The importance of Laylatul-Qadr Friday, 03 September 2010 04:32

Fasting in Ramadan is the best means to purify our souls and to set our thinking right. It strengthens not only our bodies but also our spirits. The purpose of fasting as Allah says in the Qur’an is to establish Taqwa firmly in the heart. Allah Almighty says, (O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off evil) (Al-Baqarah 2: 183)

Taqwa (piety and being conscious of Allah) is an all-embracing concept. The word “taqwa” is derived from the Arabic verb “ittaqa” meaning to take shelter or protect oneself by any means. The verb “taqawwa” means to strengthen oneself or become more powerful or draw a force from a spiritual or material source.

As you can see, taqwa means protection and power. To have taqwa in the heart means to be strong in body and spirit and to be able to resist the temptation of evil and human desires and lust. Thus the impious person has no resistance or power to protect himself. That is why he can easily be overcome by evil and can easily follow his whims and personal longings, which at last can lead him to destruction and agony. Taqwa, which as we said is the purpose and the fruit of fasting, is wide in its sense. It embraces everything that can harm or benefit man.

Ramadan is the month of intensive ‘ibadah (worship). We worship Allah in Ramadan by our bodies, spirits, hearts, souls and minds. Abstaining from food and drink is not enough to have your fast complete. Fasting is good behavior and straightforwardness in everything. We should fast against idle talk, bad feelings towards others, backbiting, insults, (false or unfounded) accusations and any harm that can touch any Muslim or fellow human. Even if someone insults or provokes a fasting person and totally extorts him, the fasting person should ignore him and leave and seek safety by taking refuge with Allah not to answer or exchange abusive words or aggressive behavior; otherwise his fasting will be fruitless.

If we are commanded not to do evil, this means that we should do good deeds and works instead. This is because fasting teaches us to develop our conscience and how to attain self-discipline and to be aware that we are in a direct relationship with Allah. Fasting is the core and most important act among all the acts of worship. Every day of Ramadan is honored by Allah and the Prophet (PBUH) because the Qur’an, which is called by Allah the spirit, guidance, light, and source of laws, was revealed in this blessed month to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him).

The last ten days have a special place in Islam because among them comes Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Power). The Prophet (PBUH) said about this majestic night: “Any Muslim who stands in prayer during the Night of Qadr out of faith and sincerity, his/her previous sins shall be forgiven.”

The Prophet used to enter i‘tikaf (seclusion) in these last ten days, and so did his wives. I‘tikaf generally means to be holy with Allah, to stay in the mosque or any place you choose for yourself and spend your time in prayer, reading Qur’an, making dhikr (remembering Allah) and glorifying Him. This definitely will help you to develop a better sense of taqwa and shake off your sins, worries and anxieties.

The last third of the blessed month of Ramadan is the last chance a Muslim should seize. In these days occurs the Night of Qadr, which is virtuous and greatly blessed to the extent that observing worship in it is better than one thousand months. A Muslim is highly encouraged to spare no efforts in these days to gain Allah’s mercy, forgiveness and redemption from the Fire.

The last third of Ramadan is the time for the release from Hell-fire, as the Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) said in the hadith: “O people, a great and a blessed month is approaching you. In this month there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Allah has made fasting during its daytime obligatory and prayers at night commendable during this month. Whosoever will do a voluntary good deed during this month, it is as if he performed an obligatory good deed at another time and whosoever will perform an obligatory good deed, it is as if he performed seventy obligatory good deeds at another time. This is the month of patience and the reward of patience is Paradise. This is the month of kindness and charity. In this month the believer’s provision is enlarged. Anyone who will give food to a fasting person in this month, it will bring forgiveness for his sins, will save him from the hellfire and he shall have his reward without the person who is fed losing any of his reward… The first third of the month of Ramadan is the time for rahmah (mercy), the second third is for forgiveness, the third is for the release from Hell-fire…”

The duties of the Muslim in this last third of Ramadan is to try his best to perfect his fasting, to avoid any shortcomings or sins that can harm his fasting, to offer more prayers, preferably in jama‘ah (congregation), to advance in reading the Qur’an, to make dhikr (remembrance of Allah), to help others to be more committed to religion, to enter i‘tikaf if it is possible for him/her, and to remember that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) used to give extra attention to the last ten days of Ramadan.

Laylatul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing person is keen to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.

It is recommended to make a long Qiyam prayer during the nights on which Laylatul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many Hadiths, such as the following: Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) relates: “We fasted with Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) in Ramadan. He did not lead us in Qiyam (Night Vigil Prayer) at all until there were seven nights of Ramadan left. Then he stood with us (that night, in Prayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, ‘Allah’s Messenger! Wouldn’t you pray with us the whole night?’ He replied: ‘Whoever stands in Prayer with Imam until he (the Imam) concludes the Prayer, it will be recorded for him that he prayed the whole night…” (Reported by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) said: “Whoever stands (in Qiyam) in Laylatul-Qadr (and it is facilitated for him) out of faith and expectation of Allah’s reward, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.”

It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that she asked the Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul-Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say: “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa‘fu ‘annee (O Allah! You are Oft-Forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me).”

It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylatul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah. This is based on the following Hadith narrated by ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “Upon entering into the last ten (of Ramadan), the Prophet (PBUH) would tighten his Izar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in Prayer), and wake up his family.” She also said: “Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) used to exert more efforts (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights.”

All Muslims need to try to settle disputes. It is the best occasion to forgive one another and forget about all enmities and grudges. We should come out of Ramadan in a better shape, understanding, and moral behaviour. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) made it clear that “if any Muslim comes out of Ramadan without gaining forgiveness and goodness, he/she is a real loser.”

www.islamonline.net