The Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr)
Allah – the Almighty – revealed the Holy Quran during Laylat al-Qadr, designating it as one of the most revered nights. This blessed night is described in the Quran as being better than a thousand months. As stated in the verse: (Indeed, We sent the Quran down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.)
. Worshiping on this night encompasses remembrance, prayer, recitation of the Quran, and supplication, among other acts of devotion. It occurs during the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan, with odd-numbered nights being particularly auspicious. The 27th night of Ramadan is considered highly probable, yet this night may also fall on other occasions. Therefore, it is essential for a Muslim to engage in worship during all of the last ten nights in hopes of attaining this blessed night. Notably, it is impossible to definitively assert that Laylat al-Qadr occurs on a specific night, encouraging believers to increase their efforts in worship during this sacred period. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: (I came out to inform you about Laylat al-Qadr, but so-and-so had an altercation, so it was lifted. Perhaps it is better for you. Seek it in the odd nights of the last ten.
Hadiths Regarding Laylat al-Qadr
Hadiths on Its Virtue
Numerous prophetic traditions highlight the significance and virtues of Laylat al-Qadr. Below are some noteworthy hadiths:
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
(Whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.)
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) remarked:
(This month has come to you, and it contains a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it is indeed deprived of all good, and only the truly deprived will be denied its goodness.)
- Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:
(When the last ten nights of Ramadan would begin, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would stay up at night, wake his family, and tighten his waistcloth.)
- It was narrated that Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
(The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to seclude himself in the last ten days of Ramadan.)
Hadiths on Its Signs
Several hadiths describe the signs of Laylat al-Qadr. A few of these include:
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned:
(The sign of Laylat al-Qadr is that it is a clear night, like a bright moon. It is calm, neither hot nor cold, and no meteor can be shot at during that night until the morning. Another sign is that the sun will rise on its morning without rays, like a full moon; the devil is unable to go out with it.)
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
(We discussed Laylat al-Qadr with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and he asked: Which of you remembers when the moon rose, looking like half a dish?)
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated:
(Laylat al-Qadr occurs on the 27th, or the 29th night; angels descend in profusion on that night, more than the number of pebbles.)
- Abu al-Mundhir was asked about the sign of Laylat al-Qadr, and he replied:
(The sun will rise that morning like a basin without rays until it rises high.)
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) described:
(Laylat al-Qadr is a night of ease, calm, neither hot nor cold, and the sun will rise that morning weak and red.)
Hadiths Regarding Its Timing
Numerous hadiths mention the timing of Laylat al-Qadr, emphasizing that it has not been defined definitively to encourage Muslims to strive during the last ten nights in search of this sacred occasion. Below are several such narrations:
- Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
(The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would perform i’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, saying: Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.)
- It was narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
(Some of the companions of the Prophet were shown Laylat al-Qadr during the last seven nights, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised: You should seek it in the last seven nights.)
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed:
(Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan, on the ninth remaining, the seventh remaining, or the fifth remaining.)
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
(It is in the last ten days; it may be in the nine nights that are left, or in the seven remaining nights, referring to Laylat al-Qadr.)
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) advised:
(Seek Laylat al-Qadr on the odd nights among the last ten days of Ramadan.)
References
- ↑ Surah Al-Qadr, Verses: 1-3.
- ↑ “The Night of Decree is the Best of Nights,” www.binbaz.org.sa, accessed on 21-2-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Bukhari, in Sahih Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Ubadah bin Al-Samit, page or number: 49, authentic.
- ↑ “No one can assert with certainty that a specific night is Laylat al-Qadr,” www.islamqa.info, 23-10-2004, accessed on 21-2-2019. Edited.
- ^ ‘Umm Hamad Al-Jarif (2-9-2010), “Authentic Hadiths about Laylat al-Qadr,” www.alukah.net, accessed on 21-2-2019.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Bukhari, in Sahih Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Abu Huraira, page or number: 2014, authentic.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Albani, in Sahih Ibn Majah, on the authority of Anas bin Malik, page or number: 1341, authentic.
- ↑ Narrated by Muslim, in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, page or number: 1174, authentic.
- ↑ Narrated by Muslim, in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar, page or number: 1171, authentic.
- ↑ “Signs That Identify Laylat al-Qadr,” www.fatwa.islamweb.net, 28-10-2001, accessed on 21-2-2019.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Haythami, in Majma’ Al-Zawa’id, on the authority of Ubadah bin Al-Samit, page or number: 3/178, authentic chain.
- ↑ Narrated by Muslim, in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Abu Huraira, page or number: 1170, authentic.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Suyuti, in Al-Jami’ Al-Saghir, on the authority of Abu Huraira, page or number: 7707, authentic.
- ↑ Narrated by Ibn Abdul Barr, in Al-Istidhkar, on the authority of Ubayy bin Ka’b, page or number: 3/295, authentic.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Albani, in Sahih Al-Jami’, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas, page or number: 5475, authentic.
- ↑ ‘Umm Hamad Al-Jarif, “Authentic Hadiths about Laylat al-Qadr,” www.saaid.net, accessed on 21-2-2019.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Bukhari, in Sahih Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, page or number: 2020, authentic.
- ↑ Narrated by Ibn Hibban, in Sahih Ibn Hibban, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar, page or number: 3675, included in his authentic collection.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Bukhari, in Sahih Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas, page or number: 2021, authentic.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Bukhari, in Sahih Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas, page or number: 2022, included in his authentic collection.
- ↑ Narrated by Al-Bukhari, in Sahih Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, page or number: 2017, authentic.