“We revealed it (the Qur’an) on the Night of Power. Would that you knew what the Night of Power is like. Better is the Night of Power than thousand months. On that night the angels and the Spirit descend by their Lord’s permission, with all His decrees. That night is peace, till the break of dawn.”
Surah 97, Holy Quran.
The Night of Power, also known as the night of Decree and is also known as famously as Laylatul Qadar.
Laylat Al Qadr – the night when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) beginning with the exhortation, “Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),” in surah Al Alaq.
Allah informs that He sent the Quran down during the Night of Al-Qadr, and it is a blessed night about which Allah says,
We sent it down on a blessed night (44:3)
This is the Night of Al-Qadr and it occurs during the month of Ramadan. This is as Allah says,
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran (2:185)
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah r.a said, “When Ramadan would come, the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) would say,
“Verily the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived.”
It is established that it is a night in the month of Ramadan, as stated in surah 2 : “In the month of Ramadan the Qur’an was revealed, a book of guidance distinguishing right from wrong.”
The believers in Islam, are commanded not to forget or neglect this event. He (pbuh) has urged us to spend this night of each year in devotion. He (pbuh) said “Seek the Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramadhan.” ‘He who spends the Night of Power in worship, with a pure motive of faith and devotion, will have all his past sins forgiven.”
Islam is not mere formalities. Hence, the Prophet (pbuh) specified that the consecration of that night must be motivated by faith and devotion. This would make its consecration by an individual an indication of his full awareness of the far-reaching effects of what took place in that night.
It is great because Allah has chosen it for the revelation of the Qur’an, so that its light may spread throughout the universe, and Divine peace may spread in human life and conscience. That night is great because of what the Qur’an includes: an ideology, a basis for values and standards and a comprehensive code of moral and social behaviour, all of which promote peace within the human soul and in the world at large. It is great because of the descent of the angels, and Jibril in particular, by their Lord’s permission carrying the Qur’an which was first sent down on that night.
This night is better than a thousand months!
SubhanAllah!
“We revealed it (the Qur’an) on a blessed night, for We would warn (mankind), on a night when every precept was made plain as a commandment from us. We have ever sent forth messengers as a blessing from your Lord, who hears all and knows all.”
Surah 44 Holy Quran.
May Allah swt enable us to enter into this blessed night and may our sins be forgiven and may we utilise it well by establishing well our connection with Holy Quran, as it ought to be!
Ameen.
Aisha r.a asked – “O Prophet of Allah! If I find the Night of Al-Qadr what should I say?” He (pbuh) replied,
Say : “O Allah! Verily You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.”
Ameen.
A part of this post is taken from – In The Shade of Qur’an.