Laylatul Qadr- the Night of Decree

“In the Name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.

Surely, We sent it down during the Night of Decree.

And what shall make thee know what the Night of Decree is?

The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.

Therein descend angels and the Spirit by the command of their Lord with Divine decree concerning every matter.

It is all peace till the rising of the dawn” (Qur’an: chapter 97).

These are the final ten days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It is one of these last nights which God has referred to in the Qur’an as a night which is better than a thousand months. He has called it Laylatul Qadr or the Night of Decree. This is indeed a very special night because it was on this night in the year 610 C.E. when the Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) while he was meditating in the cave of Hira near Mecca. And according to the Qur'an Laylatul Qadr falls in the month of Ramadan (2:186). It is not known with certainty the exact date of this night. The traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) state that it could be any one of the odd nights between the 20th and the 30th of the month. That is, the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or the 29th. Many scholars are of the opinion that it is the 27th especially if it falls on a Friday. Thus, a true believer seeks to worship ardently on all the nights of the last ten days.

The significance of Laylatul Qadr is that on this night God grants forgiveness to those who seek it. It is also when the supplications of the worshipers are accepted. God says in the Qur'an, “And when My servants ask thee about Me, say, ‘I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way’” (2:187). This however, doesn’t mean that God does not grant prayers at other times. But Ramadan is a time when one’s prayers are answered in abundance.

But is it enough for one to engage in worship in only these last ten days of Ramadan? Can one benefit from a healthy meal one day of the month when he has been deprived of the necessary sustenance for the rest of the month? God does not need anyone to merely give up food and drink (from dawn to dusk) if he does not fulfill his other obligations. Fasting has no meaning if it is not done with the proper intention which is to seek the pleasure of God. How can one reap the blessings of fasting if he does not perform his other obligatory duties of worship such as, Prayers, charity, and shunning all evils?

Laylatul Qadr is the time when one can attain the highest spiritual status and nearness to God. So what can one do to achieve this heightened sense of spirituality? It surely doesn’t happen in an instant. Just like a world champion athlete needs to start practicing at a very early age so must a believer begin the training of worship as early in life as possible. However, God through His infinite mercy turns to those who after having been negligent repents and turns to Him with sincerity in devotion. The month of Ramadan is itself a time for self-reformation. Man is weak and falls short of his obligations time and time again. Each year in Ramadan one is able to get back on track and strive to become a better person.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) is the perfect exemplar. He would increase his devotion during the last ten days of Ramadan. Not only would he stay up a greater portion of the night in worship he would encourage his family members to also become more diligent in prayers. During the month of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings be on him) charity did not know any bounds. Many Muslims, men and women, take the opportunity to retreat to the local mosques and spend these last ten days of Ramadan in uninterrupted worship. It is not obligatory for a person to retreat to the mosque in order to experience Laylatul Qadr. However, the worldly distractions are more pronounced in the home than in a place of mosque. At present due to the current pandemic as mosques are closed, believers can retreat in their own homes by detaching themselves from worldly distractions and solely focusing on the worship of God.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) taught his followers to pray, “O God! You are the Great Pardoner, You love to pardon. Hence I seek Your pardon” when the worshiper experiences this night.

As we are going through tumultuous times, it is indeed incumbent upon the believers to pray fervently and sincerely for peace in the world and what better time for the acceptance of prayer than the Night of Decree which is better than thousand months. Although Ramadan presents the opportunity for self-reformation, one should continue to strive to climb the ladder of spirituality and gain nearness to God at all other times.