Laylat al-Qadr

Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لیلة القدر‎) (also known as Shab-e-Qadr), basically the Night of Decree or Night of Measures, is the anniversary of two very important dates in Islam that occurred in the month of Ramadan. It is the anniversary of the night Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet Mohammad.

Muslims believe also that this night is when their fate in the following year is decided and hence pray for God all night long and pray for mercy and salvation. This practice is called Ehyaa (basically meaning "revival"(.

History

Orient lists have contended that prior to Islam, Laylat al-Qadr was the Arab New Year. According to A. Wensinck, the practice of i'tikaf or seclusion, which predated Islam according to the Qu'ran[Quran 2:187], was linked to this day. Wensinck thought it must have been a summer solstice holiday and a time when homes were thought to be susceptible to demonic infiltration, necessitating seclusion. Other Orientalists consider Laylat al-Qadr to have been related to a Jewish holiday, possibly Sukkot. Muslim scholars do not support any of these claims

Complete revelation to Mohammad

Laylat Al-Qadr is the anniversary of the night Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Mohammad by the angel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic). It is also the anniversary of the night in which the Quran is believed by Muslims to have been revealed in its entirety. The Laylat Al-Qadr is also being known as the night of excellence.

Religious importance

Quran

(Quran 97, 1-5) [2]

    In the name of God, the Benevolent, the Merciful.

    1 Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Predestination.

    2 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!

    3 The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

    4 The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.

    5 (The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.

The verses above regard the Night as better than one thousand months. The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting, praying, reciting the Quran, remembering God, and giving charity. However because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims strive harder in the last ten days of Ramadan since the Laylat al-Qadr could be one of the odd-numbered days in these last ten (the first, third, fifth, or seventh). Normally, Muslims would perform an i'tikaf in the mosque (i.e they remain in the mosque for the last ten days at a stretch) for prayers and recitation.

Sunnah

Muslims often pray extra prayers on this day, particularly the night prayer. They awake, pray, and hope Allah will give them anything they may desire for on this night. Mostly, they perform tilawat (reading the Quran).

Those who can afford to devote their time in the remembrance of God stay in the mosque for the final ten days of Ramadan. This worship is called itikaf (retreat). They observe fast during the day and occupy themselves with the remembrance of God, performing voluntary prayers and studying the Quran, day and night, apart from the obligatory prayers which they perform with the congregation. Food and other necessities of life are provided for them during their stay in the mosque, thus they may not leave the precincts of the mosque except for a genuine religious purpose. Devoting time to remember God, Muslims hope to receive divine favors and blessings connected with the blessed night.

Mohammad was very particular in these regards. It is related that when the last ten days of Ramadan began, he used to keep awake the whole night and was most diligent in worship. .

In Shiite Islam

Shiites believe that the Imam received new information on the Laylat al-Qadr. Some specifically claim that the events of the coming year were revealed on that day.

Date

Laylat al-Qadr is to be found in the last 10 nights of Ramadan. There is no history in the Quran as to when the specific date is. In Sumatra and Morocco it is celebrated on 27 Ramadan, but other cultures celebrate it on the 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th or 29th.

Scientific observations

There are some signs reported that Muslims should look for. It is not known whether these signs have been reported by individual astronomic observations; however Muslims have reported that these signs are present. These signs also help determine the date of the night as there are no reported hadith that mention the exact date of the night. There are different hadith describing when to look for the night. For example:

The Night of Al-Qadr is not specified to one fixed night throughout all the years. Rather, it constantly changes. So one year it could occur on the twenty-seventh night for example and on another year it could occur on the twenty-fifth night, according to Allah's Will and Wisdom. What directs us to this is the Prophet's: saw: saying: "Look for it (i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) when there remain nine nights, when there remains seven nights, or when there remains five nights (i.e. 21st, 23 rd, and 25th respectively without mention of the 27th)."

According to a book, the following signs are evident

1. The sun rises early in the morning without rays.

2. Rain may fall either during the night or during the day of that night.

3. During night the sky will be lightly foggy.

4. The sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays.

5. The angels and Gabriel all descend down onto earth for many purposes.

References

   1. ^ Friedrich Schwally. Geschichte des Qorans von Theodor Nöldeke, (Zweite Auflage bearbeitet von Friedrich Schwally), Teil 1: Über den Ursprung des Qorans, Weicher, Leipzig, 1909 volume 1, p. 179.

   2. ^ Arent Jan Wensinck. "Arabic New-Year and the Feast of Tabernacles". Amsterdam: Uitgave van de koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen te Amsterdam, Afdeeling Letterkunde. Nieuwe reeks 25.2. 1925. pp.1-17.

   3. ^ K. Wagtendonk. Fasting in the Koran. E.J. Brill, 1968. pp.97-99.

   4. ^ Etan Kohlberg. Belief and law in Imāmī Shīʻism. p.29.

   5. ^ Amirul Hadi. Islam and state in Sumatra: a study of seventeenth-century Aceh‎. p.128.

   6. ^ Marjo Buitelaar. Fasting and feasting in Morocco: women's participation in Ramadan‎. p.64

   7. ^ Shaikh Mohammad Ibn Saalih al-'Uthaimin in his book Majaalis Shahr Ramadan (pg.106 -107) Reported by Muslim and others and it is referenced in Sahih Abu Dawud (1247)

   8. ^ [1], Chapter from Dr. Ahmad Sakrs book called "Islamic Orations"