✨Virtues of Laylatul Qadr
All praise is due to Allah the Provider, the Bestower. In His Hands are the repositories of everything. He divided the religious matters between His servants just as He divided the worldly matters between them. So among them are scholars, worshippers and the righteous. Just as among them are the disobedient, disbelievers and hypocrites. We praise Him in a manner befitting His Majesty and Grandeur. He gave this ummah (nation) Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree) that is better than 1000 months. And He gave this ummah abundant goodness. In these nights He has mercies and bestowals that He gives to the people of the masjeds and Quran. And He deprives the heedless and negligent. His Prophet ﷺ used make Itikaf (seclusion in the masjed) seeking Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree). He made Itikaf in the beginning and middle of Ramadan then he was informed that Laylatul Qadr was in the last ten nights so he established Itikaf in those nights.
So be conscious of Allah and fill these virtuous nights with acts of obedience to Allah. For it is a great season from the seasons of the hereafter, and the profit within them is much and the pardoning of Allah within them is generous. And in these nights, Allah liberates many from the fire, and no one is careless in striving except the deprived.
Al Maedah (5) 48: So race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.
These ten nights have appeared and they are quick to conclude and depart. And they are the best part of Ramadan. When these great ten nights entered, the Prophet ﷺ used to emphasize seeking forgiveness and he used to awaken his family for their sake. He ﷺ used to make Itikaf in them to realize Laylat ul Qadr. And on the 27th night, he gathered his wives and family for its sake. In that is advising the family to worship in these ten nights.
If these ten nights entered, he ﷺ tightened his belt, revived the night, awakened his family and strived to the greatest possible extent. These ten nights are the conclusion of this month. And when those racing near the end of the track, they give it all that they have.
On this night is made distinct every precise matter. And it is also said that there is restriction on this night. Allah said:
Al Anbiya (21) 87: And thought that We would not restrict him.
And likewise
At Talaq (65) 7: And he whose provision is restricted
Meaning restriction since the earth narrows due to the abundance of Angels. This night is better than 1000 months that do not contain Laylatul Qadr. So if we compare Laylatul Qadr with a 1000 months that do not contain Laylatul Qadr, then this one night of Laylatul Qadr would surpass them in virtue. So the worship in Laylatul Qadr is superior to the worship of 1000 months.
And Allah favored this ummah with Laylatul Qadr. Indeed, Allah favored this ummah with many matters. Five prayers for this ummah are equivalent to 50. Fasting one month is equivalent to fasting ten months. So fasting Ramadan is equivalent to the reward of fasting ten months. And the fasting of the six days of Shawal is equivalent to the fasting of two months. Together with the ten months of Ramadan it is equivalent to fasting one complete year. Whoever prays Isha prayer in congregation it is as if he prayed half the night. And whoever prayed Fajr in congregation it is as if he prayed the whole night. And Zakat is 2.5% but purifies all of the wealth.
We praise Allah that he made us from the ummah of Mohammad. And if He willed He would have made us part of other past communities. But He favored us by making us part of the best nation produced for mankind. And likewise Allah gave this nation advantage and multiplied their reward, and from that is Laylat ul Qadr. He favored us in that worship in it is superior to the worship of 1000 months.
Allah said:
Al Qadr (97) 1: Indeed, We sent it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down during the Night of Decree.
Among its honoring, is that the revelation of the Quran in it. Allah said
Ad Dukhan (44) 3: Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night.
And Allah said:
Al Qadr (97) 2: And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?
For what it contains of honor and greatness, Allah fills the earth with Angels. And in this is honoring the worshippers. For it is as if the Almighty is saying to the Angels: you said when I created Adam:
Al Baqarah (2) 30: Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein
So descend to the earth and look at My servants how they are praying, making remembrance, supplicating, reciting Quran, making Itikaf, performing Umrah and praying at night. So the Angels descend to the earth and see the worshippers. So congratulations to the one who invested his time in acts of obedience to Allah.
Al Qadr (97) 3-4: (3) The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. (4) The angels and the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] descend therein.
Also, Jibreel descends with them. What honor is greater than this?
And Allah said:
Al Qadr (97) 4-5: (4) by permission of their Lord for every matter (5) Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.
