Suffering establish of Allah’s proof

The Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr)

This night, the Night of Power, or Laylatul Qadr in Arabic, for Muslims is very significant. No one knows exactly what night the Night of Power falls, but it has been determined to be in the last ten days of Ramadan. Muslims, therefore, will spend the last ten days in increased worship and recitation of the Quran, hoping that they will be doing these activities on the Night of Power. It is the only night in which Angel Gabriel along with all the other angels descends from the Heavens to the Earth. Allah informs us that He sent the Quran down during the Night of Al-Qadr, and it is a blessed night about which Allah says:

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ

“We sent it down on a blessed night.” (Ad-Dukhan 44:3)

This night is blessed because of its abundant goodness, great virtue, and the good rewards which Allah gives to His true slaves who offer Qiyam (Voluntary Night Prayer) out of faith and expecting for Good Reward from Allah and the revelation of the Quran therein is a clear proof to its virtue and status where Allah, the Most Glorious, revealed therein the greatest type of Dhikr and the most honourable book. By reciting the Quran, a person can gain guidance and piety. Allah magnified the status of the Night of Al-Qadr, which He chose for the revelation of the Mighty Quran, by His saying:

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ

“And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.” (Surah Al-Qadr 97:2, 3)

The Decree for every matter during the Night of Al-Qadr:

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ

“Indeed, We revealed it in a Night Blessed. Indeed, We [We] are (ever) warning.” (Surah Ad-Dukhan 44:3-6).

It indicates that the precise commands relating to the livings of people and their deaths are separated from Al-Lawh-ul-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet) to the sheets of angels – who record all matters of people, such as sustenance, deeds, events, and ages – up to the next year by Allah’s Knowledge, Wisdom, and Ability; and it indicates the status of this night.

The Descent of the Angels: Angles descend on the earth with goodness, blessings, and mercy for the believers. Allah says:

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

“Therein descend the angels and the Ruh (Jibril) by their Lord’s permission with every matter.” (Surah Al-Qadr 97:4)

The first revelations represent for Muslims the beginning of the final message sent to humanity and established Muhammad as the seal of the prophets. It is for this reason that its story is often related and is considered to be the most important event in the history of Islam. We ask God Almighty to allow us to reach the night of Decree, to grant us the amazing opportunity of drawing closer to Him on this great night, and to accept and bless all our worship to Him on this night and all others. Allah says:

“With every matter, there is peace until the appearance of dawn.” (Surah Al-Qadr 97:4, 5)

Below is a step by step guide to achieving success during the Night of Power(laylat’l-qadr):

1. Start preparing for it at Fajr. After Fajr salah, ensure you recite the morning adhkar (remembrance), especially:

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

‘La ila illahu wahdau la sharika lahu, lahul mulku walahul hamd wahuwa ‘ala kulli shayin qadeer’

There is no God but Allah; He is alone without any partner. To Him belong the dominion and to Him belong all praise and He is over all things able.

The Prophet said whoever recites it 100 times in the morning and evening, 100 good deeds will be recorded for him and 100 evil deeds will be erased from his tab, and he will be protected from the Shaytan. An important note here is that he will be free from the whisperings of the Shaytan to prepare for the Night of Power.

2. Treat Iftar to a fasting person, either by inviting him to your house or by buying the food for him and sending it to him. The Prophet said that whoever gives food to break another person’s fast, he will receive the same reward as the person without his reward being diminished.

3. When the day breaks, make as much dua as possible that Allah helps you and makes it easy for you to worship Him during this night.

4. If you haven’t paid your Zakat money, pay it this night as the rewards will be magnified. If you have, then prepare some sadaqah (charity) to give in the way of Allah. Remember charity burns our sins as fire burns wood.

5. During the day, try and avoid people as much as possible (except those who need your support). This way you will not be harmed and will not be in a position to harm anyone, thus entering the night with a clean heart and mind.

Note: this also applies to various social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. You do not need to tell the whole world you’re going to the Mosque at Tahajjud!

6. Throughout the daytime make sure you perform the obligatory duties such as praying on time with the additional Sunnah and optional prayers. Repeat the phrases of adhan after the muadhin and make the necessary supplications.

7. When you break you’re fast, make sure you’re mindful that Allah may not accept your fasting, so you should yearn for and anticipate His mercy and reward. Supplicate with the following:

اللهم اعني و وفقني لقيام ليلة القدر

‘’allahumma ‘ainni wa waffiqni li qiyami Laylatul qadr’

O Allah help me and facilitate for me to worship You in this Night’.

8. Constantly make the chosen dua for this night:

اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني

‘’Allahumma innaka ‘afuwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’’

O Allah you the Most Forgiving, and You love to forgive, so forgive me’’

9. If you have parents, make sure you are dutiful towards them. Break Iftar with them and fulfill all their needs.

10.  If you are not in good terms with a family member, try and resolve it before the night starts.

11.  If you can, have a bath and perform wudu like the Prophet.

12.  Put on clean clothes and put nice perfume on before going to the Mosque.

13.  When you enter the Mosque perform all the etiquette of the Mosque. Try not to speak to people too much, just focus all your energy to be alone with Allah.

14.  Pray the prayers with khushu (humility) and try to cry. If tears do not come out, try and make them come (I DON’T mean you should cut onions in the Mosques)

15.  When you return home, make sure you are still doing the dhikr of Allah.

16.  When you arrive at your house, eat and make dua, make wudu and take some rest (sleep) if you need to. Your sleep will be counted as ibadah.

17.  Wake up in due time and pray Tahajjud (many Mosques pray Tahajjud in a Jama’ah), eat and then pray Fajr. After fajr, read the Qur’an, make constant dua and plead to Allah to forgive you. Do that and the morning dhikr until sunrise, all the while being mindful of the presence of the angels.

Remember this is the night in which Allah decrees your rizq (provisions) for the coming year, so implore Allah; cry your heart out as they say so that He may give you what you desire. Don’t think what you’re asking for is too much for Allah, nothing you ask will decrease His dominion. You want money to ask Him, you want a wife/husband to ask Him, you want a job to ask Him, you want children to ask Him, you want peace of heart to ask Him, anything you desire asks. Remember that you must focus and concentrate when you pray and make dua.

18.  When you make dua, remember that there is a certain etiquette you have to follow:

a). Praise Allah first,
b). then send salutations upon the Prophet,
c). then make dua for yourself,
d). then make dua for your family and the rest of the Ummah.

19.  Remember when you supplicate you should have certainty and expect the best from Allah. Pray with humility and fear in front of Allah. Acknowledge your mistakes and shortcomings and implore and beseech Him alone to forgive you. Also, supplicate to Allah quietly – there is no need to raise one’s voice.

20.  And finally, please do not forget to make dua for this poor servant who needs your prayers. And Allah says:

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

“Descend the Angels and the Spirit therein, by (the) permission (of) their Lord, for every affair.” (Surah Al-Qadr 97:4)

We ask Allah for His Forgiveness and better health to all in this life as well as in the Hereafter. We ask Him to make us from those who hasten to repentance and Paradise and compete with one another in doing good deeds to gain the good reward and the high ranks in Paradise, for He is All-Hearer, All-Responsive to invocations of His Servants. Ameen!