The Holy month of Ramadan is not special only because duringthis month the Muslims across the globe keeping fast but also because it was inthis month that the Holy Qur’an was revealed to the last Prophet of Islam andin this month there is a night which is better than thousand months. The Qur’ansays: “We revealed it (the Qur’an) on the night of power. Would that you knewwhat the night of power is like. Better is the night of power than a thousandmonths. On that night the angels and the spirit descend by their Lordspermission, with all his decrees. That night is peace, till the break of dawn”(Surah al-Qadr)
This Surah articulates about the promised great night whichthe whole creation marked with felicity and prayers. It is the absolute rapportbetween this world and the highest society. It is the night which marked thecommencement of the revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), anoccasion unsurpassable in the history of mankind for its magnificence and thesignificance it has for the life of mankind as a whole. Its greatness is farbeyond human realization
The night of power is the night of spiritual bliss. ProphetMuhammad (S.A.W) is reported to have said concerning this blessed night:”Verily this month has come to you, and therein is a night which is better thanthousand months. Whosoever is deprived of it is deprived of all good: and noneis deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person. And whosoeverstands up in prayer at the night of power out of faith and is hopeful ofreward, all his past sins will be forgiven”(Ibn Majah). Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W) said: “Lailat-ul-Qadr has been bestowed by Allah to my Ummah (people).It was not given to any people before this”. Although there are differentreports in different traditions regarding the exact night, it is almostunanimous that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten nights ofRamadan and more probably in one of the last ten odd nights. Aisha reportedthat the Apostle of Allah said: “Search for the blessed night in the odd(nights) from the last ten (nights) of Ramadan” (Bukhari). It is a greatuniversal event of the revelation of the Qur’an and the assigning of themessage to the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), also the greatest and the mostvaluable events which the universe has witnessed. This night is great becauseAllah has chosen it for the revelation, and divine peace may be spread in humanlife conscience. This night is great because of which Qur’an includes; anideology, a basis for values and standards and a comprehensive code of moraland social behavior, all of which promote peace within the human soul and inthe world. This night is great because of the descent of the angels, andJibrial (A.S) in particular, by their Lord’s permission carrying the Qur’an whichwas sent on that very night. Aisha is said to have reported: O Messenger ofAllah! What if I knew which night (Laila-ul-Qadr, then what should I say in it?He said: Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa f’fu annaa” (O Allah, youare forgiving and you love forgiveness, so forgive me) (Tirmidihi).
We, the Muslims, are commanded not to forget or neglect thisevent. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) has taught us an easy and enjoyable way tocommemorate that night, so that our souls may always be in close communion withit and the universal event which took place in it. He has urged us to spend thenight of each year in devotion. Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) used to work hard andused to offer prayers all the night, and used to keep his family awake for theprayers. In this Holy month of Ramadan let us strive to seek the night of powerand its bliss. May Allah reward us with His bountiful blessings? Aameen!
Author teaches at Department of Islamic Studies, Govt.Degree College Pampore.