The Night of Power: Better than a thousand months of worship

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

The Night of Power: Better than a thousand months of worship

Allah SWT talks about the Night of Power in the Quran by saying:

Verily, We have sent it down in the Night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is. The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord's permission with every matter. There is peace until the appearance of dawn.
(Surat Al-Qadr 97:1 – 5)

What is the Night of Power and why is it important?

Allah informs that He sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Al-Qadr, and it is a blessed night about which Allah says:

(We sent it down on a blessed night.) (44:3) This is the Night of Al-Qadr and it occurs during the month of Ramadan. This is as Allah says:

(The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an.) (2:185)

Ibn `Abbas and others have said, "Allah sent the Qur'an down all at one time from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) to the House of Might (Baytul-`Izzah), which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allah based upon the incidents that occurred over a period of twenty-three years.''

This night is a night of unique honour, dignity and glory, so much so that it is better than a thousand months.

The angels descend with blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur'an is recited, they surround the circles of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and they lower their wings with true respect for the student of knowledge. Even Angel Jibrail AS comes down. [Tafsir ibn Kathir]

There is peace concerning every matter until dawn as shaytan cannot do any evil or harm and also, “The matters are determined during it, and the times of death and provisions are measured out (i.e., decided) during it.'' [Qatadah]

When is the Night of power?

The Prophet SAWS knew when the Night of Qadr was but was caused to forget (Bukhari and Muslim).

`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah SAWS used to observe I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan and say, "Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadan.''
[Al-Bukhari].

We learn from this Hadith that Lailat-ul-Qadr occurs in any of the five odd nights - 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th - of the last ten nights of Ramadan. Its exact date has not been revealed for the reason that people keep themselves awake for prayer for a larger number of nights. Had its date been fixed, people would have kept awake for prayer only on that night. [Imam Nawawi]

The Messenger of Allah also said:

Verily, the sign of the Night of Al-Qadr is that it is pure and glowing as if there were a bright, tranquil, calm moon during it. It is not cold, nor is it hot, and no shooting star is permitted until morning. Its sign is that the sun appears on the morning following it smooth having no rays on it, just like the moon on a full moon night. Shaytan is not allowed to come out with it (the sun) on that day. [Abu Dawud]

What can we do on the Night of Power?

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet SAWS said:

(Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and expecting reward (from Allah), he will be forgiven for his previous sins.) [Bukhari and Muslim]

1. One should concentrate more on prayers and worship on the last ten nights of Ramadan than the first twenty nights, in the same way as one should do more worship in Ramadan than in the other months.

2. One should keep oneself awake for prayer, worship and glorification of Allah in the last ten nights of Ramadan so that one can attain the blessings of Lailat-ul-Qadr.

3. One should also persuade his family members to keep themselves awake for prayer and worship in the last ten odd nights of Ramadan so that they can also make efforts to please Allah.

4. I`tikaf (seclusion in the mosque for prayers) in the last ten days of Ramadan is also a meritorious act for its being a practice of the Prophet (PBUH).

[Chapter 214, Riyadh us Saliheen: Imam Nawawi]

Dua to make during the Night of Power:

`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?''

He (PBUH) replied, "You should supplicate:

Allahumma innaka `afuwwun, tuhibbul-`afwa, fa`fu `anni

(O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).”

[At-Tirmidhi].

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:
"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]