Also, there is safety from evil and the plotting of shaytan. And it came on the authority of Ibn Masoud, may Allah be pleased with him, that the sun does not rise in the morning of Laylatul Qadr between the horns of shaytan. For the shaytan is bound that night just as are the rebellious jinns.
The prophet ﷺ used to make Itikaf in these nights. And this is ordained seclusion in contrast to the innovated seclusion found in other communities and religions. In it a person turns to their Lord. Itikaf contains the meanings of servitude and commitment. For whoever’s companion is Allah, then he remembers Him and calls upon Him and turns to Him. And he does not have any loneliness. Because in his Itikaf, he secludes with his Lord and cuts off from the worldly life seeking the pleasure of Allah. Hoping to realize Laylatul Qadr. Itikaf is from the worships of this ummah and has been made one of the most special acts of worship and it is coupled with fasting. For that reason, Allah mentioned it in the verses of fasting. In this night there are more Angels on the earth than the number of pebbles. They ascend to Allah with the deeds of the servants. This is a blessed and honored night and whoever observes it has succeeded and is joyful. And whoever is deprived of it has been deprived of great goodness. Some scholars said that it is the 27th night. And others said it is the 21st night. And some said the 23rd night. And some said it is the last night of Ramadan. And some said that it is not a specific night and that Laylatul Qadr moves among the last ten nights. So in one year it is on a night and on another year it is on a different night. And there is great wisdom in its concealment. For it was said that Allah concealed the middle prayer between the five prayers. And concealed the hour of the answered supplication on Friday. And whether repentance is accepted is hidden from people. Just as whether a deed is accepted is also hidden so that people strive. Likewise the time of their death is hidden from them so that they are always ready. It has been said that the wisdom of concealing Laylatul Qadr is so that people will continue performing deeds in hopes of realizing it. And even if one strives, worships and prays on a night that is not Laylat ul Qadr, his reward is not lost. Rather it is recorded. And he attains the honor of the period, the honor of worship in Ramadan and the honor of these ten nights. And for that reason the more that a person worships, the better off is his condition.
Oh Muslims: Be as your Prophet Mohammad ﷺ was. He was grateful for Allah’s bounties. And he ﷺ magnified, and venerated the Almighty. He ﷺ knocked on the Almighty’s door and called and supplicated to Him with humility and reverence. For your Lord, Exalted be He, is near and generous. Allah said:
Al Baqarah (2) 186: And when My servants ask you, [O Muḥammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.
Magnify your Lord Allah, and repeatedly make supplications, soften your hearts from fear of Him and turn your tears to Him. For He is especially merciful of you. Rabi’ah bin ‘Aamer (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he heard the messenger of Allah say:
Be constant with: ‘O Possessor of Majesty and Honor (Yā Dhal-Jalāli wal-Ikrām). [Jami’ At Tirmithi 3525]
And the meaning is adhere to it and use it in your supplication. For Possessor of Majesty and Honor is praise and glorification. For the grace of our Lord upon us is immeasurable and His rights upon us are great. And magnifying Him is obligatory, so carry out your obligation.
Be guarded to pray the night prayer on these blessed nights. And go to the masjeds during the nights for they contain Laylatul Qadr. If one revives every night of the year to realize Laylatul Qadr, that would not be too much. And know that if you do a lot of worship, Allah Almighty is more than you in rewarding and more generous than you in recompense. The companions said:
We will make more (supplication), the Prophet said Allah is more (ready to answer) [Ahmed 11133]
Observe the prayer at the beginning and end of the night so that praying the whole night is recorded for you. For the Prophet ﷺ said:
Whoever prays the night prayer with the Imam until he finishes, Allah will record for him the night prayer of a (whole) night. [Sunan an-Nasa’i 1605 ]
Whoever stays at the masjed between the night prayer of the beginning the night and the night prayer of the end of the night for remembrance of Allah, Quran, prayer and supplication has done well. Because he revived the entire night. And it is only a few nights which will soon depart. So let the triumphant triumph and the careless miss out.
We ask Allah Almighty to make us among those who realize Laylatul Qadr. And grant us success in performing what He loves and is pleased with. And to help us in these ten nights in remembrance of Him, being grateful to Him and worshiping Him in the best fashion. Indeed Allah is All Hearing, Answering.
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