QADR

Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) says in the Holy Qur'aan, in the 97^th Sura, al-Alaq:Verses 1-5

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace!... This until the rise of Morn!

According to some authentic authorities, the first revelation came to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) at the age of 40 on the 12th Rabi-al-Awwal[1]. The Holy Qur’aan says about itself in the 2^nd Sura, al-Baqarah: Verse 185 that it was sent down in the month of Ramadan, in the night of power , it's original and eternal existence being in A Tablet Preserved ( Lauh al-mahfuz[2] )

Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’aan, as a guide to mankind

The question is, does the coming down of the Qur’aan in the Night Of Power imply the commencement of revelation to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) or it's revelation to him in it's entirety on that single occasion, or it's descent from the " tablet preserved " to some other dimension? Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him) , whose authority in expounding the Qur’aanic revelation is held in very high esteem, is reported by different authorities like Nassai , Baihaqi , al-Hakim , al-Tibrani and al-Bazzar, to have held that the entire Qur’aan , came down in The Night Of Power from the "Divine Presence" to the heaven nearest to earth where it dwelt in "he House Of Power , Honour And Glory (al-Bayt al-Izza[3]) . From here its portions came to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) as occasions arose over 23 years. The Sufis say that the House of Glory (al-Bayt al-Izza) is the blessed heart of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) that poured out the guidance as the need arose.

This night is also called The Night Of Power to emphasize its effectiveness (Qadr) because Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) predetermines (Yu Qaddiru) how things are to be throughout the year. "And what has made you know?" (Wa maa adraa-ka) this question is in the past tense - -meaning Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) has already imparted the relevant knowledge to His beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions). It is stated that the companion were never so happy about anything as they felt about Allah's words " better than a thousand months “ The story behind this goes as follows: The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) told the companions about four persons of the Bani Israel who had worshipped Allah for 80 years without disobeying Him even for a blink of an eye. They were Hazrath Ayuub (Job), Zakarriyya (Zackrias), Hizqil (Ezekiel) and Yusha ibne Nun (Joshua, the son of Nun) The companions were amazed by this, so Gabriel (may Allah bless him with peace) came to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) and said , " O Beloved of Allah , your Allah has sent you something better than that. " Then he recited Sura Qadr.

The descent of the angels on this night means they come down in succession from sunset to sunrise. The spirit refers to Gabriel (may Allah bless him with peace), Peace refers to the night being protected, being perfectly safe, no sickness and disease can break out and no magic can disturb it. It also refers to angels, blessing humanity with peace.

The Night of Power should be looked for in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadaan. Imam Maalik says that all ten nights are equal candidates, whilst Imam Shafei said the 21st is the most likely candidate. Ibn Abbas favored the 27^th night. Imam Hambal favored this night also. Shaykh Abd al-Qaadir Jilaani (may Allah be well pleased with him) pointed out the significance of the number seven in Islam and that their are 27 words or huruuf in Sura Qadr up to but not including salaamun.

Allah has kept this night a secret so that his servants will do not take it for granted that they have worshipped on this night and thereafter rest on their laurels. Allah has concealed 5 things,

1. Lailat al-Mu jiza wa l-Qudra [The Night of the Miracle and Supernatural Skill]

Hazrath Musa (may Allah bless him with peace) split the sea by the stroke of his staff whilst the mere pointing of the blessed finger of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) caused the miraculous splitting of the moon.

The night in which a company of jinn urged their kind to respond to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) and believe in him as mentioned in the Holy Qur'aan in the 46^th Sura, al-Ahqaaf, Verses 29 to 31:

We sent it down during a blessed night: for We are ever warning :In that (night) is made distinct every affair of Wisdom,

Glory to the One Who took His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Place Of Worship to the Far Distant Place Of Worship, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the All-Hearing and All-Seeing

This is none other than the night of Power referred to in the Holy Qur'aan, the 97^th Sura, al-Qadr, Verse 1 to 5.

Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) will command Jibraeel (may Allah bless him with peace) accompanied by 70 000 angels from sidra . They will carry with them banners of light. Jibraeel will set up his flag (liwa) and the Angels will set up their flags at 4 localities viz.

2. Next to the tomb of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions)

Angels will visit every place in this world making dua for the inhabitants of this world and Jibraeel (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions) will meet every believer greeting him with peace and shaking his hand. Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilaani says that the recipients of this blessing will feel a sudden appearance of goose bumps all over the skin. (Ishqi Raar jildi hi) coinciding with a tender feeling in the heart and a tearful moistening of the eyes.

It is stated that Allah promised His beloved that He will give members of His community spiritual degrees of the Prophets (Dara jaat al Ambiya)

1) the atmosphere is comfortable, sky jet-black and the temperature is neither hot or cold.

Ramadaan is the month of serenity and purity especially for those who practiced the remembrance of Allah who endure patiently and who are honest and truthful. Repent, take advantage of the little time left. This could be your last fast and your last Ramadaan. The Prophet (Peace be upon him, his family and his companions)

there is many a one who keeps the fast by day but gets nothing out of it but hunger and thirst., and there is many a one who keeps awake at night in vigil in prayer, but gets nothing from his vigil, other than insomnia.

The Divine definition of Ramadan is one where Allah draws Himself closer towards you; the Divine ruh descends accompanied by the angels to embrace your affairs and welcome you to a very special contact with the path of Divinity: (Tanazzala-l-mala'ikatu wa-rruhu fiha bi-'idhni rabbihim min kulli amr). This is the meaning of the Hadith Qudsi where Allah says

all the deeds of man are for himself except for fasting, it is done for My sake and I will reward it.

The personal involvement of the Creator Of The Heavens And The Earth in rewarding you is a far sweeter experience than a thousand months of personal effort on our part. The month of Ramadan has a certain flavour, a unique taste; it is not a taste on the tongue of our body, but a taste that we appreciate in our soul. This taste is the clue to Laylat Ul-Qadr; that is the essence of Ramadan. If we liken Ramadan to a cup of hot water, then Laylat Ul-Qadr can be compared to a tea-bag in the cup. By drinking it, you do taste the tea, not directly, but dissolved in the water. It is perhaps difficult, if not impossible, for most people to directly taste tea by chewing tealeaves, but by drinking the beverage they really taste the essence of the tea in a more easy to get to form. The same applies to Ramadan. By fasting the month of Ramadan we get to taste the beauty and power of the essence of Laylat Ul-Qadr in accessible form. Don’t expect to stay up all night on the 27th of Ramadan, or the last ten nights of Ramadan, expecting a spiritual fireworks to be transformed into a saint of some kind. Ramadaan is the time to perform a Hijra from one State Of Inner Ignorance (jahiliyyah) to a State Of Submission (Islam). The evolution of your soul from one state (maqaam) to a higher one, is what feeds the quality of your acts of worship, this is what makes it more valuable in the eyes of Allah. Irshad Soofi

[1]ibn Kathir - : al - Bidaayah wa al - Nihaayah, Vol 2 , Pg 260 - on the authority of ibn Abbas. Ansari MFR - Qur’aanic Foundations.... Vol. 1 Pg. 59

[2] Lauh al-Mahfuz: The Inscribed or Guarded Tablet upon which the supreme pen (al-qalam al-a’la) writes down the destiny of all creation.

[3] al-Bayt al-Izza: The House of Glory. This is the heart of the knower who is in a state of concentration and union (jam’)

[4] Refer Holy Qur’aan: 2^nd Sura Verse 38.

International Sufi Order

The Night Of Power

Lailat - al - Qadr