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Saying of the Week

My advice to you is to be conscious of Allah and steadfast in your religion. Do not yearn for the world, and do not be seduced by it. Do not resent anything you have missed in it. Proclaim the truth; work for the next world. Oppose the oppressor and support the oppressed.

Imam Ali (a.s.)

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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).

Death of Imam Ali

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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