Introduction
With the blessings of ALLAH (S.W.T.), Ramadan 2024 has nearly completed two-third of its duration and the nights to search Laylatul Qadr are arriving. Today is the 19th Day of Ramadan, and after the 20th of Ramadan 2024, Muslims will start to observe Iti’kaf. The first two Ashra of Ramadan are nearly over and the third Ashra of Ramadan is going to begin in two days. While the first two Ashra of Ramadan reflects the Mercy and Forgiveness of ALLAH (S.W.T.), the last Ashra of Ramadan is the Nijat (Safety) from Hellfire. The importance of Last Ashra of Ramadan (also Last 10 days) could be well understood from the fact that the last 10 days of Ramadan consists of the very important night of Laylatul Qadr. The importance of Laylatul Qadr is mentioned in the Qur’an and is also evident from various Hadith of Rasul ALLAH (S.A.W.). This short article will delve into the importance of the Laylatul Qadr in the last ten days of Ramadan and explore the likelihood of witnessing Laylatul Qadr in Ramadan 2024.
What is Laylatul Qadr?
We Muslims are now living in the age where technology surrounds us at every step we walk. We have become deeply engrossed in this Dunya, leaving us with little time for our God ALLAH (S.W.T.). On the day of Judgment, every minor good deed will be rewarded, and this Dunya is just the temporary stage where we Muslims strive to worship ALLAH (S.W.T.) and do good deeds that will benefit us in our permanent life (i.e. Aakhirah). ALLAH (S.W.T.) has made certain special months in which the acts of worship and certain acts of kindness yield manyfold rewards. The example is the month of Ramadan. In this month , every act of Worship and kindness bear the rewards that are equivalent to seventy times the rewards done in the other months. The similar is with the month of Moharram, Rabi’al’awwal, Rajab, Shaban, and Dhul Hijja. Also, in these special months, ALLAH (S.W.T.) has kept certain special days reserved for the Momins (Muslims) where every Ibadah (act of worship) is thousand times more than the reward done in the other days of other months, and Laylatul Qadr is also one of it. According to Surah Qadr (Chapter 97) of the Qur’an,
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ
Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ
And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?
لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَهۡرٖ
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months
تَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمۡرٖ
The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter
سَلَٰمٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطۡلَعِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ
Peace it is until the emergence of dawn
– Surah Qadr (Chapter 97, v1-5)
Also, according to many Hadith of Rasul ALLAH (S.A.W.), the acts of worship done on the night when Laylatul Qadr is observed are equivalent to the worship of 1000 months. Additionally, it is narrated that all the past sins of the individual are forgiven who stands in Prayer during the night of Qadr.
– Sahih Bukhari (2014)
This highlights the significance of Laylatul Qadr and why it is important for all the Muslims living around the globe. Life is very short and none can predict how long they will live. The month of Ramadan comes with a reminder for the Muslims to abandon all the paths leading to evil and return to the path of ALLAH. Laylatul Qadr offers Muslims with an opportunity to earn the rewards equivalent to the 1000 months worship. On the day of Judgment, every minor good deed and every minor sin will count, and the acts of worship done during the night of Laylatul Qadr will IN SHA ALLAH come to the rescue of us Muslims.
Why Laylatul Qadr in the month of Ramadan?
When it comes to the religion of Islam, Muslims are obligated to follow the commandments of ALLAH (S.W.T.). People often ask that why such important night falls in the month of Ramadan. However, as a Muslim, whenever these kinds of Questions comes in the mind of the believers, they must first repent to ALLAH (S.W.T.) and seek his forgiveness. These doubts are the waswasa (intrusive thought) from the Shaitan. As Muslims, we are not allowed to Question ALLAH’s will. However, if one genuinely wants to understand the wisdom of ALLAH behind placing Laylatul Qadr in the month of Ramadan, then the logic is quite simple.
The first reason is that the month of Ramadan is particularly a special month in our religion, and what else could be more special month than the month of Ramadan for this special night. The second reason is that in the ancient times, people used to have a fairly larger age compared to the people of nowadays. For example, Hazrat Adam (960 years) and Hazrat Nuh (950 years). Many Prophets and their Ummah used to have fairly larger age due to which they had enormous amount of time to spend in worshipping ALLAH (S.W.T.).
