't be quite the same anymore once Ramadhan is over. No more daily taraweeh, no more daily iftars (in other words, no more good food at the mosque) and no more night gatherings in the mosque. 

But the last ten days of Ramadhan also means that we have something very significant and special  to look forward to. 

Lailatul Qadr. The Night of Power. 

Every Muslim knows Lailatul Qadr is an important night to look forward to, but a little Lailatul Qadr 101 couldn't hurt anybody, right?

In reference to Umma.ws, the word al-qadr can be also translated as 'tightness, closeness'. Taking into account this meaning of the word religious scholars have said: ”In this night such a great number of angels descend to earth that there is simply no room for them all”.

It can be also translated as 'limitation, restriction', which means that awareness and knowledge about which night of the next month of Ramadan will be Lailatul Qadr is limited by Allah the Most High. The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah greet and bless him) gives only approximate information on the matter. Allah (swt) does not tell us when exactly Lailatul Qadr will take place, rather He tells us about the various signs we should look out for.

Sometimes the word combination Lailatul-Qadr is translated as 'The Night of Predestination'. It is especially true when the word qadr is read as qadar (fate, destiny). Islamic scholars are said to have explained:” Depending on how a believer spends this night and with what prayers he invokes God the Most High, it may have a significant impact on the following year of the life of this person, with his actions going in line with the original all-awareness of the Creator. 

In simple terms, Lailatul Qadr is incomparable to any other time of the year as there is no other night or day which brings as much mercy from God. It is said that when our rooh (soul) is being placed into our body as a mere foetus in our mother's womb these three things have been written for us: time of birth, time of death and our final destination - Heaven or Hell. During Lailatul Qadr we are able to change our destiny in terms of whether we are People of Heaven or People of Hell. Well this is clearly a no-brainer - obviously we all want to enter Jannah. So what can one do to enter Jannah?

Seek forgiveness... from The One who created us and brought us into this world to worship Him.

Make sincere repentance... (also known as 'tawbah' which  literally translates as the act of turning away) for the wrong-doings we have made towards others to cause them hurt and most importantly, for the mistakes we have done to displease Him.

Start and continue good deeds...  that will hopefully make us better people, better Muslims.

Each and everyone of us has sinned and we will continue to sin whether we are doing it intentionally or not because we are imperfect. However, that isn't the point. The more I learn about Islam the more I understand that being a good Muslim isn't about being perfect. Nobody can say for sure that whatever good we do will please Allah swt. As human beings we must humble ourselves and remember that we can only try our best while hoping that He will accept our efforts and reward us for the inner and physical struggle we go through to become better Muslims. We must not be arrogant and we must be patient.

What can be done during Lailatul Qadr (apart from the usual prayers and recitation of the Holy Qur'an)?

• I'tikaf
• Perform Qiyam al Lail
• Pray Nafawil
• Recite this dua which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had revealed to his wife, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)

Allaahumma innaka ‘afoowoon tuhibbul‘afoowa fa'oo foo’anni

“O, Allah! You are the Forgiving, You love to forgive. Forgive me!”

Now, what are the signs of Lailatul Qadr?

Narrated Ibn Abbas:

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan ,' on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan (i.e. 21, 23, 25, respectively)."

Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 32, Number 238}

Narrated Abu Salama:

I asked Abu Sa'id, and he was a friend of mine, (about the Night of Qadr) and he said, "We practiced Itikaf (seclusion in the mosque) in the middle third of the month of Ramadan with the Prophet . In the morning of the 20th of Ramadan, the Prophet (pbuh) came and addressed us and said, 'I was informed of (the date of the Night of Qadr) but I was caused to forget it; so search for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. (In the dream) I saw myself prostrating in mud and water (as a sign). So, whoever was in l'tikaf with me should return to it with me (for another 10-day's period)', and we returned. At that time there was no sign of clouds in the sky but suddenly a cloud came and it rained till rain-water started leaking through the roof of the mosque which was made of date-palm leaf stalks. Then the prayer was established and I saw Allah's Apostle prostrating in mud and water and I saw the traces of mud on his forehead."

Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 32, Number 233

Other useful signs:

• The night will be peaceful, neither hot nor cold, with a clear moon shinning but with no rays.
• There will be no shooting stars in the night
• One companion of the Prophet (pbuh) reported that on Laitatul Qadr he tasted sea water and it was sweet.
• The next morning after this night the sun will be bright, brilliant and encarnadine (light-red). Its shine will be tender, not blinding just like the full moon in the clear night.
  
• Taking into account of the local climate, the weather in that night won’t be either cold or warm i.e. the night temperature will be average for this climate, region and season.
  

Keen to know more about mercy, forgiveness and Lailatul Qadr? Check out these videos.

Abu Eesa Niamatullah on the Night of Power

Radio interview with Imam Suhaib Webb on what it means to repent, why it is challenging and what are its rewards.