سُوْرَةُ الْقَدْرِ
Surah Al-Qadr (97) — Ayah 1
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed, We
أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ
anzalnāhu
revealed it
فِى
fī
in
لَيْلَةِ
laylati
(the) Night
ٱلْقَدْرِ
l-qadri
(of) Power
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 1) ➊ {اِنَّاۤ اَنْزَلْنٰهُ فِيْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ:} "We sent it down in the Night of Decree," that is, the Noble Qur’an. When something is so well-known that it comes to mind automatically, to highlight its greatness, instead of mentioning its name, only its pronoun is used.
➋ The meaning of {’’ الْقَدْرِ ‘‘} is decree, that is, the night of decree. This meaning is supported by this verse: « فِيْهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ اَمْرٍ حَكِيْمٍ » [ الدخان : ۴ ] "In that night every firm matter is decided." That is, whatever is to happen throughout the year is copied from the Preserved Tablet and handed over to those angels who carry it out. The second meaning of {’’ الْقَدْرِ ‘‘} is greatness, that is, the night of greatness. After this, things indicating its greatness are mentioned, such as it being better than a thousand months, the descent of the angels and Jibreel (peace be upon him) in it, and it being entirely a night of peace. This meaning is also included in the concept of Laylat al-Qadr.
➌ The meaning of the Qur’an being sent down in Laylat al-Qadr, as explained by Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), is that the entire Qur’an was sent down at once to the lowest heaven on Laylat al-Qadr, then from there it was revealed in portions over several years to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The researcher of Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Hikmat bin Basheer, in his research on the interpretation of Surah Bani Isra’il, verse (106): « وَ قُرْاٰنًا فَرَقْنٰهُ لِتَقْرَاَهٗ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَلٰى مُكْثٍ», has stated regarding this saying of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that it has been narrated by Tabari, Nasa’i (Sunan al-Kubra, Tafsir Surah al-Furqan), Hakim (al-Mustadrak: 2/368), and Bayhaqi (Dala’il al-Nubuwwah: 7/131), and all have narrated it with the chain of {’’دَاوٗدُ بْنُ أَبِيْ هِنْدٍ عَنْ عِكْرَمَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ‘‘}. Hakim declared it Sahih and Dhahabi agreed with him, and Hafiz Ibn Hajar also agreed with them in Fath al-Bari (9/4).
The second meaning is that the beginning of the revelation of the Noble Qur’an to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Laylat al-Qadr. This meaning was given by Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him). (Tabari) And the meaning of the Qur’an descending to the earth in Laylat al-Qadr cannot be anything other than this.
➍ The explicit mention of this night being in Ramadan is in the Qur’an itself, where it is said: « شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْۤ اُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ» [ البقرۃ : ۱۸۵ ] "The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was sent down." And in Sahih ahadith, it is stated that it is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th). The wisdom in not specifying it is so that Muslims may worship more in these nights. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to observe night vigil, i’tikaf, and wake up his family throughout the entire last ten nights. [ دیکھیے بخاري، فضل لیلۃ القدر ، باب العمل في العشرالأواخر من رمضان : ۲۰۲۴ ]
➋ The meaning of {’’ الْقَدْرِ ‘‘} is decree, that is, the night of decree. This meaning is supported by this verse: « فِيْهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ اَمْرٍ حَكِيْمٍ » [ الدخان : ۴ ] "In that night every firm matter is decided." That is, whatever is to happen throughout the year is copied from the Preserved Tablet and handed over to those angels who carry it out. The second meaning of {’’ الْقَدْرِ ‘‘} is greatness, that is, the night of greatness. After this, things indicating its greatness are mentioned, such as it being better than a thousand months, the descent of the angels and Jibreel (peace be upon him) in it, and it being entirely a night of peace. This meaning is also included in the concept of Laylat al-Qadr.
➌ The meaning of the Qur’an being sent down in Laylat al-Qadr, as explained by Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), is that the entire Qur’an was sent down at once to the lowest heaven on Laylat al-Qadr, then from there it was revealed in portions over several years to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The researcher of Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Hikmat bin Basheer, in his research on the interpretation of Surah Bani Isra’il, verse (106): « وَ قُرْاٰنًا فَرَقْنٰهُ لِتَقْرَاَهٗ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَلٰى مُكْثٍ», has stated regarding this saying of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that it has been narrated by Tabari, Nasa’i (Sunan al-Kubra, Tafsir Surah al-Furqan), Hakim (al-Mustadrak: 2/368), and Bayhaqi (Dala’il al-Nubuwwah: 7/131), and all have narrated it with the chain of {’’دَاوٗدُ بْنُ أَبِيْ هِنْدٍ عَنْ عِكْرَمَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ‘‘}. Hakim declared it Sahih and Dhahabi agreed with him, and Hafiz Ibn Hajar also agreed with them in Fath al-Bari (9/4).
The second meaning is that the beginning of the revelation of the Noble Qur’an to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Laylat al-Qadr. This meaning was given by Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him). (Tabari) And the meaning of the Qur’an descending to the earth in Laylat al-Qadr cannot be anything other than this.
➍ The explicit mention of this night being in Ramadan is in the Qur’an itself, where it is said: « شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْۤ اُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ» [ البقرۃ : ۱۸۵ ] "The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was sent down." And in Sahih ahadith, it is stated that it is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th). The wisdom in not specifying it is so that Muslims may worship more in these nights. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to observe night vigil, i’tikaf, and wake up his family throughout the entire last ten nights. [ دیکھیے بخاري، فضل لیلۃ القدر ، باب العمل في العشرالأواخر من رمضان : ۲۰۲۴ ]
