Laylatul Qadr
Allah Ta’ala’s love for His Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is evident and manifest in many Aayaat (verses) of the Qur`an Sharif. Additionally, whilst other Ambiya (‘alayhimussSalam) were gifted with exclusive titles, it was Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) alone whose title was “Habibullah” (The Beloved of Allah). Due to this Divine love for Sayyidina Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his Ummah is the recipient of special mercy, blessings and favours from Allah Ta’ala. It is only due to our connection and association with Nabi-e-Akram (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that Allah Ta’ala has honoured us above all people. Amongst many privileges, one divine mark of distinction that has been granted to us, is the great privilege of being “Ummate Marhuma” —The Ummah upon whom mercy is shown. The explanation of this noble title, “Ummate Marhuma”, is that forgiveness is secured, and mercy is attained through our sicknesses, hardships and other tribulations. Through the Esalus Sawab that people convey to us after our demise, and through blessed days and nights such as are found in Ramadan and other special days and nights outside Ramadan[1], we can easily gain forgiveness. The most special and most blessed of all nights is the Night of “QADR”. Laylatul Qadr is a night singled out by Allah Ta’ala, who granted it such magnificent virtues and greatness that surpasses all other nights. The fact that Allah Ta’ala has gifted this Ummah with this one night – year in and year out – highlights again the Divine mercy that is extended to this Ummah, as well as the graciousness and kindness of Allah Ta’ala in giving us opportunities to secure far more in rewards. It is mentioned in the Tafasir that one meaning of the word “Qadr” is “greatness, honour, dignity”, and this is what the night of Qadr is – a night of greatness. It is also stated that the night is called so because a person becomes a person of honour and dignity on account of his (or her) sincere repentance, noble deeds, prayers and supplications during this night. Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever stands in prayer and worship on the night of Qadr, with complete faith and sincere hope of gaining reward, all his previous sins are forgiven.”[2] “Qadr” also means “pre-destination”, and we find that this is also a night where the destinies of people are assigned to respective Angels regarding life, death, sustenance, rain, and so forth – all of which will come to pass for the year that will follow. Drawing from the different narrations, it becomes clear that the Night of Qadr should be sought in the last ten nights of Ramadan, specifically on the odd nights. Its greatness and merit are described in the speech of Allah Ta’ala, wherein it is stated that worship on this night surpasses the worship of 1000 months. Worship includes Salah, Tilawah (recitation) of the Qur’an Sharif, Zikrullah, Dua, etc. The night is also a night for sincere repentance, as attested by a narration, wherein Ayesha (radiyallahu ‘anha) had asked Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) what prayer she should engage in if she finds Laylatul Qadr and Rasulullah (sallallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) ) advised her the following dua: “O Allah, very You are Oft-Pardoning, You love to Pardon, so do pardon me.” Rasulullah (sallahu’ alayhi wa sallam) said: “Verily a month has dawned over you wherein lies a night better than a thousand months. Whoever misses such a night has indeed been deprived of all that is good, and none is deprived of it, except he who is unfortunate.” May Allah Ta’ala grant us the appreciation of these beautiful opportunities and grant us the experience and rewards of Laylatul Qadr. It is impossible to do justice to a discussion of Laylatul Qadr, but an excellent and detailed exposition is found in the book “Faza’il-e-Ramadan” by Shaykhul Hadith, Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullah’ alayh), which offers tremendous inspiration, motivation, and encouragement. [1] The first ten nights and days of Zul Hijjah, the nights of Eid, the 10th of Muharram, etc.) [2] Sahih al-Bukhari
Zul Hijjah – Opportunities for Great Profits
