Obedient Angel
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 | Subject: Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power/Value/Decree)  Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:33 am | |
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(also known as Shab-e-Qadr), the Night of Power, Night of Value, the Night of Decree or Night of Measures, is the anniversary of two very important dates in Islam that occurred in the month of Ramadan.
Revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Laylat Al-Qadr is the anniversary of the night that the Qur'an says it was revealed. Muslims generally believe that revelation of the Qur'an occurred in two phases, with the first phase being the revelation in its entirety on Laylat Al-Qadr to Gabriel in the lowest heaven (inzal), and then the subsequent piecemeal revelation to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic) (Tanzil).
In addition, it is the anniversary of the night Muslims believe the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, pbuh, as well.
Religious Importance
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
[97:1]
Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Ordainment.
[97:2]
And what will show you what the Night of Ordainment is?
[97:3]
The Night of Ordainment is better than a thousand months.
[97:4]
The angels and the Spirit descend in it by the leave of their Lord with every command.
[97:5]
It is peaceful until the rising of the dawn.
—Sura 97 (Al-Qadr), āyāt 1-5[1]
The verses above regard the Night as better than one thousand months. The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting, praying, reciting the Qur'an, remembering God, and giving charity. However because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims strive[give more effort] harder in the last ten days of Ramadan since the Laylat al-Qadr could be one of the odd-numbered days in these last ten (the first, third, fifth, seventh or ninth). Normally, some Muslims from each community would perform an Iʿtikāf in the mosque: they remain in the mosque for the last ten days of the month for prayers and recitation.
Muslims often pray extra prayers on this day, particularly the night prayer. They awake, pray, and hope God will give them anything they may desire on this night. Mostly, they perform tilawat (reading the Qur'an).
Those who can afford to devote their time in the remembrance of God stay in the mosque for the final ten days of Ramadan. This worship is calledIʿtikāf (retreat). They observe fast during the day and occupy themselves with the remembrance of God, performing voluntary prayers and studying the Qur'an, day and night, apart from the obligatory prayers which they perform with the congregation. Food and other necessities of life are provided for them during their stay in the mosque. Devoting time to remember God, Muslims hope to receive divine favors and blessings connected with the blessed night.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laylat_al-Qadr
Lailatul Qadr
Qadr means honour and dignity. Lailatul Qadr means the night of honour and dignity. It is this night in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira. Since this night enjoys the honour of having the first revelation brought to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, it has been named Lailatul Qadr.
This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadhan and most likely to be the 27th. The reward of worship on this night is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship, equivalent to a person's lifetime. So, on this night one should pray nafil namaz, recite the Quran, do Tasbih, Zikr, Duas, etc as much as possible.
This night had already opened its gates of treasures when the angel for the first time had come with the Divine Message in the cave of Hira, but its auspiciousness has continued to be with us permanently. Every year in the month of Ramadhan, this night is given to the Ummah. Muslims engage in prayers, recitation of Quran and praying to Allah, as the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said: "The person who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and with hope of reward from Allah, all his past sins have been forgiven." (Bukhaari)
As the rainy season is suitable for farming, similarly for the attainment of nearness to Allah, specific times , specific days and specific nights are most suitable, e.g. the time of Tahajjud prayers, Friday prayers, month of Ramadhan, the Day of Arafah, etc. So also the Night of Power is the most suitable night for attaining nearness to Allah.
In the Hadeeth, we have been asked to seek it in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadhan. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wasallam has said, 'Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan'.(Bukhaari).
By odd nights, the reference is made to the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th night of the month of Ramadhan. No one night has been fixed so that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more nights in worshipping Allah. From this aspect, the importance of `Itikaaf (seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadhan is clear.
Some Special Prayers and Thikr for Laitul Qadr
1. Seeking Forgiveness. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa asked the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam that if she happened to get the night sublime what prayer should she say. The Prophetsallalahu alayhi wasallam replied that she should say the following prayer :
"Allahumma innaka afuwwun kareemun tuhib-bul af-wa fa-afo anni"
(O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, loves forgiving, so forgive me.)
2. Reciting Astighfar. The following should be recited as much as possible:
"Astaghfirullah allathi la-ilaha illa huwa Al Hayyul Qayyumo wa atu-bu ilaihe"
(I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Almighty, there is no God but He. He is self-Existent, the Eternal
and I return to Him)
3. Reciting Surah Al Qadr.
"Inna anzalnahu fee lailathil Qadr, Wa maa adraka maa lailatul Qadr.
Lailatul Qadri khairum min alfi shahr. Tanazzalul malai-katu var-roohu
fee ha bi izni Rabbihim min kulle amr. Salaamun heya hatta matla-il fajr."
4. Do Salatul Tasbih.
5. Do the best thikr i.e. La ilaha illallah
http://www.kingstonmosque.org.uk/LailatulQadr.htm
6. Muslims usually finish reading the whole Qur'an which they started in the beginning of Ramadan on this day and read the du'aa of finishing the Qur'an.
More info. on Lailatul Qadr:
http://www.jannah.org/articles/lailatulqadr.html | |
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