Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :
The welfare of mankind–emancipation in this world and salvation in the hereafter is the aim of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an. Many verses throw light on the role, speciality and uniqueness of this final Divine revelation. Some of the Verses are:
“This is the Scripture wherein there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil);”
“Who believe in the unseen, and establish worship, and spend of that We have bestowed upon them;”
“And who believe in that which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) and that which was revealed before thee, and are certain of the Hereafter” (Verse 2-4, Al-Baqarah 2, The Meanings of the Glorious Qur’an by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall).
“This is the Book :/In it is guidance sure, without doubt, / To those who fear God;.”
“Who believe in the Unseen,/Are steadfast in prayer./And spend out of what We/Have provided for them;”
“And who believe in the Revelation/Sent to thee,/And sent before thy time,/And (in their hearts)/Have the assurance of the Hereafter.” (Verse 2-4, Al Baqarah 2, The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by A. Yusuf Ali)
“This is a declaration for mankind, A guidance and an admonition unto those/Who ward off (evil).” (Verse 138, Al-i-Imran 3, The Meanings of the Glorious Qur’an by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall)
“Here is a plain statement /To men, a guidance /And instruction to those /Who fear God.” (Verse 138, Al-i- ‘Imran 3, the Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary)
“O mankind! Now hatha proof from your Lord come unto you, and We have sent down unto you a clear light,” (Verse 174, An-Nisa 4, The Meanings of the Glorious Qur’an by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall)
“O mankind! Verily/There hath come to you/A convincing proof /From your Lord:/For We have sent unto you/A light (that is) manifest.” (Verse 174, An-Nisa 4, The Holy Qur’an Translation and commentary).
Here the comment of A. Yusuf Ali helps the readers.
“The Proof and the Light are the Holy Quran and the Personality. Life, and Teachings of Muhammad Mustafa.”
The Holy Quran reveals: “And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the Truth confirming whatever Scripture was before it and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed, He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.” (Verse 48, Al-Maida 5. The Meanings of the Glorious Qur’an)’
“To thee We sent the Scripture/In Truth. confirming /The scripture that came Before it, and guarding it/In safety: so judge/Between them by what/God hath revealed./And follow not their vain /Desires. Diverging/From the Truth that hath come/To thee. To each among you/Have We prescribed a Law/And an Open Way.
If God had so willed,/He would have made you/A single People. but (His/Plan is) to test you in what/He hath given you : so strive /As in a race in all virtues./The goal of you all is to God; it is He that will show you/The truth of the matters/In which ye dispute; ” (Verse 48, Sura Maidah 5, The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary)
Majority Islamic scholars are of the opinion that the Holy Lailatul Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr is the 27th night of Holy Ramzan, the night after the 26th Ramzan. According to some others the night may be anyone of the uneven nights after the 20th Ramzan as 21st, 23rd, 25th or 27th. However, Ramzan being the best month the ‘Lailatul Qadr’ is the best night as the Holy Quran, guide to mankind, was revealed on this night. The relevant verse of the Holy Qur’an :
“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.” (Verse 1-3, Qadr 97 The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary).
The merit of Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Power) thus stands supreme as the Holy Qur’an was revealed in this night and it is ‘better than a thousand months.’
According to the Holy Qur’an, it is also ‘Lailatul Mubarakah’ or ‘the Night of Honour’:
“Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power. And, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is ! The Night of power is better than a thousand months.” (Verse 1-3, Al-Qadr, The Meanings of the Glorious Quran)
Lo! We revealed it on a blessed Night — Low! We are ever warning-Whereupon every wise command is made clear.” (Verse 3-4, Ad-Dukhan, The Meanings of the Glorious Quran)
“We sent it down/During a blessed night: /For We (ever) wish/To warn (against Evil). /In that (night) is made/Distinct every affair/Of wisdom. “(Verse 3-4), Ad Dukhan 44, The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary.
Allama Yusuf Ali comments:
“Usually taken to be a night in the month of Ramadan, say the 23rd, 25th, or 27th night of that month. It is referred to as the Night of Power in xcvii.1-2. See also ii. 185. But perhaps we need not fix it literally by the calendar. The night that a Message descends from God is indeed a blessed night, like a day of rain for a parched land.”
“Such an occasion is one which Divine Wisdom places before us through Revelation the solution of spiritual problems of the highest import to mankind.” (Do, P.1344)
Shab-e-Qadr embraces Divine Injunctions of the Holy Qur’an and its Messenger for mankind and the universe.
According to Imam Ahmad bin Hambal(R), a Hadith narrated by Ibne Umar (Ra) claimed that Rasulullah (Sm) said: “Whoever seeks the night, let him seek it on the 27th.”
The Messenger of Allah said. “He who spends the Lailatul Qadr through prayers in full faith, shall have all his previous sins and faults forgiven.”
Rasulullah (Sm) said, “Pray this in the night of Qadr : O Allah, You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness. So, forgive me.”
The Holy Lailatul Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr is in our midst before we go to celebrate the Holy Eid-ul-Fitr. In this festive and sublime occasion, we should engage ourselves to seek the bounties and mercy of Allah. This night should be passed in prayer, supplication, tilawat, Zikr-azkar, durud, charity and praying for the departed souls.
We should take pledge to establish the Quranic principles in our lives to build the society in the light of Islam and thus ensure peace and prosperity.
