The Superiority of Laylat-ul-Qadr (The Night of Decree)
By Imaam Yahyaa Ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi
Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala, the Exalted, says:
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur‘aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e., worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e., 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees. (All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.” (97:1-5) “We sent it (this Qur‘aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e., the Night of Al-Qadr, Soorah No: 97) in the month of Ramadhaan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments (i.e., the matters of deaths, births, provisions, and calamities for the whole (coming) year as decreed by Allaah). As a Command (or this Qur’an or the Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers). (As) a Mercy from your Rabb, Verily! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (44:3-6)
1189. Aboo Hurayrah radhiallaahu ‘anhu reported: The Prophet Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Whosoever performs Qiyaam during Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), with Faith and being hopeful of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala’s reward, will have his former sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] Commentary: Qiyaam here means what keeps one awake to one’s capacity and for worship and makes one perform Nawafil, impels one to beg pardon for sins from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala, urges one to praise Him. Specially, if a person performs ‘Isha prayer and Fajr prayer in congregation, he will hopefully attain all those distinctions which are mentioned in this Hadeeth.
1190. Ibn ‘Umar radhiallaahu ‘anhu reported: Some of the Companions of the Prophet Sall Allaahu‘alayhi wa sallam saw Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in their dreams in the last seven nights of Ramadhaan, whereupon the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam 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.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] Commentary: “Tawat’at” linguistically means to step or walk on, that is, to place foot over the place where one’s fellow kept his foot. Here, it is used in the sense of correspondence. In other words, “I see that your dreams all agree upon the last seven nights” stands to mean “you had similar dreams”. This was done by showing all of them the (spectacle) of Laylat-ul-Qadr. On the strength of these dreams, the Prophet Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said that Laylat-ul-Qadr should be sought in the last seven nights of Ramadhaan. The wisdom of keeping it secret is to keep people awake to engage in worship for a larger number of nights in this auspicious month.
1191. ‘Aishah radhiallaahu ‘anha reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to seclude himself (in the masjid) during the last ten nights of Ramadhaan. He, Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would say, “Search for Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the last ten nights of Ramadhaan.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
1192. ‘Aishah radhiallaahu ‘anha reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to observe I‘tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadhaan and say, “Seek Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan.” [Al-Bukhaari] Commentary: We learn from this Hadeeth that Laylat-ul-Qadr occurs in any of the five odd nights – 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th – of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan. Its exact date has not been revealed for the reason that people keep themselves awake for prayer for a larger number of nights. Had its date been fixed, people would have kept awake for prayer only on that night. There is a general belief among the scholars that it is fixed, on the 27th night of Ramadhaan. But this is not correct. Ahadeeth do not confirm this view.
1193. ‘Aishah radhiallaahu ‘anha reported: When the last ten nights (of Ramadhaan) would begin, the Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would keep awake at night (for prayer and devotion), awaken his family and prepare himself to be more diligent in worship. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
1194. ‘Aishah radhiallaahu ‘anha reported: The Messenger of Allaah Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to strive more in worship during Ramadhaan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allaah) in the last ten nights of Ramadhaan than he strove in earlier part of the month. [Muslim] Commentary: We learn from this Hadeeth that: 1. One should concentrate more on prayers and worship on the last ten nights of Ramadhaan than the first twenty nights, in the same way as one should do more worship in Ramadhaan than in the other months. 2. One should keep oneself awake for prayer, worship and glorification of Allaah in the last ten nights of Ramadhaan so that one can attain the blessings of Laylat-ul-Qadr. 3. One should also persuade his family members to keep themselves awake for prayer and worship in the last ten odd nights of Ramadhaan so that they can also make efforts to please Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala. 4. I‘tikaaf (seclusion in the masjid for prayers) in the last ten days of Ramadhaan is also a meritorious act for its being a practice of the Prophet Sall Allaahu‘alayhi wa sallam.
1195. ‘Aishah radhiallaahu ‘anha reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allaah! If I realise Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied, “You should supplicate: Allaahumma innaka‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa‘fu‘anni (O Allaah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).” [At-Tirmidhi] Commentary: Although no specific sign of Laylat-ul-Qadr has been mentioned in the Ahadeeth, some eminent scholars have stated, on the basis of their own experiences and observation, that since angels descend on this night, one feels a peculiar tranquillity and peace of mind and one is overwhelmed with a unique tenderness of heart. The night is neither very hot nor very cold but a temperate one. Similarly, the sun that rises on the next day is also not very hot etc. etc. Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala knows the truth of the matter despite all that has been said in this regard. In any case, on this auspicious night every Muslim should earnestly pray to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala for the forgiveness of his sins with reference to His Attribute of Forgiveness. K a r i m a – DDN
The Islamic Workplace 
Posted on October 7, 2007
0