الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي أنزل القرآن، ،نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره ونؤمن به ونتوكل عليه – ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا – من يهده الله فلا مضل له ومن يضلله فلا هادي له – ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير، ونشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرًا ونذيرًا بين يدي الساعة من يطع الله ورسوله فقد اهتدى، ومن يعصهما فإنه قد ضل، وإنه لا يضر إلا نفسه ولا يضر الله شيئًا إن خير الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة، وكل ضلالة في النار..
أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم. ومن يطع الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما. قال الله تعالى في كتابه الكريمإِنَّا 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
Al-Qurtubi reports that Sayyidina Ali (RA) said, “The Prophet mentioned four slaves of Allah from among the Bani Israel – Ayyub, Zakariya, Hizqil ibn al-Ajuz and Yusha bin Nun – and said that each of them worshipped their Lord continuously for eighty years and never once disobeyed Him, not even for an instant. When they heard this, the Companions marvelled at them, so Jibril came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Muhammad, your people marvel at the fact that these people worshipped their Lord without ever disobeying Him for eighty years. Well, Allah has revealed something even better than that for them.’ And then Jibril recited surat al-Qadr, and the Messenger rejoiced.”
Brothers, sisters, scholars and respected elders, today we embark on a journey through the profound verses of this chapter of the Qur’an that unveils the magnificence of the Night of Qadr. As we delve into the depths of its wisdom, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of this unusual night and the unparalleled significance it holds for all us.
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ ﴿١﴾
First and foremost, let us ponder upon the opening verse of this chapter, where Allah declares, “إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ” (Verily! We have sent it down in the Night of Qadr). Here, Allah (SWT) uses the majestic plural pronoun “We إِنَّا ” to signify His supreme authority and sovereignty. Some may wonder why Allah employs this plural form when referring to Himself. It is essential to comprehend that among the pronouns used for Allah in the Qur’an – “I,” “We,” “He” and “You” – only “We” (نَحْنُ) is plural. This emphasizes Allah’s greatness, majesty, and formality all in one. Just as kings issue decrees in the plural form to denote their power and authority, Allah, the King of kings, uses the majestic plural to assert His sovereignty and command.
Moreover, the choice of the pronoun “نَحْنُ” serves as a testament to the eminence of the occasion. Whenever Allah bestows His blessings upon His servants, particularly in matters of sustenance and provision, the term “نَحْنُ” is often employed. Most notably, water – a symbol of Allah’s sovereignty – is frequently associated with this pronoun, symbolizing His kingship and benevolence. Consequently, whenever Allah speaks of sending down water, such as rain or rivers, the majestic “We” “نَحْنُ” is invoked.
أَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ
“Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?”
In this way the Qur’an is likened to life-giving water to nourish and revitalize the hearts and souls of believers. The Qur’an is not explicitly mentioned in this chapter, as if to give the impression that it is obvious, and so famous that it need not be mentioned because it is well known that this is what happened on the night of Qadr.
فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
Our Mufasireen have said there are four meanings for Qadr:
- Significance, the night of significance.
- Significance again. However, the one who worships Allah will become significant.
- Tight and restricted. The night of quantity and restriction due to sheer volume of angels descending.
- Qadr, predestination – 6th Pillar of Eman. The night of predestination. Why? On this night Allah announces his decree to the angels. (Allah’s decree is pre-eternal)
The beauty of Arabic is that a different meaning doesn’t detract but augments our understanding of a word. Qadr now embodies the profound essence of significance, abundance amidst restriction, and the divine decree of predestination. Now when we hear the ayah “إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ” we understand what the Arabs understood.
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ ﴿٢﴾
Unveiling the Mystery of Laylatul Qadr
So, when Allah poses a rhetorical question, “وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ” (And what will make you comprehend(explain to you) what the Night of Qadr is?). Here, the term “مَا”, evoking a sense of awe and wonderment ((لتعجّب)). “What in the world could make you comprehend!” It prompts us to ponder over the incomprehensible nature of لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ, Despite our relentless inquiries about the timing of this blessed night, Allah redirects our focus to a more fundamental question – What is لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ?
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴿٣﴾
The Significance of Laylatul Qadr
In the third verse Allah (Most Wise) provides us with the answer.
“Laylatul Qadr” repeated for the third time is “better than a thousand months”. Scholars say that it is during this night that the true worth of the worshipers of Allah are realised and that those who seize the opportunity to worship Allah on this night, understand their value in His sight. Conversely, those who neglect this opportunity are deprived of recognizing their worth to Allah.
