Laylatul Qadr – Virtue and Attainment
Laylatul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing person is zealous to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.
Praying Qiyaam
It is recommended to make a long Qiyaam prayer during the nights on which Laylat -ul -Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many Ahaadeeths, such as the following:
Abu Dharr (radiyallaahu?anhu) relates: “We fasted with Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu?alaihiwasallam) in Ramadhaan. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven (nights of Ramadhaan) left. Then he stood with us (that night – in prayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, ‘Allah’s Messenger! Wouldn’t you pray with us the whole night?’ He replied: ‘Whoever stands in prayer with the Imaam until he (the Imaam) concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.’.” [Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi (who authenticated it), an-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, at-Tahawi (in Sharhu Ma?an il-Athar, Ibn Nasr, al-Faryabi, and al-Baihaqee. Their isnaad is authentic.]
[Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: “I heard Ahmad being asked, ‘Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during Ramadan?’ He replied, ‘Pray with the people’ I also heard him say, ‘I would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the Imaam and to pray Witr with him as well, for the Prophet (sallallaahu?alaihiwasallam) said: “When a man prays with the Imaam until he concludes, it is recorded that he prayed the rest of that night.” [Masaa’il]]
Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu?anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (sallallaahu?alaihiwasallam) said: “Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylatul-Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah’s reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the addition “and it is facilitated for him” is recorded by Ahmad from the report of ?Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.]
Making Supplications
It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. ‘Aa’ishah (radiallaahu’anha) reported that she asked Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu? alaihiwasallam), “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say: “Allahumma innaka ?afuwwun tuh.ibbul ?afwa fa?fu ?annee – O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me.” [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmidhi. Verified to be authentic by Al-Albaanee]
Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship
It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylatul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah. ?Aa’ishah Bint Abu Bakr (radiallaahu’anha) reported: “When the (last) ten started, the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu?alaihiwasallam) would tighten his Izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer), and wake up his family.” [Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] And she said: “Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu?alaihiwasallam) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights.” [Muslim]
By Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-Ud-Deen al-Albaanee Adapted from “The Night Prayers: Qiyam & Tarawih from works by Muhammad Nasir ud-Deen al-Albaani (and other scholars)” Compiled by Muhammad al-Jibali, 1997 QSS
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Abu Hurairah(r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allaah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said:
“Whosoever performs the night prayer on the night of Al-Qadr with Eemaan (firm belief) and seeking reward will have all his past sins forgiven.” [1]
This hadeeth is evidence for the virtue of the night of Al-Qadr as well as performing qiyaam during it. And it indicates that it is a grand night, which Allaah has honored and made better than a thousand months in regards to its blessing and the blessings found in the righteous deeds that are performed in it. Thus it is better than the worship of a thousand months and that is equivalent to eighty-three years and four months. Due to this, whoever performs qiyaam (night prayer) with true faith and while seeking reward in it, will be forgiven his past sins. There were certain verses verses concerning this virtue:
Allaah says: “We sent it (the Qur’aan) down on a blessed night. Verily We are Ever-Warning. Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment.” [2]
Therefore, it is a “blessed night” meaning it possesses much good and blessing due to its merit and the great reward that awaits the one who does good deeds in it. Among its blessings, is that Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in it. Allaah says: “Verily, We have sent it (the Qur’aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel) by their Lord’s permission with all decrees. (All that night) there is peace, until the appearance of dawn.” [3]
Ibn Katheer (ra) said concerning Allaah’s saying: “Therein descend the angels and the Rooh”: “This means that the descending of the angels increases during this night due to the vast amount of its blessings. And the angels descend along with the descent of blessing and mercy, just as they descend during the time when the Qur’aan is recited and encompass the gatherings in which Allaah is remembered and spread their wings for the true seeker of knowledge, showing respect for him.”[4]
This night occurs only in Ramadaan, since Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in it. He informs us that its revelation occurred during the month of Ramadaan in His saying: “Verily, We have sent it (the Qur’aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr.” [5]
And His saying: “The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur’aan” [6] This means that its revelation from Allaah to His Prophet Muhammad began in it.
Allaah’s statement: “The night of Al-Qadr” is either an indicative of the honor and station of that night, as it is said: “Such and such person has great Qadr”. The conjunction of “the night” to Al-Qadr is the joining of a descriptive feature to it, thus making it mean “An honorable night”. The word “Al-Qadr” may also be in reference to the ordainment and disposal of affairs. Thus, its being joined to the word “the night” would be in order to denote a place or time to it. So it would mean “the night in which all that will occur in the following year will be decreed.” This is similar to Allaah’s saying: “Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment.” [7]
Qataadah said of this: “Therein is decreed every matter of the (upcoming) year”[8] and Ibn Al-Qayyim said that this is the correct opinion. [9]
What seems most correct is that there is nothing that restricts the possibility of these two understandings and Allaah knows best.
His statement: “with Eemaan” means with firm conviction in what Allaah has prepared for those who stand in prayer during this magnificent night. And “seeking reward” means looking for reward and the attainment of recompense.
Thus, this is a grand night, which Allaah has chosen for beginning the revelation of the Qur’aan. So the Muslim must acknowledge its weight in worth, by guarding it and spending it in worship whilst having firm conviction and seeking the reward of Allaah, in order that Allaah may forgive all of his previous sins. This is why the Prophet warned us about being heedless of this night and being neglectful of spending it in worship, for the Muslim would be prevented from its good.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: “Ramadaan has come to you — a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory upon you to fast in it. During this month, the gates of heaven are open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allaah belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whosoever is prevented from its good, then he has been prevented.” [10]
The Muslim should supplicate much on the nights in which the night of Al-Qadr is sought. And he should supplicate with that which the Prophet instructed ‘Aa’ishah RAA with, when she asked him: “What if I know on which night the night of Al-Qadr occurs, what should I say?” So he said: “Say: O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me.” [11]
Ibn Katheer (ra) said: “It is recommended to supplicate a lot at all times and (to supplicate) more than that during the month of Ramadaan, its last ten days and its odd days. And it is highly recommended to increase ones invoking with this supplication: ‘O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me.'” [12]
[1] Al-Bukhaaree (4/2550 and Muslim (759)
[2] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 3-4
[3] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1-5
[4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: (8/465)
[5] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1
[6] Surat-ul-Baqarah: 185
[7] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 4
[8] Reported by At-Tabaree in his Tafseer (25/65) as well as Al-Baihaqee in his book Fadaa’il-ul-Awqaat (pg. 216). Its chain of narration is saheeh.
[9] See Shifaa’-ul-‘Aleel of Ibn Qayyim (pg. 42)
[10] This hadeeth is reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa’ee. See Ahmad Shaakir’s checking of the Musnad (no. 7148) and Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb of Al-Albaanee (1490) as well as Tamaam-ul-Mannah (395)
[11] Reported by At-tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah with an authentic chain. [Editor’s note: The supplication transliterated from Arabic reads: “Allaahumma Innaka ‘Afuwwun Tuhibbul-‘Afwa Fa’affoo ‘annee.”]
[12] Tafsser Ibn Katheer: 8/472
By ‘Abdullaah Ibn Saalih Al-Fawzaan Source: Ahaadeeth As-Siyaam (pg. 141-143) Translated by: Abu maryam
Courtesy: www.everymuslim.co.za ?
