Recap Why these last 10 nights are greater than you think – Action Advice
How Prophet spent these nights?
Prophet would strive hard
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to strive hard (in worship) during the last ten days of Ramadan in a way that he did not strive at any other times. [Muslim, 1175, from ‘A’ishah]
Among the things he did were secluding himself in I’tikaf and seeking Laylat al-Qadr during this time. [Al-Bukhari, 1913; Muslim, 1169]
Whole night Prayer
‘A’ishah said: “I never saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) recite the entire Quran in one night, or spend a whole night in prayer until the morning, or fast an entire month, except in Ramadan.” [Sunan al-Nasa’i, 1641]
Woke up the family
More persistent than at other times of the year.
Tafsir of Surah Qadr
Qur’aan revealed
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ – 97:1
Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.
Ibn ‘Abbas and others said: “Allah sent down the Quran at one time from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz to Bayt al-‘Izzah in the first heaven, then it was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in stages according to events over twenty-three years.”
[Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 4/529]
Better than a thousand months
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ – 97:3
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
it is better than over eighty-three years and four months
What we worship in this one single is equal to praying 83 years and 4 months
Angels descend
تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ – 97:4
The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.
On this night, the angels and the Spirit [al-Ruh] descend, “i.e., many angels descend of this night because it is so blessed, and the angels come down when Allah’s blessing and mercy come down, just as they come down when Quran is recited, and they surround the circles of dhikr (gatherings where Allah is remembered), and they beat their wings for the one who sincerely seeks knowledge, out of respect for him.”
Qadr means constriction
it was called Laylat al-Qadr because the earth is constricted by the great numbers of angels on that night, and Qadr means constriction [See Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 4/531]
Abu Hurayrah reported that Prophet said “Laylatul Qadr is the night of 27th or 29th. Indeed, during that night, the angels on earth are more than the number of pebbles” (Ahmad)
Jibreel comes down
The Spirit [al-Ruh] is Jibril
Night of Peace
سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ – 97:5
Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.
This night is described as peace, i.e., it is safe, for the Shaytan cannot do any evil or cause any harm on this night, as Mujahid said. [See Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 4/531]
Tafsir of Qur’aan 44:1-6
“By the clear Book, Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night is made distinct every precise matter – [Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger] As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (Qur’aan 44:1-6)
Blessed night of Annual decree
Allah sent down the Quran
The phrase Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments means, on that night the destiny of all creatures for the coming year is decreed.
On that night it is written who will live, who will die, who will be saved, who will be doomed, who will be destined for Paradise, who will be destined for Hell, who will be granted honour, who will be humiliated, where drought and famine will occur, and everything else that Allah wills in that year.
Should you not receive it while you are worshipping Allaah?
Destiny shown to Angles
Ibn ‘Abbas said: “You may see a man furnishing his home or ploughing his field, and he is one of those who are going to die,” i.e., it has been decreed on Laylat al-Qadr that he is one of those who are going to die (in the coming year). And it was said that on this night, the destiny of people is shown to the angels.
Previous Sins are forgiven
so many sins are forgiven and so many faults are concealed
Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever stays up during Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of earning the reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari, 1910; Muslim, 760]
On this night, many people are saved from punishment because of what they do to worship Allah
Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of earning the reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven, and whoever stays up during Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of earning reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed upon]
Like Allaah forgives a person who finishes his Hajj, Allaah forgives the one who attains the Laylatul Qadr
Intercession of Fasting and Qur’aan
Fasting will say, “O my Lord! I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so accept my intercession for him.” And the Qur’an will say, “O my Lord! I prevented him from sleeping by night, so accept my intercession for him.” The intercession of both will thus be accepted. (Ahmad)
How to Seek? – Action Advice
1. Seek in last 10 nights or in odd nights
Ibn ‘Abbas, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Seek it in the last ten days of Ramadan, when there are nine days left, and seven days left, and five days left.” [Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4/260]
“Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten days of Ramadan.”[The hadith of ‘A’ishah was narrated by al-Bukhari, 4/259]
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights.” [Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4/259]
2. Avoid Disputes
In Sahih al-Bukhari it was narrated that ‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit said: the Prophet (peace be upon him) came out to tell us when Laylat al-Qadr was, and two of the Muslims were arguing. He said: “I came out to tell you when Laylat al-Qadr was, and So and so and So and so were arguing, so it [the knowledge of when Laylat al-Qadr] was taken away from me. Perhaps this is better for you. So seek it on the ninth and the seventh and the fifth”
How bad it is to argue and fight!
3. Increase the recitation of Qur’aan
It is reported that Qatâdah used to complete recitation of the Quran once every seven nights, and when Ramadan came, once every three nights. During the last ten nights, he would complete a recitation every night. (Hilyatu Al-Awliyâ)
4. Increase your Charity
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best charity is the one which is given in Ramadhan.” [At-Tirmidhi]
5. Ask Du’aa
‘A’ishah said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what do you think, if I witness Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?’ He said: ‘Say, O Allah, You are Forgiving and Generous, and you love forgiveness, so forgive me.'” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi
6. Perform I’tikaf
He would pray Fajr, then enter the place where he was to do I’tikaf, as was stated in al-Sahihayn from the hadith of ‘A’ishah.
Signs of Laylatul Qadr
Ubayy ibn Ka’b that the Prophet (peace be upon him) announced that one of its signs was that when the sun rose on the following morning, it had no (visible) rays. “Laylat al-Qadr is a pleasant night, neither hot nor cold, and the following day the sun rises red and weak.”
[Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, 2912; Musnad al-Tayalisi]
It is not essential for the one who “catches” Laylat al-Qadr to know that he has “caught” it.
Verily he who is deprived of its virtue is deprived
Truly those who are honoured to engage in extensive worship on this blessed night will get full blessings. And whoever is denied its reward has been deprived all good.
On the narration of Anas Ibn Malik that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “O verily this month has come upon you and it has a night better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its virtue, then he has been deprived of all good. Verily he who is deprived of its virtue is deprived.”
May Allah give us Tawfeeq to catch Laylatul Qadr & make this year a great year
