LAILATUL QADR, VIRTUES AND BENEFITS (LAILATUL QADR Part 1 of 2)

LAILATUL QADR, VIRTUES AND BENEFITS

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com

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emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com

SATURDAY 9^th RAJAB 1440 AH- 16^th MARCH 2019 CE

 (Part 10 of 11: LAILATUL QADR, VIRTUES AND BENEFITS)

(LAILATUL QADR Part 1 of 2)

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.

PREAMBLE

Lailatul Qadr, Virtues and Benefits

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Benefits of Laylatul Qadr
3. Take a vacation for Allah.
4. Do I'tikaf.
5. Make this special Dua.
6. Recite the Quran.
7. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran.
8. Get your sins wiped out.
9. Make a personal Dua list.
10. Evaluate yourself.
11. Make long, sincere and deep Duas
12. Memorize a different Dua every night
13. Have Iftar with the family
14. Take the family to Tarawih
15. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation
16. Finish reading a book on the Prophet
17. Plan for the next year (In Shaa Allah)
18. To do list for the Night of Power
19. Laylatul Qadr falls sometime within the last 10 days of Ramadhan.
20. How to Seek Laylatul-Qadr by  Shaykh Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen al-Albani 
21. Making Supplications
22. Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship
23. What Anas Ibn Malik (RAA) says

1.0 Introduction

This is an Article on Lailatul Qadr; Ruling, virtues and benefits In Islam. May Allaah make it of benefit to myself and my Muslim brothers? Praise be to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds.

