Shab-e-Qader: Allah’s Greatest Gift to Prophet’s Ummah

Mohd Ishaq Shah ✉

The Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) also rendered as the Night of Destiny, Night of Decree, Night of Determination, or the Precious Night is in Islamic belief, the night when Muslims believe the Quran was first sent down from heaven to the world and also the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. 

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It is described as better than a thousand months of worshipping. According to various hadiths, its exact date is uncertain but it was one of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Since that time, Muslims have regarded the last ten nights of Ramadan as being especially blessed. Muslims believe that the Night of Qadr comes again every year, with blessings and mercy of God in abundance. 

Etymology

Qadr in Arabic, means measure and limit or value of something or destiny. Some reasons have been offered for its naming: It is said that it was called al-Qadr because the annual destiny of every person will be determined by God. Some say that if one stays awake at this night praying, reading the Quran, or repenting, one will reach a high state. Some have said that it was called al-Qadr because it is a grand and high-value night. Other names such as "Laylat al-'Azama" (night of the greatness) and "Laylat al-Sharaf" (lit. 'night of the honour') have also been used. Some commentators believe that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad twice; the 'immediate revelation' happening on the Laylat al-Qadr and gradual revelation' over 23 years.

The Quran uses the word anzal which justifies 'the immediate revelation', according to Allamah Tabatabai. Some others believe that the revelation of the Quran occurred in two phases, with the first phase being the revelation in its entirety on Laylat al-Qadr to the angel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic) in the lowest heaven, and then the subsequent verse-by-verse revelation to Muhammad by Gabriel. The revelation started in 610 CE at the Hira cave on Mount Jabal al-Nour in Mecca. The first Surah that was revealed was Sūrat al-ʿAlaq. During Muhammad's first revelation, the first five verses of this Surah, or chapter, were revealed.

Spiritual Essence of the Night

It is mentioned in various books that Sheb-e-Qader has relevance with Shab-e-Meraaj. During the discourse of that very night prophet ( pbuh) raised a question before almighty Allah and asked that the life span of his Ummah be very short in comparison to the Ummah of the prophets and how could they compete with those people who had the life span of 500-1000 years and Allah would say: I will give your Ummah such a gift that they would surpass rest of the Ummah even after having a short-life. When the prophet(pbuh) wanted to know how it could happen, God said I will give you a night in the month of Ramazan that is better than 1000 months.(Lailutul Qadre Khairun-Minalfishehar).So, if a person of the present Ummah has 60 years of life and observes 60 such nights with sincerity and dedication combined with worship, prayer, modesty, and repenting for his sins he would get the reward of 60000 months which is equal to 5000 years and the current Ummah is in more profit as compared to other Ummahs.  

Regardful Discourse in Shabe-Qader

Muhammad(pbuh) would usually practice spiritual retreats (Iʿtikāf) during the last ten days of Ramadan, awaiting the Night of Power, fasting and praying throughout the night, and abstaining from sexual relations. He urged his followers to do the same. According to one Hadith, Muhammad said: "Whoever stands [in prayer] during the Night of Power out of belief and seeking reward, his previous sins are forgiven." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1901). According to the Islamic calendar, an Islamic day begins with the Maghrib prayer (sunset). The Night of Power extends from Maghrib to Fajr prayer (dawn).

Sunni Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr occurs among the odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th). Some scholars opine that if a Friday night occurs on an odd-numbered night, the night is likely to be Laylat al-Qadr. Shia Muslims similarly believe that Laylat al-Qadr is to be found in the last ten odd-numbered nights of Ramadan but mostly on the 19th, 21st or 23rd of Ramadan with the 23rd being the most important night. The 19th, according to Shia belief, coincides with the night Ali was attacked in the Mihrab while worshipping in the Great Mosque of Kufa. He died on 21 Ramadan. Shia Muslims say that Ali (the first Shia Imam, and the fourth caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate to Sunnis) had special insight and intimacy with God on this night. Imam Sadiq is quoted as saying.

Once Imam Ali was reciting Surat al-Qadr his sons, Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Husayn (a) were near him. Imam Husayn (a) asked his father: "Father, how come we feel a different sensation when you recite this surah?" Imam Ali(a) replied, "O son of the Prophet and my son! I know things from this chapter that you are not aware of now. When this surah was sent down to the Prophet he asked me to go to him. When I went to him he recited this surah, then he put his hand on my right shoulder and said: O my brother and my successor! O the leader of my nation after me! O tireless fighter with my enemies! This surah is yours after me and is for your two sons after you. Gabriel who is my brother among the angels informs me of the events of one year of my nation on the night of Qadr. And after me, he will give this information to you. This surah will always have a shining light in your heart and the heart of your successors until the rising of the dawn of the day of the reappearance of Qa'im [the one who rises, a title for the Islamic Messiah, Mahdi.

In the light of Ahadith; Aisha reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is the upon him, said, “Say: O Allah, you are pardoning. You love to forgive, so forgive me.”  (Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3513Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Tirmidh). Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said regarding the Night of Decree, “It is a calm night, neither hot nor cold, and the sun rises upon its day red and faint.”Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 2192 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came out to inform people about the Night of Decree in Ramadan, but two Muslim men were insulting each other. The Prophet said, “Verily, I have come out to tell you about the Night of Decree, but two men were insulting each other. Thus, its knowledge was taken away and perhaps it is better for you. Look for it during the seventh, ninth, or fifth night of the last ten nights.”Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 49Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari.

Conclusion: 

So, the night of Qader is much more important than the usual nights in Ramadan. This is the night in which Allah forgives the sins of people and bestows his blessings upon all of us. We must revere it with sincerity and the depth of heart. At the same time, we must pray for the well-being of all our kith and kin plus bless the passed-away souls.