The significance of Lailat al Qadr
Hazrat Musa AS said: "My
Lord! I want to get close to you!"
"The person who can get close to
me is the one who has stayed awake on the Night of Qadr"
"My
Lord! I want your mercy!"
"My mercy is for the one who has
shown mercy for the poor and destitute on the Night of Qadr."
"My Lord! I want to be able
to pass the bridge of Sirat!"
"This is for the one who has given
sadqa on the Night of Qadr."
"My Lord! I want the trees of
heaven with their fruit!"
"These are for the ones who praise
me on the Night of Qadr."
"My Lord! I want salvation
from the fire."
"This is for the one who seeks
repentance on the Night of Qadr."
"My Lord! I want to gain your
pleasure!"
"Gaining My pleasure is for the
one who has prayed two rakats namaaz on the Night of Qadr."
Lailatul Qadr, which falls in one of the last
ten odd-numbered nights in the Month of Ramadan, is the most important night
for the believer. The Night of ‘Qadr’ is a special gift to the
Ummah. This night is majestic and rich with holiness and blessings, and is
equal to a thousand months. In this night, the Spirit descends with thousands
of angels and that which is decreed is shown to the Living Imam.
According to the ahadith, this night, which is ‘hidden’ in one of
three nights (19th, 21st, and 23rd) is one in which our life for the next year
is “written, signed and sealed” –whatever is to occur to us
during the next year is determined. This does not mean that there will be
no change in what is determined and that we are ‘condemned’ to our
‘fate’ however, in order for our year to be blessed; this calls for
our own efforts and hard work
The scholars of Spirituality state that the
most important thing which we can do during these blessed nights, once we have
ensured that our obligatory dues are paid in full to the Creator, is to seek
closeness to Allah through the prayers and supplications – specifically
those which have been taught to us by the Ma’sumeen. In order for
our prayers to be accepted and if they what is best for us, to be implemented,
numerous prerequisites should observed. However, the key point to focus on
these nights while in prayer and communion with the Lord is to maintain
‘presence of heart’. We need to have focus and concentration on
what we are doing and saying and not perform the A’maal out of tradition
or a ritual.
Thus as we proceed forward on through these
last ten nights of the Month of Ramadan, we should look at our past deeds and
seek forgiveness for them, look at where we want to go in the future, and then
chart out a plan of action for these powerful nights – one night of which
is equal to over 60 years.
It is a night of reflection, repentance and
charity. This night is concealed, as Allah has concealed many things; he conceals
his pleasure from us in all our good deeds so that we strive in all of them, he
conceals his wrath in all sins so we avoid all of them, he conceals his most
beloved servants (awliya) from us so that we respect all believers. We should
therefore take advantage of all the 4 nights as during this night the prayers
of all are answered, except those who have angered their parents, those who
have broken relations with their relatives (Kat e Raham), those who nurture
animosity towards a believer and those who are alcoholics.
‘Qadr’ means to maintain, assign
or decree an order. Thus in this night of Power, Allah proclaims his orders and
commands in regards to his creation. It is the night of Taqdeer. “In that
night is made distinct every affair of wisdom” (Quran 44: 4). This is why
believers are encouraged to stay awake the entire night and pray for blessings
and forgiveness, and to seek special favors from Allah (SWT). The Night of
Power as mentioned in the Holy Quran is better than a thousand nights, which indicates
that the devoted believer has a chance of adding 80 years of worship to his
life on this single night!!
The word “Tanazzal” indicates
that the angels descend on this night, group after group, some coming down
while others ascending into heaven. This angelic traffic of good and peace
continues until the break of Dawn.
Laylatul Qadr is a feast for the believers, a
feast for the spirit, therefore it is advised to spend the night in worship. It
is essential to remember our dead relatives, ulamaa and teachers, as our deeds
for them are mutually beneficent. It is also essential to remember our beloved
Imam e Zamana (AS).
Imam Ali in his last moments, his lips
parted into a prayer of thanksgiving: “O Lord! I thank thee for rewarding
me with martyrdom and by the Lord of the Kabah, I have been successful!”
Imam on his death bed advised to all his children and close ones to be kind to
neighbors, care for the needy, to have good relations amongst themselves, to
observe simplicity and justice at all times.
By Allah! I swear that the
pillars of guidance have been destroyed and the indicators of Taqwa have been
thrown aside and the firmest handle (of Allah) has been cleft asunder!
The son of the uncle of al-Mustafa has been killed! The chosen successor
(of the Prophet Muhammad) has been killed! Ali al-Murtaza has been killed
– the lowest of the low (Ibne Muljim) has killed him!
These are not the words of a mere
mortal, nor are they the words of a poet, historian or thinker of Islam –
these are the words cried out by the Arch-Angel Jibreel when the Commander of
the Faithful was struck with the fatal blow on the 19th of the Month of
Ramadan.
As he performed his Salat in the Masjid
of Kufa, the first Imam and true successor of the Prophet was hit with a poison
laced sword by the wicked and immoral enemy of Allah, Ibne Muljim (may Allah
deprive him of His blessings and mercy). The blow, which culminated in
his martyrdom on the 21st of the Month of Ramadan, a time which is usually
celebrated and commemorated as being one of the nights of Power (Lailatul Qadr)
is instead draped in black accompanied with an aura of grief and anguish.
The oppression which this Imam and
truly, the entire nation of Islam especially the followers of the Ahlul Bait
faced from the days of the death of the Prophet culminated with this
cold-blooded act of terrorism – something which would continue for the
Imamate of 10 more Divinely appointed successors.
However, these nights of grief and
sadness should be coupled with the sincere and earnest desire for our 12th Imam
to make his advent to establish the kingdom of God on the Earth and to also
take retribution for the crimes inflicted on his family members.
Thus, on the nights of the 19th, 21st
and 23rd, we need to tap into our spiritual resources and spend at least these
three evenings in the worship of Allah in Dua, Ziyarat and the recitation of
the recommended A’maal.
With our sustenance, lifespan and other
things ‘written’, ‘confirmed’ and then
‘sealed’ on these nights – as the hadith tell us that on the
19th night whatever shall occur to us in the next year is ‘written
down’, while on the 21st it is ‘confirmed in the book’ and on
the 23rd the book is ‘sealed’ – we need to pray to Allah to
help the Muslim Ummah and indeed ourselves to be able to be righteous,
hardworking servants for his cause.
May Allah accept all of our prayers and
legitimate requests and may he hasten the return of our Imam to establish
justice and equality.
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