سُوۡرَةُ القَدر بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (١) وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (٢) لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَہۡرٍ۬ (٣) تَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيہَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّہِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمۡرٍ۬ (٤) سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطۡلَعِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ (٥) 2.0 Holy Quran Al-Qadr Chapter 97 We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace!.. This until the rise of Morn! (1-5) So valuable is Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power) that the Quran devotes a special surah to it 'Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months' [97:3] Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: 'Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.' (Bukhari and Muslim). AN ENTIRE LIFETIME OF SINS MAY BE WIPED OUT IN THIS UNIQUE AND BLESSED NIGHT! SUBHANALLAH! According to authentic narrations it can be found in any of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, most likely the odd numbered nights of the last 10 nights of Ramadan: Which are the 21st night, 23rd, 25th, 27th & 29th nights. Most scholars say that it is likely to be on the 27th night but there is no guarantee of this and so to catch this night we must worship all the odd numbered nights or as many as we can manage. Tirmidhee and others report: `Aa'ishah asked: 'O Messenger of Allaah! If I was to know which night is the night of qadr, what should I say therein?' He answered: 'Say: 'O Allaah! Verily, You are One who Pardons and You love pardoning, so pardon me! And our last words are: "All Praise Belongs to Allah The Rabb Al 'Aalameen". Allah also says about this powerful night in Surah Dukhan (smoke, mist): Ha. Mim. By the book that makes things clear. We sent it down during a blessed night. For We (ever) wish to warn (against evil). In that (night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom, by command, from Our Presence. For We (ever) send (revelations), as a mercy from Thy Lord: for He hears and knows (all things). (Holy Quran Chapter 44:1-6) Allah said in the Qur'an in Surah Al-Baqarah (the Cow): "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)."( Holy Quran Chapter 2:185) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said about Lailatul-Qadr: It was narrated by Abu Hurayra that Prophet said, "Anyone who stays awake for the Night Of Power with belief and for the pleasure of Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim) 3.0 LAILATUL QADR (THE NIGHT OF POWER) TRADITIONS ON LAILATUL QADR 1. [Sahih Bukhari : Volume 3, Book 32 "Taraweeh", Number 232]; Narrated Ibn 'Umar (Radi Allah Anhu) : Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramazan. Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said, "It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it should search in the last seven nights of Ramazan." 2. [Sahih Bukhari : Volume 3, Book 32 "Taraweeh", Number 233]; Narrated Abu Salama (Radi Allah Anhu) : I asked Abu Sa'id (Radi Allah Anhu) about the Night of Qadr and he said, "We practised Itikaf in the middle third month of Ramazan with Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ). In the morning of the 20th of Ramazan, the Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) came to and addressed us and said, "I was informed of the date of the Night of Qadr but I was caused to forget it, or I forget, so search it in the last ten nights of month of Ramazan." 3. [Sahih Bukhari : Volume 3, Book 32 "Taraweeh", Number 238]; Narrated 'Ibn Abbas (Radi Allah Anha): The Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said: "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramazan on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of the Ramazan." 4. [Sahih Bukhari : Volume 3, Book 32 "Taraweeh", Number 239]; Narrated 'Ibn Abbas (Radi Allah Anha) in this quotation: Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said: "The Night of Qadr is in the last ten nights of the month of Ramazan either on the first nine or in the last (remaining) seven nights of Ramazan." 5. [Sahih Bukhari : Volume 3, Book 32 "Taraweeh", Number 241]; Narrated 'Aisha (Radi Allah Anhu) : With the start of the last ten days of Ramazan, Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) used to tighten his waist-belt (i.e. hard work) and used to offer Salat (Prayer) all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the Salat (prayers). 6. [Sahih Muslim : Book 6 "Kitab Al-Sawm", Number 2632]; Narrated 'A'isha (Radi Allah Anhu) Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) as saying: "Look for (and in the words of Waki, seek) Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan." 7. [Sahih Muslim : Book 6 "Kitab Al-Sawm", Number 2633]; Zirr b. Habaish (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Ubayy b. Ka'b (Radi Allah Anhu) took oath (without making any exception, i. e. without saying Innsha Allah) that it was the twenty-seventh night. I said to him: Abu Mundhir, on what ground do you say that? Thereupon he said: By the indication or by the sign which the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) gave us, and that is that on that day (the sun) would rise without having any ray in it. 8. [Sahih Muslim : Book 6 "Kitab Al-Sawm", Number 2634]; Zirr b. Hubaish (Radi Allah Anhu) reported that Ubayy b. Ka'b (Radi Allah Anhu) said about Lailat-ul-Qadr: By Allah, I know well about it. Shu'ba said: To the best of my knowledge it was the twenty-seventh night for which the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) commanded us to stand for prayer. Shu'ba doubted these words: That it was the night for which the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) commanded us to stand for prayer. And (he further) said: This was narrated to me by a friend of mine from him (the Holy Prophet). 9. [Sahih Muslim : Book 6 "Kitab Al-Sawm", Number 2635]; Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported: We were talking about Lailat-ul-Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) and he said: "He who amongst you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and it was like a piece of plate (at the fag end of the month in a state of waning)."

4.0 VIRTUES AND BENEFITS OF LAYLATUL QADR

Allah's Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time." (Muslim). Allah's peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet.
Aisha, May Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).
The Prophet said: "Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira).
Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.

According to Hadith, this night occurs during the last ten days of Ramadhan on one of the odd numbered nights. Usually it is celebrated on the 27th night of this holy month. It is a night of great importance and enormous blessings for Muslims.

A night such as Lailatul Qadr was not granted to any religious community (Ummah) before Muslims. Only the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) were favoured with a night of huge reward. Once reason, it  was granted, was to enable Muslims to equal the worship of any people who lived before us. In the distant past it is said that people lived very long lives of hundreds of years. We, today, live much shorter lives. And so Allah gave us Laitatul Qadr to enable us to do as much worship as a man who lived even hundreds of years longer. If in a lifetime, you only worshipped on Lailatul Qadr ten times, you would have equalled in those ten nights 83.3 years of worship.

