Md. Mamunor Rashid :
‘Laylatul Qadr’, two Arabic words where ‘Laylatun’ means night and ‘Qadr’ means glorious, sublime, stately. So Laylatul Qadr means glorious night. It is searched in the odd nights from the last 10 days of Ramzan so that Muslim Ummah can attain more Sawab (rewards) through worshipping of Allah. The precise night on which Laylatul Qadr occurs has not been mentioned specifically. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Search for Laylatul Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan” (Sahih Bukhari, 2017). Through this Hadith it is measured that this night can be any odd night from the last 10 days.
It is a night in which the holy Quran was started to reveal in the cave of Hera of Makkah on our prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) through Zibrail (A.) by the order of Almighty Allah. It is a night of great blessing where Allah (swt) pours His mercy upon believers who worship faithfully and sincerely for Sa’wab (rewards). Many angels descend to the earth on the holy night and they referenced the people about spirit and peace. Worshipping in this night is equal to worship more than 1000 months therein many angels descend to the world and call upon the people for Ibadah (worship). Allah says in the Quran:
“We sent it down on the Night of Destiny. And what should make thee know what the Night of Destiny is? The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months. Therein descend angels and the Spirit by the command of their Lord – with every matter. It is all peace till the rising of the dawn” (Sura Qadr: Verse 1-5).
This night is measured as the night of power because the Almighty Allah blesses the people to ask something form Him and He is ready to accept the requirements of people. Allah mentions: “that it is a Blessed Night” (Sura44: Verse 04). In a reported hadith, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said:
‘Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven’ (Al-Bukhari, Vol.1, Bk.2, No. 34).
All the affairs including good or evil deeds of whole year for human beings are written on that night and it will be happened according to the record of that night. Even the people who will be eligible to pilgrimage on that year are verified on Lailatul Qadr.
There is also a special link between this night and seeking forgiveness from Allah. This is the best night to look for mercy and pardon for sins to Allah through some A’mal (do’a). Hazrat A’isha (R.) asked the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say, “Allahumma Innaka ‘afuwwun Tuhibbul ‘Afwafa ‘fu ‘Anni”: O Allah! You are most Frogiving, and you love to forgive. So forgive me (Jami’al-Tirmidhi, 3513).
Everyone should involve in performing more additional prayer during this night to become the nearest and dearest person to Allah. More prayers beget more rewards. This night is an opportunity to get forgiveness for the previous sins as declared in a Hadith. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Whoever stands in prayer during Laylatul Qadr with faith and hope in the reward of Allah, all of his previous sins will be forgiven” (Sahih Bukhari, 1901).
Another, it is the best to recite the holy Quran on this night. Allah multiplies the rewards on A’mal (worship) in the month of Ramzan than those of other months. So, reciting Quran is the best way to pass this night.
The other special Ibadah (worship) on this night is to spend in charity. Giving charity and Sadaqah is one of the best things to do at this night. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever removes a worldly hardship from a believer, Allah will remove one of the hardships of Day of Resurrection from him” [Sahih Muslim].
Finally, All the Muslims should spend this significant night with A’mal (worship) according to the Quran and Sunnah.
(Mamunor Rashid is a Lecturer, Department of Islamic Studies, Leading University, Sylhet).
