This excerpt is taken from the book of Fadhilat al-Sheikh Mubashir Ahmed Rabbani, may Allah have mercy on him, Ahkam o Masail Ramadan.
The Night of Decree and Its Virtue:.
The meaning of Laylat al-Qadr is the night of honor and dignity. Since the Holy Quran was revealed on this blessed night, it holds a special status of nobility and greatness. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has revealed an entire Surah about it in the Quran, which is called Surah Al-Qadr.
The command of the Lord Almighty is:
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ ﴿٢﴾ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴿٣﴾ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ ﴿٤﴾ سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ ﴿٥﴾
Reference: (Surah Al-Qadr: 1 to 5)
"Indeed, We sent the Quran down on the Night of Qadr. And what can make you know what the Night of Qadr is? The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."
At another place, the command of the Lord Almighty is:
حم ﴿١﴾ وَالْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ ﴿٢﴾ إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ ﴿٣﴾ فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ ﴿٤﴾ أَمْرًا مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ ﴿٥﴾
Reference: (Surah Ad-Dukhan: 3 to 5)
"Indeed, We sent the Quran down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. The decree of every matter is made clear that night. It is a matter from Us, and We were to send [the Quran]."
Some people have interpreted this noble verse to refer to the 15th of Sha'ban, which is commonly known as Shab-e-Barat, but this interpretation is incorrect because the explicit text of the Quran establishes that it was revealed on Laylat al-Qadr. It is referred to as the blessed night in Surah Al-Dukhan, and this night is indeed in the month of Ramadan, as the Lord Almighty states at another place:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
"The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran."
From this noble verse, it is understood that the revelation of the Quran occurred in the month of Ramadan, and from other verses, it is known that it was revealed on the night of this month known as Laylat al-Qadr. This night is very blessed.
Its four major virtues are:
➊ First, the revelation of a guiding book like the Quran took place in it.
➋ Second, the descent of angels and the Spirit, Gabriel (peace be upon him), occurred in it.
➌ Third, the events of the entire year are decreed in it.
➍ Fourth, the worship in it is considered better than a thousand months (83 years and 4 months) of worship.
The Night of Decree:.
The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا غفرله ما تقدم من ذنبه
"Whoever stands in prayer on the Night of Decree with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of the Virtue of the Night of Decree, Chapter on the Virtue of the Night of Decree (2014), Muslim, Book of the Prayer of Travelers, Chapter on Encouragement for Standing in Ramadan (760)
Effort and Striving for the Night of Decree:.
Sayyida Aisha Siddiqah, may Allah be pleased with her, said:
كان رسول الله يجتهد فى العشر الأواخر مالا يجتهد فى غيره
"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, exerted himself in worship during the last ten days to a degree that he did not do at any other time."
Reference: Muslim, Book of I'tikaf, Chapter on Striving in the Last Ten Days of Ramadan (1175), Mishkat (2089)
Sayyida Aisha Siddiqah, may Allah be pleased with her, also said:
كان النبى إذا دخل العشر شد متزره وأحيي ليله وأيقظ أهله
"When the last ten days entered, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, would tighten his waistcloth, keep his nights alive, and wake his family."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of the Virtue of the Night of Decree, Chapter on Actions in the Last Ten Days (2024), Muslim (1174)
The Supplication of the Night of Decree:.
Sayyida Aisha Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:
قلت يارسول الله ارأيت إن علمت أى ليلة القدر ما أقول فيها؟ قال: قولي اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني
I said: O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! If I were to know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say in it? He (peace be upon him) said: Say: O my Lord! Indeed, You are the Most Forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me!
Reference: Mishkat (2091), Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, Chapter (84) (2513), Ibn Majah (3850)
Seeking Laylat al-Qadr:.
Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
تحروا ليلة القدر فى الوتر من العشر الأواخر من رمضان
"Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of the Virtue of Laylat al-Qadr (2017), Muslim (1169)
This hadith indicates that Laylat al-Qadr occurs in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, with no specific night determined. It has sometimes been found on the twenty-first night.
Reference: (Muslim: 1167)
and sometimes on the twenty-seventh night as well.
Reference: (Muslim: 762)
Signs of Laylat al-Qadr:.
The following are some authentic signs mentioned for identifying Laylat al-Qadr.
Sayyidina Ubayy ibn Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
صبيحة ليلة القدر تطلع الشمس لا شعاع لها كأنها طست حتى ترتفع
"On the morning of Laylat al-Qadr, the sun rises without any rays until it is high, and it is like a plate."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer for Travelers (762)
Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we mentioned Laylat al-Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and he (peace be upon him) said:
أيكم يذكر حين طلع القمر و هو مثل شق جفنة
"Which of you remembers it (that night) when the moon rises, it appears like the edge of a large plate."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Fasting: Chapter on the Virtue of Laylat al-Qadr and Encouragement to Seek It (1170)
In another narration, it is stated:
ليلة القدر ليلة سمحة طلقة لا حارة ولا باردة تصبح الشمس صبيحتها ضعيفة حمراء
"Laylat al-Qadr is a peaceful and moderate night in which there is neither heat nor cold. On its morning, the sun rises in such a way that its redness fades."
Reference: Description of the Prophet's Fasting (p. 90)
Sheikh Saleem al-Hilali and Sheikh Ali Hassan Abdul Hamid have declared the chain of this narration to be good.
From the aforementioned verses and hadiths, the great virtue of Laylat al-Qadr is evident, so during this magnificent night, engage in standing (in prayer), reciting the Quran, and abundant supplication, and prepare for your forgiveness. How unfortunate will be the person who is granted this blessed month but is unable to secure his forgiveness and freedom from Hellfire.
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