LAILATUL QADR, VIRTUES AND BENEFITS

 

LAILATUL QADR, VIRTUES AND BENEFITS

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

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Monday 21 Ramadan 1442 AH and 3 May 2021 CE

Reminder Day 21

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 (ﷺ) is His slave and Messenger.

Help us Answer the Ummah! Every second, everywhere someone needs an answer. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “A person who leads others to doing what is good will earn the same reward as those who do it.” (Muslim, 1893).

“Do not lose hope, nor be sad. You will surely be victorious if you are true in Faith.” And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].” [Holy Quran Chapter Al Imran Ayah 139]

“If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.”

[Holy Quran Chapter Imran Ayah 160]

Preamble

Why is it called the Night of Power?

Lailat al Qadr, the Night of Power, marks the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala. Muslims regard this as the most important event in history, and the Qur'an says that this night is better than a thousand months (97:3), and that on this night the angels descend to earth.

It is known as the “Night of Power,” and commemorates the night that the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, beginning with the exhortation, “Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),” in Surat Al-Alaq (Muhsin Khan Translation).

Laylat Al Qadr is considered the holiest night of the year for Muslims, and is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad did not mention exactly when the Night of Power would be, although believed it falls on one of the odd-numbered nights of the final ten days of Ramadan, such as the 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, or 27th days of Ramadan.

1442 AH Searching For Lailatul Qadr - The Night Of Power

The odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadan 2021CE (1442 AH) are In-Shaa'-Allah:

21st night Ramadan 1442 AH - Sun 2nd May

23rd night Ramadan 1442 AH - Tue 4th May

25th night Ramadan 1442 AH - Thu 6th May

27th night Ramadan 1442 AH - Sat 8th May

29th night Ramadan 1442 AH - Mon 10th May

The Night of Power is better than a thousand months (Quran 97:3)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan." [Bukhari]

Dua during the Night of Power

Allahumma Innaka ‘Affuwwun Tuhibbul ‘Afwa Fa’fu ‘Annee

O Allah! Verily, You are the Of the Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me. [Tirmidhi]

Lailatul Qadr; Ruling, virtues and benefits In Islam.

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)

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).

1.0 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 (ﷺ) 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)

2.0 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 (ﷺ) were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramazan. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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-(ﷺ)m", Number 2632]; Narrated 'A'isha (Radi Allah Anhu) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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-(ﷺ)m", 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 (ﷺ) 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-(ﷺ)m", 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 (ﷺ) commanded us to stand for prayer. Shu'ba doubted these words: That it was the night for which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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-(ﷺ)m", Number 2635];

Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported: We were talking about Lailat-ul-Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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)."

3.0 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 (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) 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.

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).

9.0 Make this special Dua.

Aisha, May Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said:

"Allahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun Tuh'ibbul 'Afwa Fa'fu 'Annee -"O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me." "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee"

4.0 RECITE THE QURAN.

Perhaps you can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran, which you have heard in Tarawih this past Ramadan to recite. If you attend a class where the recitation of the Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice.

5.0 REFLECT ON THE MEANING OF THE QURAN.

Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.

6.0 GET YOUR SINS WIPED OUT.

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger 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).

Don't just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray.

Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand, and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs.

This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted.

7.0 MAKE A PERSONAL DUA LIST.

Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things:

• Ask Allah to give you those things

• Think about what actions you have taken to get those things

• Develop a work plan to get those things in future.

8.0 MAKE LONG, SINCERE AND DEEP DUAS

One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.

Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).

That means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the Duas of the Sunnah, but also Dua in your own language, with sincerity and conviction. al-Lam’at – Vol. 2, Page 115]

 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best.