قال كثير من المفسرين: أي العمل فيها خير من العمل في ألف شهر ليس فيها
“Many Mufasireen say: “The deeds therein are better than the deeds of a thousand other months.” equivalent to approximately 83 years. This divine decree allows us to surpass the average lifespan and accumulate good deeds beyond our years. When Allah describes لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ as “better than a thousand months,” He signifies that the deeds performed on this night surpass those of a thousand months combined. This conveys a sense of infinity, as the term “a thousand months” is often used by the Arabs to denote eternity or all time. It is akin to saying forever and ever. Hence, the virtues transcend the limitations of time, offering believers an opportunity for unimaginable rewards.
Therefore, we should not limit ourselves to one type of worship – reconciliation, charity, forgiveness. The blessings of this night extend to resolving conflicts and restoring relationships. Therefore, if you find yourself estranged from loved ones or embroiled in disputes, لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ presents the perfect opportunity to mend broken ties and seek forgiveness. The good that emerges from this night is incomparable to any other, and seizing this opportunity can lead to immense growth.
تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ ﴿٤﴾
The Magnificence of Angelic Descent
Then, Allah (SWT), mentioned another virtue of this blessed night, saying: “The angels and the Ruh descend therein..”
ومن مزايا وفضائل هذه الليلة أيضا، أن الملائكة- وعلى رأسهم الروح الأمين جبريل- ينزلون فيها أفواجا إلى الأرض، بأمره-تبارك وتعالى- وإذنه
This indicates that among the virtues and merits of this night is that the angels, led by Ar-Ruh, descend in groups to the earth by the command and permission of Allah, the Exalted. The root of “تَنَزَّلُ” is “تَتَنَزَّلُ” with two “ta” letters for emphasis, but one of the “ta” letters is omitted, this subtle linguistic device conveys the rapid and swift descent of the angels, indicating the urgency and significance of their arrival on the night of qadr. As for “the Ruh,” it refers to Jibreel, and mentioning him separately after mentioning the angels is to highlight his distinction and honour in matters in which others do not participate.
لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ
Allah refers to Jibreel as one of his biggest, greatest miracles. The prophet made duah to Allah to grant him to see Jibreel in his original form and this Ayah confirms that it was granted. “He saw one of the biggest miracles of Allah”
It was reported by one of the salaf that he had a box in which he kept a very fine garment, he would dress up and put it on, and so his family asked him: Why are you dressing up so much? And he said why would I not dress up when it is the night that Jibreel is coming and he might be visiting on this particular night, Why should I not look my best. Another tabiun would have a bottle of very expensive perfume that he would only use on every odd night of the last 10 nights of Ramadan. So that he is smelling the best. This is the psychology of our righteous predecessors; they understood that the angels are going to be in our midst. The angels are going to see us, we want to look our best, appear our best, do our best because they make duah for us when they see our ibaadah, they ask forgiveness for us. We have an opportunity to be seen in Qiyam, in Tilawa of Qur’an, in Sajida before the greatest angel ever created, how can we pass up the opportunity to have Jibreel make duah for us!
بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم
The Angels can only descend to the earth with the permission of their Lord most high. In other words, they are excited to see us, we are the VIPs, we are the celebrities.
“مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ”
“by permission of their Lord for every matter.”
The last part of this ayah is very interesting. The use of the preposition “مِن” in the phrase “مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ” (for every matter) carries profound implications. While commonly translated as “from,” in classical Arabic, “مِن” can also denote causation or reason.
Al-Jummal summarized the matter by stating that this part of the ayah can be understood in two ways:
- The first is that it is in the sense of “for,” related to the descent, meaning they descend for every matter decreed until the upcoming year.
- The second is that it is in the sense of “by,” meaning they descend with every matter decreed by Allah, whether it be death, life, provision, and the like.
The intended meaning is not that Allah’s decree only occurs on that night, but rather to make those decrees known to His angels. So, what does this mean for us? It means that we want to be in the best state. Hoping that Our prayer and our duah will impact our qadr.
The prophet is reported to have said:
“لا يُغَيِّرُ الْقَدَرَ إِلَّا الدُّعَاءُ”
“Nothing changes Qadr except duah”
Therefore, when the Qadr is announced we want to be in sajidah, we want to be in duah, we want to be in a state that is pleasing to Allah because we all want to have the best year. So, we pray to Allah to grant us the best of this world and the best of the next.
سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ ﴿
The Night of Absolute Peace
The last ayah recounts the abundance of salam that the angels are going to give to every believing male and female. This declaration signifies that peace and tranquility will envelop this night and some hold it extends to stopping any form of evil from the setting of the sun until the break of dawn. They traverse every mosque, every believer, extending salutations and making duah for their well-being.
