“We have revealed the Qur’an during the night of blessings for We are ever warning. Therein every affair is made distinct with wisdom.” Surah al-Dukhan, 44:3
Laylatul Qadr means the Night of Grandeur, Excellence and Honour.
Allah says in Surah Al-Qadr :
1. Truly we have revealed the Holy Qur’an during the Night of Grandeur.
2. And you will never know what the Night of Grandeur is.
3. The Night of Grandeur is greater than a thousand months (wherein there is no such night).
4. Therein the angels and the spirit (Sayyiduna Jibreel AS) descend upon the earth on every errand through Permission from their Cherisher.
5. Peace (is proclaimed) until the rise of dawn.
This Makkan surah, containing five verses, was revealed after Surah ‘Abasa.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah RA:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that “Whoever established prayers on the Night of Qadr, out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Reported by Bukhariy)
This means that during this night, the first revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ revealed. That was the first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq, beginning with Iqra (Read). The rest of Surah Al-Alaq, as well as the entire Qur’an, were transferred from the Louhil Mahfuth (the Guarded Tablet) to the Angels of the Samaa-al-Dunya (Angels who oversee the Earth) so that it could be revealed to our Prophet ﷺ in parts over 22 years, two months and 22 days. This happening took place during Ramadan on the Night of Grandeur. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185:
Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185:
“The month of Ramadan is the month wherein the Holy Qur’an was revealed.”
Not even the great Messenger of Allah ﷺ with all the wisdom he possessed was able to comprehend the true excellence of this night.
Allah tells us in Surah Bani Isra-il, 17:88:
“Say! Even if the Jinn and humankind were to come together to produce a Qur’an similar to this one, they would not be able to do so, even if they are to assist one another.”
In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 23, Allah challenges us to bring forth one Surah in the same literary mode as that of the Holy Qur’an. Until now, that challenge remains and will remain until Youm al-Qiyamah. The treasures of the Qur’an will never cease.
Allah says in Surah Al-Kahf, 18:109:
“Say, O Muhammad, that if the sea was ink, to write the words of Allah, then the sea will be used up before the knowledge of Allah can be recorded.”
Allah further mentions in Surah Luqman, 31:27:
“And if all the trees on earth were pens, and the ocean ink with seven oceans behind it to add to its (supply), yet the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Verily, Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”
The Qur’an is clearly miraculous in nature. Unfortunately, not many are even remotely aware of its power and magnificence.
Here Allah explains the significance of this night, wherein small good deeds magnified and great deeds multiplied. If this night is utilised in performing acts of ibadah, it would be equivalent as if performing ibadah during one’s entire lifetime, considering that 1000 months equates to 83 years. Bear in mind though that we should not view the figure of 1000 literally as it was used to signify a significant number, considering that the Arabs at the time were mostly illiterate.
To further elucidate this point, Allah tells Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, in Surah Al-Taubah, 9:80:
“Whether you seek forgiveness for them (i.e., the hypocrites) or ask not forgiveness for them – and even if you ask 70 times for their forgiveness – Allah will never forgive them because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger.”
Whether the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asks for their forgiveness 70 times or more, the answer is that the number means nothing to Allah, for they disbelieved.
Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:96:
“Some of them would hope to be given a life of a thousand years.”
Does it mean 1000 years? If a man has lived that long and is aware that his end is near, would he want to die or would he want to live for another 1000 years?
The above illustrates that if we utilise the Qur’an daily in our lives, our reward will not only be limited to Laylatul Qadr. We will enjoy the fruits of Laylatul Qadr daily, and our rewards will not only be more than 1000 months of ibadah but by Allah, it will be even greater.
During the Night of Grandeur, Allah makes every affair distinctly clear to the Angels. Ordained on this night are included the deaths to take place for the year as well as the sustenance for humanity for that year.
Allah says in Surah Al-Dukhaan, 44:3-7:
“During the Night of Blessings, every affair is made clear with wisdom by Command from Us. For We send Messengers (with revelations) as a mercy from your Cherisher. For He hears and knows all things.”
