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The
Virtue of the Last Ten Days of Ramadan and Laylat Al-Qadr
The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to strive hard (in
worship) during the last ten days of Ramadan in a way that he did
not strive at any other times. (Muslim, 1175, from `A’ishah).
Among
the things he did were secluding himself in I`tikaf and seeking
Laylat Al-Qadr during this time. (Al-Bukhari, 1913; Muslim, 1169).
In al-Sahihayn it is reported from the hadith of `A’ishah (may
Allah be pleased with her) that when the last ten days of Ramadan
came, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would stay up at
night, wake his family and gird his loins. (al-Bukhari, 1920;
Muslim, 1174). Muslim added: he strove hard and girded his loins.
Her phrase “girded his loins” is a metaphor for his preparing
himself to worship and strive hard in worship, more than usual. It
has the meaning of “rolling up one's sleeves” to worship (i.e.
getting ready to make a great deal of effort). It was also said that
it was a metaphor for keeping away from women and abstaining from
sexual relations. The phrase “stay up at night” means that he
would stay awake, spending the night in prayer, etc.
It
was reported in another hadith that `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased
with her) said: “I never saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) recite the entire Qur’an in one night, or spend a whole
night in prayer until the morning, or fast an entire month, except
in Ramadan.” (Sunan al-Nasa’i, 1641). The words “stay up at
night” may mean that he spent most of the night in worship, or
that he did not stay up for the entire night, but he did that at the
times of `Isha’ and Suhur, and other times, in which case it would
mean that he stayed up for most of the night. The phrase “and wake
his family” means that he would wake his wives to pray qiyam. It
is known that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to wake his
wives all year round, but he used to wake them to spend part of the
night in qiyam.
In
Sahih al-Bukhari it is reported that the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) woke up one night and said, “Subhan Allah!
What tribulations have come down tonight! What treasure has come
down tonight! Who will wake up the dwellers of the apartments? There
may be women who are clothed in this world and naked in the
Hereafter.” (al-Bukhari, 1074). It was also reported (in Sahih
al-Bukhari) that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to wake
`A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) when he wanted to pray
Witr. (al-Bukhari, 952). But when he woke his wives during the last
ten nights of Ramadan, this was more persistent than at other times
of the year. The fact that he (peace and blessings be upon him) did
this indicates the importance he attached to worshipping his Lord
and making the most of this special time.
The
Muslim should follow the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him), for he is the best example, and he should strive hard
in worshipping Allah. He should not waste the hours of these days
and nights. For we do not know, perhaps this time will never come
again, for the spoiler of pleasures, i.e., death, which must come to
all men, may come and snatch him and his life will end; then he will
feel regret at the time when regret will be of no avail.
Among
the unique virtues of these special nights is that Laylat Al-Qadr is
among them. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Ha-Meem.
[These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an and none but
Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.] By the manifest Book (this
Qur’an) that makes things clear. We sent it (this Qur’an) down
on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) in the month of
Ramadan]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will
reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our
Oneness of worship]. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of
ordainments. As a Command (or this Qur’an or the Decree of every
matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers), (As)
a mercy from your Lord. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the
All-Knower.” [ad-Dukhan 44:1-6]
Allah
sent down the Qur’an on this night which the Lord of the Worlds
has described as blessed. It was reported from a group of the Salaf
– including Ibn `Abbas, Qutadah, Sa`id ibn Jubayr, `Ikrimah,
Mujahid and others – that the night on which the Qur’an was sent
down was Laylat Al-Qadr. The phrase Therein (that night) is decreed
every matter of ordainments means, on that night the destiny of all
creatures for the coming year is decreed. On that night it is
written who will live, who will die, who will be saved, who will be
doomed, who will be destined for Paradise, who will be destined for
Hell, who will be granted honor, who will be humiliated, where
drought and famine will occur, and everything else that Allah wills
in that year. What is meant by the idea that the destiny of all
creatures is written on Laylat Al-Qadr is – and Allah knows best
– that on Laylat Al-Qadr they are transferred from al-Lawh
al-Mahfuz.
Ibn
`Abbas said: “You may see a man furnishing his home or plowing his
field, and he is one of those who are going to die,” i.e., it has
been decreed on Laylat Al-Qadr that he is one of those who are going
to die (in the coming year). And it was said that on this night, the
destiny of people is shown to the angels.
The
meaning of “Qadr” is veneration or honor, i.e. it is a night
that is venerated because of its special characteristics, and
because the one who stays up during this night becomes a man of
honor. And it was said that Qadr means constriction, in the sense
that the knowledge of precisely when this night is, is hidden.
Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad said: it was called Laylat Al-Qadr because
the earth is constricted by the great numbers of angels on that
night, and Qadr means constriction. Allah says (interpretation of
the meaning): “But when He tries him, by straitening his means of
life [fa qadara `alayhi rizqahu]…” [al-Fajr 89:16], i.e., by
constricting or reducing his provision. And it was said that Qadr
means Qadar, i.e., that on this night the decrees for the coming
year are ordained, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments”
[ad-Dukhan 44:4] and because Allah’s decrees are decided and
written down on this night. So Allah has called it Laylat Al-Qadr,
because of its great value and high status with Allah, and because
so many sins are forgiven and so many faults are concealed during
this night. For it is the night of forgiveness, as it was reported
in al-Sahihayn from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)
that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever
stays up during Laylat Al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of
earning reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
(al-Bukhari, 1910; Muslim, 760).
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