And when a believer undergoes the rigours of fasting, specially during the peak summer season, he is promised immense reward by Allah. Although the the first 20 days are also full of blessings and rewards, the last 10 days of the month assume an added reward for those who remain awake throughout the odd nights of the Ramadan in the hope of finding a night which is promised to be better than 1000 months of worship. This blessed night is called Laylat al-Qadr "لیلة القدر"or the Night of Qadr - the Night of Destiny, Night of Decree, Night of Determination, or the Precious Night. In Qur'an, the 97th Chapter (click here to read the tafsir / exegesis) is exclusively earmarked to unveil the blessings of this night. It is said:
Indeed, We sent the Qur'an 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.
This is thus the night in which the Qur'an was revealed unto Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the revered Prophet of Allah has been quoted as saying: "Anyone who finds this night in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan is sure to have been blessed and forgiven of his sins provided he prays as hard as he could to ask forgiveness of his sins."
Please read our earlier post: A night better than thousand months to know more about The Night of Qadr and watch an enlightening video on the subject by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan.
It has been Narrated by Aisha: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2024)
It is for this reason, that many a Muslims around the world undertake the special worship of Aitikaf, in which the spend the last ten days/nights in the masjid so as to be in state of worship at all times and to find this blessed night in a state of total worship. During these 10 days, the Aitikaf observing Muslims do not leave the premises of the masjid and their family members supply them daily food for suhoor (the pre-dawn mandatory food for keeping the fast) and iftar (time of breaking the fast in the evening) there in the masjid.
Read our previous post: What is Itikaf and how it is Observed in Ramadan to know about this form of worship in last ten days of Ramadan
As for the importance of the night of Qadr, let us read a hadith by Abu Huraira who reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who observed the fasts of Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven, and he who observed prayer on Lailat-ul- Qadr with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven. [Sahih Muslim Book 6, Hadith 209]
So we are all geared up to find this blessed night in the odd nights of the last ten days of the Ramadan. During these odd nights, we must fully devote ourselves to the worship of Allah to seek His forgiveness and be among the blessed ones.
We now share a special supplication which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recommended to be recited during the last ten days of the sacred month. (This supplication is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Book # 48 Chapters on Supplication كتاب الدعوات عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / Chapter # 84 Concerning "The Virtue of Asking for Al-Afiyah and Al-Mu’afah")s Hadith number # 3513):
Narrated by Aishah:
“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is your view if I know when the Night of Al-Qadr is, then what should I say in it?” He said: ‘Say: “O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, [Generous,] You love pardon, so pardon me (Allāhumma innaka `Afuwwun [Karīmun], tuḥibbul-`afwa fa`fu `annī).’”
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الضُّبَعِيُّ، عَنْ كَهْمَسِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَلِمْتُ أَىُّ لَيْلَةٍ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَقُولُ فِيهَا قَالَ " قُولِي اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي ". قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
It is a small yet very powerful Dua which can be easily remembered and recited. Let us my brothers and sisters of Islam stay awake during the odd nights of the last days of the Ramadan and recite the above quoted supplication as much as we can, for who know our supplication coincides with the blessed hour on the night of Al Qadr and we are rewarded profusely by our Lord.
An Imam of Haram Makkah once gave some very practical advice Ideas for the last ten days of Ramadan (1). Give one Riyal in charity every night of last ten days of Ramadan, so if it falls on Laila tul Qadr it's as if you gave charity everyday for 84 years. (2). Pray two ra'kaat every night, so if it falls on Laila tul Qadr it's as if u prayed everyday for 84 years. (3). Read Surah Ikhlaas three times a night, so if it falls on Laylat al-Qadr it's as if u read the whole Quran everyday for 84 years. He then says spread this as you may find it on your account of good deeds Allah make us of the victorious. In sha Allah Ameen
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
May Allah show us the right path so that we do not go astray due to what man has interpreted verses of religious scriptures to suit their own religions and faith. Aameen.
May Allah show us the right path so that we do not go astray due to what man has interpreted verses of religious scriptures to suit their own religions and faith. Aameen.
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Jazak Allah
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