There is a great lesson to be learnt in this verse, and that is that the Angels are ma’soom (infallible and sinless). They do not do anything except by Allah’s permission and command.
Allah further says in Surah Maryam, 19:64:
“(The Angels say) We descend not but by command of thy Lord. To Him belong what is before us and what is behind us and is between. And Thine Cherisher never ever forgets.”
Allah further clarifies this in Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:27-28:
“They speak not before He speaks, and they act according to His command. He knows what is before them, and what is behind them and they offer no intercession except for those with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe and reverence of His Glory.”
Sayduna Jibreel and the Angels listen to du’as made by Allah’s servants. They say Ameen and seek forgiveness for those who believe. They then send salutations on the believing men and women.
Allah says in Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:43:
“It is He who sends salutations on you and so too, His Angels, that He may bring you from the depths of darkness into the light. And He is full of mercy towards His believers.”
Thus, this night is indeed one of excellence, and true believers would be mindful of achieving its greatness. During this night, the foundation of Islam was set for eternity.
The majority held view is that this night occurs on the 27th night of Ramadan. However, there are no less than 40 different viewpoints.
Ibn Hajar Al-Qistallani in his book, Fat-hul Bari, which is a commentary of the Sahih al-Bukhari, records all 40 positions. Among them, is the view that the Night of Grandeur occurs on the last night of the month. Others say it occurs on the first night. Some seek it during the first half of the month while others seek it during the last half of the month.
In a hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ says:
“Seek Laylatul Qadr during the odd nights of the last half of the month of Ramadan.” (Reported by Bukhariy)
Imam Shafi-iy made the following analogy:
Laylatul Qadr consists of seven letters, and it is used thrice in Surah Al-Qadr. So if we multiply it, we get 27.
There are many ahadith on this matter, some authentic. However, the ‘Ulama agree that is a blessing for us not to know the exact night. Not knowing will cause us to strive throughout the month so that there can be no doubt that we had attained it.
Ibn Ishaq, the Muslim historian, whose works are heavily relied upon by official ulama, made the following statement:
“The Qur’an (is so magnanimous that it) translates itself.”
He clarifies this by saying that:
1. In Surah Al-Qadr, 96:1, Allah mentions the night.
“The Qur’an was revealed during the Night of Grandeur.”
2. In Surah Al-Dukhan, 44:3, Allah also mentions the night.
“We have revealed the Holy Qur’an during the Night of Blessings.”
3. In Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185, Allah tells us that this particular night was a night of the month of Ramadan.
“The month of Ramadan is the month wherein the Holy Qur’an was revealed.”
Ibn Ishaq then says that “the night is clear and so is the month.” He does not believe that the Qur’an will not mention the day of such fantastic an event. Ibn Ishaq claims that the Qur’an does mention it in the best way possible. In Surah Al-Anfal, 8:41, Allah reveals the day which coincided with the actual night during which the Qur’an was revealed – the day when Allah made a distinction between right and wrong and the day the two armies met at Badr on Friday, 17 Ramadan. “Know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire in the spoils of war, a fifth share is assigned to Allah and to the Messenger, and to the near relatives, orphans, needy and the wayfarer, if you do believe in Allah and in the revelation We sent down to our servant on the Day of Discrimination. The Day of the meeting of the two forces. For Allah has power over all things.”
Ibn Ishaq says that is it most appropriate that the day the Battle of Badr took place should coincide with Laylatul Qadr because Allah made a distinction between right and wrong. Had Badr been lost and the Muslims been slain, the kuffar would have marched to Madinah to kill the elderly women and children. Besides these Muslims in Madinah, there were no other Muslims on earth. Therefore, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said at Badr:
“Oh, Allah! If it is Your will today, no one will worship Thee after this day. (If we are all slain)” (Narrated by Ibn Abbas. Reported by Bukhariy)
Allah says in the Qur’an that the month of Ramadan is the month wherein the Holy Qur’an was revealed as guidance for humanity and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). The day of Badr was the Day of Distinction (Criterion) between good and evil, where the good overpowered the bad and the Angels descended to assist the Muslims. How appropriate is it that it should coincide?
Moreover, Allah knows best.
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