وعن أنس قال : قال النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – : إذا كان ليلة القدر نزل جبريل في كَبْكَبَةٍ من الملائكة ، يصلون ويسلمون على كل عبد قائم أو قاعد يذكر الله تعالى
Anas narrated: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When the Night of Qadr comes, Jibreel descends with a horde of angels, who send blessings and peace upon every servant standing or sitting who is remembering the Most High.
Fascinatingly, the descent of peace on this night is intricately tied to the theme of the chapter, which begins with the revelation of the Qur’an and culminates in the descent of angels and peace. The integrity of the Qur’an, as the final and complete revelation from Allah, is emphasized, serving as a witness for the believers until the break of dawn, which interestingly enough is considered the most virtuous time for reciting the Qur’an.
إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
“Indeed, the Qur’an of Fajr is witnessed”
Picture, Ya Ibadullah, the profound moment when not only angels descend to greet you with peace, but perhaps even Jibreel himself will grace your home, your very presence, to convey the greetings of Allah. Just as he brought peace to Khadija (RA) through the beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW), envision him arriving at your doorstep, divinely commissioned by the Almighty. Let not your recitation of the Quran be ordinary, nor your supplications mundane; elevate them to greatness. And dare to dream that perchance, Jibreel (AS), Ruhul Ameen, will stand before you, listening to you, delivering divine salutations to you. May Allah write us among those who search and find the night of Qadr.
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرحيم
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، صلى الله وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وصحبه، والتابعين وتابعي التابعين ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين. أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي ﷺ قال: «من قام ليلة القدر إيماناً واحتساباً، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه
Narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands in prayer on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and seeking reward from Allah, their previous sins will be forgiven.”
This is a blessing from Allah Almighty upon the people of the earth, and a reward He has bestowed upon His servants. He has made it better than a thousand months, honoured it with blessings and the descent of the Noble Qur’an. It is a night of connection between the inhabitants of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth.
Having delved into the significance of WHAT the night of Qadr is, let us now turn to the crucial question of WHEN this blessed night occurs. The Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said:
تحروا ليلة القدر في العشر الأواخر من رمضان
«تَحَرَّوْا ليلة القَدْر في الوِتْرِ من الْعَشْرِ الأوَاخِرِ»
“Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.” And in another hadith “Look for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights” It can fall on any of these nights, but it is most likely to fall on one of the odd nights, in particular upon the 27th night, which will fall tomorrow night. Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet said,
مَن كان مُتحَرِّيَها فلْيَتحرَّها لَيْلةَ سَبعٍ وعِشْرينَ
“Anyone who seeks the night of Qadr should seek it on the 27th night.”
“إلتمسوها في آخر ليلة”
“Seek it until the very last night.”
The guidance from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) directs us to “Seek it until the very last night” There are indeed signs to look for, yet scholars have varied opinions regarding these signs. Some suggest they are specific, while others argue they are general in nature.
Consider the incident when the Prophet (peace be upon him) had mud on his face. Was this a specific sign for that particular year, or does it signify a general occurrence? Or the sun rising without any visible rays. Scholars like Qadi Iyaad present two possibilities: it could be a distinctive sign specifically for that Laylatul Qadr, or it might indicate something more general like the multitude of angels ascending, obstructing the rays of the sun at dawn.
Nevertheless, we must remember “Seek it until the very last night,” indicating the divine mystery surrounding this auspicious night. It keeps us alert and engaged in worship throughout the last ten nights of Ramadan.
إنما الأعمال بِالخواتيم
“Actions are according to their seals.” In other words, the way you end something should always be better than the way you started it. In closing:
” وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ”
‘And whoever honours the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.’ Even the simple act of abstaining from evil for the Night of Qadr signifies a search for its blessings.
Therefore, I implore you to consider a subtle yet powerful strategy in seeking the Night of Qadr: Intention. Let us not merely offer prayers on this blessed night, but let our intentions be focused and deliberate, directed towards the pursuit of Laylatul Qadr. By doing so, we honour the symbols of Allah and elevate the piety within our hearts. May Allah guide us all to find and cherish the blessings of this sacred night. Ameen.
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المومنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله في سورة النور أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شُيُوخِنَا ، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ، وَاخْذُلِ الْكُفْرَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ، وَانْصُرِ المُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ. وَاجْعَلْ كَلِمََتَكَ هِيَ العُلْيَا وَكَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ هِيَ السُّفْلَى.
رَبَّنَا ءَاتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقَِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، رَحِمَكُمُ اللهُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ. أَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ تَعَالَى أَعْلَى وَأَوْلَى وَأَعَزُّ وَأَهمُ وَأَكْبَرُ.