Article of Faith
On Laylatul Qadr and Muslim – A Comprehensive Guide to the Night of Majesty -By Solihu Abdulmumin
There is more to the month of Ramadan and the night of majesty than explained here, but the most important thing in “The night incites a thousand months’ worth of rewards in a singular eve. If one executes any acts of goodwill on this night, they reap the rewards of having performed such a good deed for a thousand months (83 years).
Islam is the religion of peace. It is the perfect religion sent to humankind by Almighty Allah through the successions of prophets. The last prophet, Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came with the Holy Qur’an which is the last book sent by Allah and the most unaltered revelation existing in its original form as sent. There are five pillars on which Islam is built. Every Muslim must know and carry each and every one of these pillars – some compulsory, others when they meet the criteria and are capable. Among these pillars is the fasting during the month of Ramadan.
Allah (The most glorified, the most high) said in the translation of the Holy Qur’an “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness. (Quran 2:183)” The act of fasting is meant to remind Muslims of the less fortunate and to reinforce the need to be thankful. As one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting during the month of Ramadan is mandatory for all healthy adult Muslims.
The fasting period spate through 29 or 30 days as the Hijra calendar may have it. The prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reportedly said: “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained.” Anyone you find indulging in any illicit act during this period is merely following their intuition and mindset. Furthermore, the first ten days of Ramadan are the days of Allah’s Mercy, and the middle ten days of Ramadan are the Days of Forgiveness.
These two stages in the month have already passed by. If we couldn’t achieve must therein, here comes the last ten days which are the days of Safety from Hellfire. This is due to numerous reasons among which the presence of Laylatul Qadr therein is primary. Laylatul Qadr, translated as the Night of Majesty (also known as The Night of Decree, is the night in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed. Almighty Allah said in the translation of Quran 97: 1, “Indeed, We revealed [the Qur’an] during the Night of decree.” The night is beyond exaggeration as any worship in that one night is equivalent to worship for 83 years, 4 months, and beyond. This is because the third verse of that same Surah said, “… The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”
So, when is Laylatul Qadr?
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said “Seek it in the last ten days, on the odd nights. (Hadith, Bukhari, and Muslim)”. It falls in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan which we are currently in and also on the odd days of the last ten days. The odd days are 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th day. There is no sahih evidence as of a particular day being the exact day. The choice of the 27th day was just a mathematical calculation of the number of verses in the Surah quoted above and has no basis in the Shariah. The wisdom behind the concealment of the night is so that we can strive to add, we already have the cards to pull – the last ten days: more advanced card – the odd last ten days. It is expedient for every one of us to seek the safety from hellfire in the last ten days and also pray vehemently about us, our parents, relatives, friends, and family.
On a final note, Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The five daily prayers and Friday prayer to the next Friday prayer and the keeping of fasts from one Ramadan to the next atone for the minor sins during this period so long as major sins are avoided. (Sahih Muslim).” We implore everyone to ask for sincere repentance during these last ten days as no one has lost like someone who leaves this month without having his/her sin forgiven. Note also that I’tikaf (seclusion in the masjid) is also highly recommended in the last ten days. There is more to the month of Ramadan and the night of majesty than explained here, but the most important thing in “The night incites a thousand months’ worth of rewards in a singular eve. If one executes any acts of goodwill on this night, they reap the rewards of having performed such a good deed for a thousand months (83 years).
