Laylat al-Qadr Standing at the Surge of Serenity

a www.jawziyyah.com presentation�

“THERE ARE TWO BLESSINGS WHICH

MANY PEOPLE LOOSE OUT ON: GOOD HEALTH

AND FREE TIME.”�

HADITH�

1. Virtues of Laylatu’l-Qadr

“There has come to you the month of Ramadan, a blessed month, [in which] Allåh has made fasting obligatory upon you. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are shut, and the rebellious devils are shackled. In it is a night better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of it goodness is truly deprived.”

(Ibn Óanbal, al-Musnad)�

1. Virtues of Laylatu’l-Qadr

“Whoever stands [in prayer] during the Night of Power, with faith and anticipating reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”

(al-Bukhår•, Ía˙•˙)�

“YOUR LORD HAS GIFTS IN THESE DAYS OF YOUR

TIME, SO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO THEM.”�

�HADITH�

2. Don’t Let It Pass You By

WHEN IS THE NIGHT OF POWER?

§  The Prophet, peace be upon him, was asked about the Night of Power, whereupon he stated: “It occurs during every Ramadan - hiya f• kulli rama∂ån.” [Abu Dåw¥d, Sunan]

§  He also said: “Seek for it in the last ten [nights] of Ramadan - altamis¥hå fi’l-ashri’l-awåkhir min rama∂ån.” [al-Bukhår•, Sa˙•˙]

§  More specific is the following ˙ad•th: “The Night of Power occurs during the last ten [nights]. Whoever stands [for prayer] in it, seeking its reward, then Allah will indeed forgive to him his past and future sins. It is an odd night (wa hiya laylatu witr): the ninth, the seventh, the fifth, the third, or the last night.” [Ibn Óanbal, al-Musnad]

2. Don’t Let It Pass You By

§  Most hold laylatu’l-qadr to be the 27th night of Ramadan.

§  Others believe that the night moves around each year in one of the last odd night of Ramadan - as stipulated by Ibn Kath•r from Imåms Målik, al-Shåfi‘• and A˙mad bin Óanbal

“SINCE NO ONE CAN BE SURE WHICH NIGHT THIS IS, THE BELIEVER IS INVITED TO

PREPARE HIMSELF, TO OPEN THE GATES OF AWARENESS,

SHARPEN HIS GAZE AND TUNE HIS HEARING TO RECEIVE WHAT

COMES WHEN IT COMES.”��

GAI EATON�

Opposite photo from: Peter Sanders, In The Shade of the Tree�

3. Alone With the One

HOW WE CAN BEST RECEIVE THIS MAJESTIC NIGHT

1.  Putting ourselves in right frame of mind and correct state of heart.

2.  Planning and organising our time; freeing-up workloads and commitments.

3.  Striving diligently, engaging in acts of worship and qurbah, such as:

²  praying with presence of heart ²  reciting Qur’an ²  petition Allah for well-being and forgiveness ²  engage in abundant dhikr ²  reflect over: life, deeds, direction, sins, preparation for Afterlife.

“... whoever is deprived of its goodness is truly deprived.”

“TIME IS A SWORD; IF YOU DO NOT SLAY IT, IT WILL SLAY YOU.”�

IMAM AL-SHAFI‘I �

4. The Crux of the Matter

§  The Lady ‘Å’ishah asked the Prophet, peace be upon him: O Messenger of Allåh, if I find the Night of Power what shall I say. He then taught her these words:

(allåhumma innaka ‘afuwwun tu˙ibbu’l-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘ann•)

“O Allåh! You are the Effacer of Sins, you love to efface sins, so efface my sins.” [Ibn Óanbal, al-Musnad]

4. The Crux of the Matter

§  That Allah is al-‘Af¥ - the Effacer - differs from Him being al-Ghaf¥r - the Forgiver.

§ For ghaf¥r involves the veiling of sins, while‘af¥ involves the erasing of sins.

§  Night of Power encapsulates essence of human drama: the possibility of returning to Allah (through the act of tawbah) after being cut-off from Him.

§  When we sin or live in heedlessness of divine purpose, we must earnestly turn to Allah and seek His forgiveness: we will surely find Him Forgiving; full of kindness.

§  Night of Power gives us opportunity to be enveloped in Allah’s grace and forgiveness.

§  Such is purpose of life and the key to human happiness and eternal bliss.

A Postscript

Since laylat al-qadr is the best of all nights, given to the best of all creation, gifted to the best of all nations, it befits each of us to adorn ourselves with the best of characters.

§  “The best of people are those who have a sound understanding of God’s religion, join ties of relation, enjoin good and forbid evil.” [al-Tabarani, al-Mu’jam al-Kab•r]

§  “The best of Muslims are those from whose hand and tongue other people are safe.” [Muslim, Ía˙•˙]

§  “The best of people are those who live long and work good; the worst of people are those who live long but work evil.” [Ibn Óanbal, al-Musnad]

§  “The best of people are those who are of most benefit to others.” [Ibn Óibbån, Ía˙•˙]�

In Conclusion

“[W]hen the last day dawns, the earth herself will be witness to everything that man has done. It might be said that we leave our fingerprints upon all that we touch, and they remain in place long after we have gone on our way. We forget so much of the past, but the past is still there and cannot be wiped out, unless God - under His name “the Effacer” (al-‘Afu) - chooses to erase it from our record.”

[Gai Eaton, Remembering God]