It has also been reported by Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) who said:
"I asked the Messenger Of Allah if I knew which night was the Night of Power and what Prayer I should say during that night? He said to me: Say: "O Allah! You are forgiving and you love forgiveness, so you too forgive me.
From the foregoing verses of the Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) I would like to mention to you the following:

The Night Of Power is better for you to live, to experience and to enjoy than one thousand months of your personal life. Even if you were to live one thousand months (83.3 years) with sincerity, dedication, and sacrifices and with good intentions and deeds, the Night Of Power is still far better for you to live and to enjoy.
The Revelation of the Qur'an started in the month of Ramadan and specifically on the Night Of Power. The Revelation of the Qur'an; a sign of Mercy, a guide and a blessing of Allah to mankind.
Anyone who is interested in finding the best guide, he/she should look into the teachings of the Qur'an.

The Night of Power is a night of blessings Allah has blessed this Night.

Therefore whosoever is interested in receiving the blessings of Allah may look forward to the Night of Power.
Anyone who seeks the Night of Power and lives it, all his/her sin will be erased. This is, as if, he/she is, born again now free of all sin and mistakes.

I am sure every one of us would like to live a life free of sins an free of mistakes. Everyone would like to meet Allah on the Day of Judgment without sins. Every one of us would like to feel that he/she is reborn today. All of us wish to rejuvenate ourselves, and to start a new year with a fresh outlook and a fresh life. Every one of us wants to live a pure life and everyone wants to purify himself/herself without anguish or torment. The Night of Power is one of the best ways in which a person is to achieve all these ideals. For this reason may I suggest that you start looking for it, so you will be able to observe it and enjoy it?

As far as determining the Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) is concerned, it has been reported to be during one of the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th. It has been emphasized that it is most likely to be the 27th night.
As far as the signs of Lailatul-Qadr are concerned:

1. Rain may fall either during the night or during the day of that night.
2. During night the sky will be lightly foggy.
3. The sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays.
4. The angels and Gabriel all descend down onto earth for many purposes.
5. The night will be peaceful, neither hot nor cold, with a clear moon shinning but with no rays.
6. There will be no shooting stars in the night
7. At sunrise the sun will rise as just a disc without and radiant beams of light (The sun rises early in the morning without rays).

5.0 'Lailat ul-Qadr' or 'Night of Power'…  a very important occasion in the history of Islam and in our personnel lives.
If you are interested in living the Night of Power, let me remind you of some of the things that you might have to do:
1. Try to observe it during the last ten days of Ramadan, at the time of sunrise, during the days and the nights.
2. On the nights one may spend the time collectively and/or individually observing the following activities:
a. Recitation of the Our'an.
b. Prayers-Nafl after Taraweeh.
c. Remembrance of Allah or zikr
d. Supplication or Du'a for you and for others.
e. Pondering and contemplating into the universe, the creation of the Heavens and the   Earth:  "...and they contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heaven and the earth…."(3:191)
f. Reading books of Hadeeth so as to enjoy the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
g. Reading Tafseer of Qur'an.
h. Giving charity to others if you can afford it.
i. Trying to explain Islam, if you know something about it, to those next to you so they will benefit from you.

6.0 To summarize, I would like to mention the following:
The Night of Power is a very important occasion in Islam. Everyone is asked to live it and to enjoy it. This Night is a night of Mercy, a night of Blessing, a night of Peace and a night of Guidance. It is a night of Unification between the finite world of ours and the Infinite Universe of the Unseen.

Anyone who is interested in attaining the Mercy of Allah will strive very hard to look for the Night of Power. Anyone who is interested in receiving the blessings of Allah on the Blessed Night will work very hard to enjoy the Night of Power. Anyone who is interested in attaining peace of mind, peace of body and peace in society, he has to look for this Night and to live it.

May Allah give us the strength, the power, the courage and the effort to do our best to obey Allah and to follow His teachings?

May Allah guide us and may Allah strengthen our Iman May Allah help us to live another year with sincerity and devotion. May Allah make us realize that one year of our life is over and that we are one year closer to our graves?

7.0 TAKE A VACATION FOR ALLAH.
We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator.
If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing Itikaf.

8.0 DO I'TIKAF.

It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for I'tikaf.
Those in I'tikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs. I'tikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

To be continued

Part 2 of 2; Part 11 of 11: Lailatul Qadr, Virtues And Benefits