Allah Ta’ala takes a Qasm (oath) by the first ten nights of Zul Hijjah: وَالۡفَجۡرِۙ وَلَيَالٍ عَشۡرٍۙ“By the dawn, and [by] the ten nights.”[Surah Al-Fajr 89:1-2] When Allah Ta’ala is taking a Qasm on the blessedness and status of these nights, there can be no doubt of the greatness of these nights. Allah Ta’ala is the Creator of the Universe, and Allah Ta’ala has created the days and the nights. Regarding the hours of the days and nights, there is no question of different hours. Each day has a fixed twenty-four hours. We describe certain days of our lives as “memorable” and “enjoyable”, and we describe certain days of our lives as “miserable” and “sad”. This alludes to the actions or the happenings of that day, which made the day memorable or miserable. Certain days become distinguished for us due to the actions that transpired on those days. As far as Shari’ah is concerned, there is no such thing as the day itself having any misfortune. There is no “bad-luck” day —as people may regard some days. Our deeds make a day good or bad. If we engage in good deeds; perform our Salaah, fulfil the rights of Allah Ta’ala and the creation, take care of the poor, fast, engage in Zikrullah, Tilawah, Dua and other righteous deeds, then that day is a good, bright day. If we spend the day in evil deeds —in Zina, watching porn, swearing, stealing, dealing in interest or engaging in other vices, we have made the day a bad, “dark” day. Such a day is not a blessed day for the person because he disobeyed Allah Ta’ala on that day. Allah Ta’ala chose these days and nights of Zul Hijjah for Ibaadah. Furthermore, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) —who was the most truthful, and received Wahi (revelation), also informed us of the speciality of these days and nights and how to occupy our time, whereby we gain the maximum profits of this period —this peak period for the Ibaadah of Allah Ta’ala. Not only did Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) present to us the greatness of these days and nights, but he also practically demonstrated the actions that should be carried out during this very Mubarak time. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was sinless. No one can engage in more Ibaadah, Zikr, Da’wah, and other good as he did; yet look at how he would stand for hours and hours in Salaah —until his Mubarak feet would swell; look at how he would place his head in Sajdah for so long that his beloved wife, ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) would fear that his soul had departed. Despite all the responsibilities entrusted to him, he would give time exclusively for the Ibaadah of Allah Ta’ala.Whatever he invited to, he practised. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.”The people asked: “Not even Jihad for Allah?”He said: “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah Ta’ala), and came back with nothing.”[1] Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also directed us towards how to occupy our time: “No days are as weighty by Allah, and so liked by Him than good deeds which are carried out in the first ten days of Zul Hijjah. So during these days, increasingly read: Subhanallah, La ilaaha illallaah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar.”[2] Furthermore, Rasulullah (sallallaahu’ alayhi wa sallam) said: “On no days is the worship of Allah desired more than in the first ten days of Zul Hijjah. The fast of each of these days is equal to the fast of a whole year, and the Ibaadah (worship) of each of these nights is equal to the Ibaadah of Laylatul Qadr.”[3] We have to search for Laylatul Qadr in Ramadaan, and here Allah Ta’ala is giving us the rewards of Laylatul Qadr on each of these nights of Zul Hijjah –indicating their blessedness and greatness. Sadly, we have become of those who ask: Is it Fardh? Is it Waajib? We have learnt the definition of the Fiqh terms, such as Fardh, Waajib, and Sunnah, so that whatever is not Fardh, we may leave it out. This is our attitude: If something is Nafl, Mustahab or Ghair Muakkadah – we leave it out. We do not include it in our timetable; if it is there, we strike it off -once we learn that it is optional and can be left out, and there is no sin in not carrying it out. The Sahabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) did not have this weak approach to Deen, this offhand attitude to Deen and this laziness in practising on Deen – as we have. They strived in even those actions which were optional. Their sound intellect and deep understanding were evident in the fact that their entire lives were sacrificed upon the Sunnah. They spent their lives seeking Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure and Jannah, raising the flag of Islam wherever they went. How different we are! Our condition becomes apparent when we see how our lives are sacrificed for Dunya, for what is temporary and what will be left behind when we depart from this world. Nabi (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The intelligent one is he who suppresses his desires and practises for what is after death, and the foolish one is he who makes his nafs follow its desires and (he) places (baseless) hope on Allah.”[4] In the light of this Hadith, we can gauge which category we fall into. Unfortunately —and very sadly, we look at the bare minimum regarding Ibaadaat. Why do we not settle for the bare minimum regarding our clothing, cars, homes and other material items? Why are we not content with the basic necessities of life, like how we are satisfied with the bare necessities of Deen? Do we require a very luxurious car to get from one place to another?