Nowadays, the average life of an individual ranges between 60-70 years. With such a small age, one has fairly a shorter amount of time to earn rewards and Ruhaniyat. This is the reason that ALLAH (S.W.T.) has kept the night of Laylatul Qadr in the month of Ramadan. First, the month of Ramadan comes with amazingly higher rewards for numerous acts of Worship like Praying, Fasting, reading adhkars, e.t.c., and secondly, the night of Laylatul Qadr gives the opportunity to recieve the rewards that are equivalent to the worship of 1000 months.
The Theological Significance of Laylatul Qadr
The word ‘Qadr’ in Laylatul Qadr has different meanings according to the various Ulema. However, the most commonly accepted meaning of Qadr is the decree, and Laylatul Qadr is known as the night of Decree. The reason it is known as the night of Decree is because the fate of every individual is determined on this night. The angels descend down upon the Earth from the highest of the heavens and occupy the places on the Earth, writing down the decree of every individual. All the affairs of creation, provision, sustenance, lifespan, good and evil to come is written on this night. In support of this, ‘Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“It is written in Umm al-Kitab (the Heavenly copy of the Qur’an) during Laylatul Qadr what shall come to pass in the following year of good and evil, sustenance, and lifespan. Even the pilgrimage of the pilgrim (shall be decided); it will be said ‘so-and-so will perform pilgrimage’ (on this night).”
Tafsir al-Baghawi 7/227-228
The Qur’an (the scripture of Guidance for the Ummah) was also revealed completely on this night, and the two Surahs of the Qur’an i.e. Surah Qadr (Chapter 97, v1), and Surah Dukhan (Ch44, v3) has the mention of it.
Many scholars like Imam al-Sha’bi (d. 105 H) are also of the view that the night when Muhammad (S.A.W.) received his first revelation was the night of Laylatul Qadr.
Thus, this nights brings with it the immense rewards and one must make full use of it by falling down in repentance to ALLAH (S.W.T.), and doing every act of worship that pleases him during the last 10 days of Ramadan (especially during the odd nights).
Signs of Laylatul Qadr in Ramadan 2024
ALLAH (S.W.T.) hasn’t revealed to us the night when Laylatul Qadr will be seen. There is actually a wisdom behind it. However, ALLAH (S.W.T.) through his messenger and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) has provided us with some knowledge to find the night of Laylatul Qadr. According to a Hadith of Rasul ALLAH (S.A.W.) in Sahih Bukhari, one must search for Laylatul Qadr in the odd nights of Ramadan (i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th).
Narrated `Aisha:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.”
– Sahih Bukhari (Hadith No. 2017)
There is also one Hadith in Sahih Bukhari narrated by Ibn Umar that some companions of Prophet of ALLAH (S.A.W.) were shown that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights. This confirms that the last seven nights of Ramadan are extremely important and the chances of seeing Laylatul Qadr in the last seven nights are really very high.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramadan. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it (i.e. the Night of Qadr) should search in the last seven (nights of Ramadan)
-Sahih Bukhari (2015)
The tremendous wisdom behind concealing the Laylatul Qadr from the Ummah is to enable them to strive in seeking the night of Laylatul Qadr and performing worship throughout the month in the hopes of catching it.
Conclusion
Laylatul Qadr is indeed one of the important nights in Islam, where the worship done is equivalent to the worship of 1000 months alone. It is the night in which one can pray to ALLAH (S.W.T.) to change his destiny to good and achieve his closeness (Ruhaniyat). It is the night where a Muslim could ask for forgiveness from all his past sins and all the past sins will be forgiven. For Ramadan 2024, the same Laylatul Qadr may fall in the last 10 days of Ramadan (especially in the odd nights). Therefore, it is recommended for the Muslims to sit in Iti’kaf and completely detach themselves from the distractions of this Dunya in these last 10 days of Ramadan.
May ALLAH (S.W.T.) makes this life easy for us and grant us a steadfast faith in Islam until our last breath!
May ALLAH (S.W.T.) grant us Muslims to witness the night of Laylatul Qadr!
Aameen!
