Thread by @MrLatif10, THREAD 7: Thread on Laylat Al-Qadr

THREAD 7: Thread on Laylat Al-Qadr - What it is, how to seek it and actions that benefit Muslims on this night. This will be my final Ramadhan thread, I hope you've enjoyed/learnt something! #Ramadhan

#LaylatAlQadr

Where is it mentioned?

Chapter 97 in the Qur’an titled Surah Al-Qadr is a Surah in which it celebrates this special and significant night known as Laylat al-Qadr.

Laylat al-Qadr known as ‘the Night of Decree’ refers to the night in which the first (of many revelations) was

revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through Angel Jibreel of the Qur’an, the final and unalterable word of Allah.

I’d like to mention something important here, the first revelation was, ‘Read in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not.’

Why is it important?

What is really important and significant as a reminder for Muslims on Laylat al-Qadr is that the first revelation is an instruction to Muslims to read Allah’s revelation to which many of them will do during Tahajjud prayer, Dhikr and reciting Qur’an.

This night is so important for so many reasons. This night commemorates that Muhammad had received his first revelation confirming his status as the final messenger of Allah. It celebrates that Allah has revealed to mankind his Signs and Guidance (the revelation).

If we look at the start of the Surah in Surah Al Qadr, the significance of this night is found with the verse,

‘Indeed, We revealed [the Qur’an] 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. [97: 1-3]

This sentence that is is better than a thousand months reminds Muslims of how seeking out Allah’s rewards and forgiveness (with faith) is equivalent to worship of 83.3 years!

Can you imagine now why this night is so important for the believers? Imagine seeking out one night is the equivalent of 83 years of reward and worship! Most of us may not even reach 83 years in our lifetime.

The importance that this will have will be on the scales of a Muslim on the Day of Judgment. All those good deeds and reward when it has been seeked with eeman (Faith).

The scales of all these good deeds will be rewarded greatly and imagine if you passed away and did not reach next Ramadhan yet receiving inshAllah 83 years of deeds?

What actions Muslims do on this night?

Many Muslims would be as they would have in this month going to do Taraweeh at the Mosque however the circumstances this year changing.

Many Muslims would perform the Sunnah of Itikaf which Is the devotion to worshiping in the Mosque for the last 10 days, so a spiritual retreat to say. No distractions from the Dunya (this world). No phones, no socialising, just their relationship with Allah and Allah alone.

Likewise this is something that many Muslims will seek out to do on Laylat Al-Qadr. Many Muslims will seek out the last third of the night as a Hadith states that this is a blessed time for prayers and supplications.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

“Our Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, comes down to the lowest heaven every night when the last third of the night is left, and He

says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1145) and Muslim (758).

The last third of the Night can be worked out from the start of the Adhan (call to prayer) of Maghrib to the start of the Adhan of Fajr. How many hours in between are then divided by 3.

So if Maghrib is at 20:47 in the UK London time and Fajr at 3:24, the last third would start be around 2 hours and 30 minutes before so around 1 a.m.

The Tahajudd prayer is Sunnah as it was done by the Prophet Muhammad. Tahajudd prayer itself does not entail a specific about of Rakats. However many may choose to do Rakats of 2, 4, 6 or 8 followed up by 1 Witr Rakat.

What Duas are recited?

There are many Duas to be done after Tahajudd or just within the final third of the night itself.

Here are some that would be recited by the Prophet Muhammad that many will recite on Laylat Al Qadr

It is also recommended that one to say the following supplication,

“O Allah! Verily, You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.”

It is a great time to supplicate and ask God for forgiveness, good health, Ilm (knowledge), his Mercy, his Compassion.

The question of when is Laylat Al Qadr?

The Qu’ran itself does not single out a specific date on what night Laylat Al Qadr is. However there is different scholarly opinion and it does differ.

Some traditions do single out a certain night whether it is the 23rd or the 27th. However scholarly opinion varies and differs. Many scholars suggest that Muslims should seek the last ten odd nights as Prophet Muhammad stated,

‘Search for the night of Al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadhan.” [Al-Bukharee]

The Hikmah (wisdom) behind Muslims searching for it in the last odd nights is that it is not specified what night it is in Qur’an and that within this Hadith the Prophet doesn’t single out a certain night.

Some scholarly opinion suggest that it is an odd night and that it constantly changes each Ramadhan such as that of Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. The Hikmah behind this is so that Muslims increase their actions and search for it with the right intention

and grow with a closeness to Allah (Taqwa) rather than neglecting the last ten days to just one specific night.

What are the descriptions and characteristics of Laylat Al-Qadr?

There are descriptions with Hadiths which mention that it is a night which is pleasant and clear, not hot or cold. A quiet and calm night.

Ibn ‘Abbass (ra) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “It is pleasant and clear, neither hot nor cold, the sun rises in the morning with a weak red (colour)”.
Recorded by Abu Daawood At-Tayaalissi (2680) and Al-Bazzaar.

Ibn Khuzaimah (2192) narrated it as: “A pleasant night, neither hot nor cold, the sun in the morning is a weak red.”

Note: The second Hadith indicates that the Arabic description in the first Hadeeth means weak in terms of the red colour of the sky.

What else is done on this night by Muslims?

Alongside the Tahajudd prayers, many will perform Dhikr (recite Allah’s 99 names and attributes) make supplications and Duas, praise Allah, read verses from the Qu’ran, listen to the Qu’ran, give Sadaqah Jariyah.

Loads of blessings behind Sadaqah as it can be ongoing charity even after you die such as

1. Donating to build a mosque
2. Donating to building of wells
3. Donating to sponsor a Hafiz
4. Donating to sponsor an orphan

This found in a Hadith which states, On the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) who said, ‘the Prophet (SAW) said, “Indeed, the rewards of his actions and good deeds that will reach a believer after his death are: [1] knowledge which he taught and spread;

[2] a righteous child whom he leaves behind; [3] a copy of the Qur’an that he leaves as a legacy; [4] or a masjid that he built; [5] or a house that he built for wayfarers; [6] a canal that he dug;

[7] or charity that he gave from his wealth in his good health and life. [These deeds] will reach him after his death”’. (Ibn Majah)

Laylat Al Qadr is a great opportunity and time to give Sadaqah not only to invest in the life of others, but to invest in your own afterlife for it will be something you can benefit from once you pass away.

Laylat al Qadr is a great opportunity to give Sadaqah Jariyah on behalf of a loved one who is deceased so that they can receive the reward of the night and the charity to benefit from this night.

In all, I hope this thread has helped you understand what Laylat Al Qadr entails and its special and importance status in the month of Ramadhan and how worship on this night equals to that of 83 years when done with eeman.

I hope you've enjoyed the last 7 threads during Ramadhan. Hopefully they are of some benefit in knowing a bit more about Ramadhan and some pedagogy on how to teach it. @NATREupdate @Ben_Wood_RE #Ramadhan

#LaylatAlQadr #RE #ReligiousEducation #Teaching #Islam

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