
The Night of Power
The Night of Power
Hafiz Aziz
Though all days of Ramadan are full of blessings and rewards, it’s the last ten days that hold a special status. Among these nights, one of them is "Laylatul Qadr” which is translated as "Nigh of Power". Quran was first revealed in the month of Ramadan and it is believed that in this night Quran was sent down from Al-Lowhul Mahfuz (The preserved Tablet) to the heavens (above the earth) for Jibrael AS to reveal in parts to the Prophet PBUH. Believers are encouraged to seek this night and pray for blessings and forgiveness.
When to seek for it: Prophet PBUH said, “Search for Laylatul Qadr in the odd numbered nights, in the last ten days of Ramadan, i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th.” [Bukhari]
Virtues of witnessing it: Quran describes it to be greater in blessedness and spiritual virtue than thousand months (83 years and 4 months) of continuousIbadah/prayers. Prophet PBUH said, “Whoever stands in Ibadah (Zikr, reading Quran, praying...) on the night of Power with sincere faith and sincere hope of gaining rewards, his previous sins are forgiven.” [Bukhari]
What happens in this night: Prophet PBUH said, “On Laylatul Qadr, Angel Jibrael descends upon the earth with a group of Angels making Dua for every servant of Allah whom they see in worship, standing or sitting and engrossed in Allah’s praise...”, in a different narration it is reported that “Jibrael after his descent, commands the Angels to go to the house of everyone busy with worship of AllahSWT and greet them by shaking their hands. There upon the Angels spread forth, visiting every House, whether large or small, whether in the Jungle or on a ship, wherein a believer lives to shake their hands.”
What to do on this night:
Recite the Quran abundantly: It is the night Quran was revealed so we should spend much of the night reciting it for we will gain up to 700 or more rewards for reciting each letter in the Quran.
Ask for forgiveness: One should strive and do their utmost to gain the mercy of Allah in Ramandan especially in the odd numbered nights of the last ten days. We should sincerely repent for all our sins with the intention of not repeating them. Allah says: "When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186] - Aisha RA reported, “I asked Messenger of Allah, should I find myself the Laylatul Qadr, what shall I ask from Allah? Prophet PBUH replied, ‘Say: “O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, You love to pardon, so pardon me.”"Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee" [Bukhari]
Do more Nafil prayers: One should increase praying Nafils for every Nafil prayer offered one will gain the reward of a Fard salah and for every Fard salah the reward gets multiplied by up to 70 Fard salah. – Subhanallah
Increase in Dhikr (Rememberance of Allah): Increase in glorification of Allah. Among many others, here are some very easy and very beneficial Dhikr that one can say at any time: Subhanallah – Alhamdulillah - Allahu Akbar - Laa ilaha ilallah – Asthaghfirullah - SUB-HAN'ALLAH WA BI-HAM'DIHI -…...One can also recite the Durood that one recites in Salah.
أَقُول قَوْلِي هَذَا ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ لِيَ وَلَكُمْ ولِسَائِر الْمُسْلِمِي ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوه ، إِنَهُ هُوَ الْغَفُور الرّحِيمُ.
Please sit down for a moment
بِسْمِ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُ ِلّهِ ، والصّلَاةُ والسّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ ، صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَم
Fortunate indeed is that person who attains the full blessings of this night by spending it in Ibadah of Allah. Even if one fails to obtain the blessing of Laylatual Qadr; then at least the reward he/she receives for worship intending to get this reward in this holy month is beyond our imagination. It is a great blessing of AllahSWT that when one makes an effort and aims and cannot meet with success, He still rewards us for the efforts we make. We pray to Allah the All Mighty to bless us this Ramadan by witnessing Laylatul-Qadr – Ameen.
عِبَادَ اللّهِ ، إنّ اللّهَ يَأْمُر بِالْعَدْلِ والْإِحْسَانِ وإيْتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى ويَنْهَى عَنِ الفَحْشَاءِ والْمُنْكَرِ والْبَغِي ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلّكُمْ تَذَكّرُونَ . اُذْكُرُوا الَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُروهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوه يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا. وَأَقِم الصّلَاة
إنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِىَ لَهُ،وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ
اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ
مُسْلِمُونَ
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُو اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلاً سَدِيدًا * يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
اما بعد:
إنَّ أَصْدَقَ اْلحَدْيثِ كِتَابُ اللّهِ وَأَحْسَنَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَشَرُّ الْأُمُوْرِ مُحدَثَاتُها وَكُلُّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ وكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّار