Monday, July 29, 2013

Laylatul Qadr --The Night of Power

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful


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 God's
permission,on every errand: Peace!...
This until the rise of morn!

Surah 97 The Holy Quran:





The Holy Qur'an contains a short surah dedicated to
Laylatul Qadr.

Surah Al-Qadr is the 97th surah and consists of five verses.
However,these short verses carry great meaning and guidance.
They tell us all we need to know about the essence and
spirit of Laylatul Qadr.






 
Translation:
"Indeed, We sent the Quran down during the Night of Decree.
And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission 
of their Lord for every matter.
Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."
Surat Al-Qadr (The Power) - سورة القدر




Laylatul Qadr falls sometime within the last 10 days of
Ramadan. Seek it in Ramadan in the last ten nights.
For verily, it is during the odd nights,the twenty-first,
or the twenty-third, or the twenty-fifth,or
the twenty-seventh,or the twenty-ninth, or
during the last night.

-Sahih Hadith Ahmad 5:318

Laylatul Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who
misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good.
If an individual wants to obey his Lord, increase the
good deeds in his record and have all past sins forgiven,
they should take part in Laylatul Qadr.


 Whoever stays up (in prayer and remembrance of Allah) on
the Night of Qadr fully believing (in Allah's promise of
reward for that night) and hoping to seek reward
(from Allah alone and not from people),
he shall be forgiven for his past sins.


 Sahih Hadith Bukhari / Muslim

 We should strive to find this night, and then pass it
in worship and obedience. If this is done for the
sake of Allah, with sincerity, then all past sins
will be forgiven. However, if a person misses out on
worship during Laylatul Qadr they truly are a
deprived person.

 This night is full of reward and blessing and is
equivalent to a thousand nights of worship.
Anyone who takes part in Laylatul Qadr will have
worshiped an equivalent of eighty three years and
three months. It is as if a person has spent
an entire lifetime in non-stop worship
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.  
97:3 The Holy Quran

"Allah's Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam,
looked back at the previous communities and saw that
his community lived for a much shorter period
in comparison to them. He was concerned about
how his community would be able to gain as many rewards
 as those of the previous communities.

So when Allah the Exalted saw the concerns in the heart
of His Beloved, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, then he,
sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, was given
Laylatul-Qadr, which is more virtuous than a thousand months.


Worship during this night can take on many
Here are a few suggestions to help  you through
 
Laylatul Qadr:
Plan ahead if you are working. If you are going to
spend a night awake in worship,book the following
day off.Take regular breaks during the night to avoid
getting over-exhausted.


Try switching between different forms of worship instead
Perform Itikaaf (seclusion in a mosque for worship)
If possible, take a vacation for the last 10 days of Ramadhan
If you cannot stay at your local mosque ask family or
friends to help out during your Itikaaf at home.

If you cannot spend all 10 days in Itikaaf
then do as many days as you can - even if it is only one day
Increase the recitation of the Qur'an, and reflect
on the meaning of the verses, especially the verses
used in Salah.

This will help you concentrate.
Increase Salah (prayer)Find out if there are any events
organised, and take your family along. Doing all of
the above activities may be too much to do throughout
the night but is far better than social gatherings and
meaningless talk

 If your Arabic is not very strong then there are
many good English translations of Qur'an and Hadith,
which can be used instead Other useful reading might
include books of tafsir (Quran commentary books
on the lives of the Prophets PBUH and books of fiqh
Islamic jurisprudence) as well as DuA's books
The days of Laylatul-Qadr are an important time for
worship, especially the last 10 days. We should pray
sincerely from our hearts in order to be saved
from the hell fire This is a good opportunity not only
to pray for ourselves but also for our fellow brothers
and sisters, for if we can not do anything else
then our prayers will help

 
Ibn Abbas (RA) heard the Prophet (SAAWS) advising
someone, sayingTake advantage of five before five:
 
1) You are youth before your old age
2) your health before your sickness,
3) your wealth before your poverty,
4)your free time before you become occupied,
and 5) your life before your death


 May Allah help us to purify our hearts, strengthen our faith
and enable us to meet every challenge, and overcome
every difficulty in our lives. May Allah allow us to serve
Him with sincerity in our work study, professional, business,
family and social lives When the time comes for us
finally to return to Him may Allah admit us to
the companionship of those whom He loves