On the Night of Decree
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. He made the Night of Decree a source of plentiful rewards for us. I bear witness that there is no deity save Allah, having no associates. The Ultimate Sovereign, the Ultimate Truth, the Manifest. I also bear witness that our Master Muhammad is the Servant of Allah and His Messenger. He is the example for those who prostrate themselves before their Lord. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his pure blessed family and companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of Judgment.
As to what follows,
I urge you, O servants of Allah, and myself to be aware that you are asked to obey Him Allah for obedience is the fruitful conclusion of Fasting the days of Ramadan. The Most Exalted says, “indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.” (Al-Qalam: 34).
O Observers of Fasting,
These days of Ramadan that we are witnessing are amongst the most blessed ones in the holy month, the days of forgiveness and mercy. In them falls the Night of Decree, a night that is better than a thousand months. In His Book, Allah has elevated its status saying, “indeed, We sent the Quran down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Al-Qadr: 1-3).
Truly, the Night of Decree is an honoured night. At this blessed night, doing good and performing Qiyam (night prayer) is better than that of a thousand months. That is, it is better than over eighty three years. Allah raised its status because He chose it as a time for sending down the holy Quran. The Almighty says, “indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night is made distinct every precise matter.” (Ad-Dukhan: 3-4).
The Most Exalted attributed to this sacred night many merits. In it, He grants multiple rewards to His servants for every act of worship. It was narrated that Al Hasan Al Basri said, “In that night is made distinct every precise matter. In it, Allah, the Almighty decrees people’s lots and provisions for the next year.”
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, also said that in this night all of the occurrences of the year, including birth, death, provision, and rain are to be recorded with Allah.
It was also reported that the Night of Decree was given this name because in it Allah, the Most High, sent down an honoured Book to an honoured Prophet from amongst an honoured nation.
The Night of Decree is a night that is celebrated in the Heavens and on earth too. In it, the blessings and bounties flow limitlessly. The Exalted is He says, “the angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.” (Al-Qadr: 4). That is, the angels descend from each Heaven and from Sudrat al Muntaha (Lote tree that marks the end of the seventh heaven). They come down to earth to say Amin following people’s supplications and prayers until dawn sits in.
Indeed, in this night, Allah, the Almighty, sends numerous number of angels down to earth along with His blessings and mercy. The Prophet pbuh said in this regard, “In that night, the number of angels who descend to earth is more than the number of stones on it.”
Therein, they exchange the greeting of peace amongst themselves and with the believers. Allah, the Almighty made this night as the night of tranquillity, goodness and peace for He says, “peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (Al-Qadr: 5).
O Worshipers,
The Night of Decree is a blessed night that begins with the call for Maghrib prayer and ends when the dawn emerges. Our Master Muhammad pbuh valued highly this night. In it, he used to strive hard in acts of worship and obedience more than in any other times hoping to attain its virtues and goodness. He also urged his companions to spend it in prayer and illustrated to them the virtues of doing so, saying, “Whoever spends the night of Laylat Al Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward from Allah, he will be forgiven his previous sins.”
Amongst the other traditions of the Prophet pbuh during this blessed night was reviving it with sincere supplications and humbly imploring to Allah. It was reported that the Mother of Believer, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “I asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah! If I realise Laylat Al Qadr, what should I supplicate in it?’ He pbuh replied, ‘you should supplicate: O Allah, You are the Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me.”
Truly, this is the best of supplications that one may perform in this sacred night. Here, forgiveness means pardoning others’ misdeed and averting from blaming them. Indeed, Allah is the Most Forgiving and is over all things competent. He forgives with His Supreme Power, which the extremely perfect type of forgiveness.
O Observers of Fasting,
Please know that a night with such a highly elevated status is an opportunity for each Muslim to exert himself in seizing its merits and winning its rewards. This can be possible by engaging further in acts of goodness, making them the sap of the holy month of Ramadan. As such, one should show his righteousness to his Lord through striving in acts of worship. He should draw closer to Him by remembering Him much and being grateful to His bounties by thanking Him and giving as much for charity as possible.
This can also be achieved by reciting Quran and being diligent in observing prayers in congregation. Saeed Ibn Al Musayyab, may Allah be pleased with him, said in this regard, “Whoever offers the Isha prayer in congregation in Laylat al Qadr has taken his portion from it.”
On another level, whoever performs Taraweeh fully in congregation till the Imam has finished, he will, by Allah’s favour, attain the reward of standing for prayer for a whole night. Indeed, the best of acts through which one can seize the virtues of this holy night is offering prayer before the dawn emerges. Therein, one will be standing, prostrating and submissively supplicating to Allah. This way, one will grab the virtues of the two sacred times: the late hours of the night and Laylat al Qadr. Truly, at these times one can, by Allah’s Grace, see his supplications answered, for Allah enjoins upon us to supplicate to Him and bestows on us the favour of responding to our calls. The Almighty says, “call upon Me; I will respond to you.” (Ghafir: 60).
With this in mind, we beseech Allah to guide us to seize the merits of the Night of Decree and grant us in it forgiveness and rewards. O Allah, may we also implore to You to accept our fasting, Qiyam and righteous deeds.
O Allah, please guide us all to obey You and obey Your Messenger Muhammad pbuh and obey those You have commanded us to obey in line with Your orders: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” (An-Nisaa: 59).
May Allah direct us all to the blessings of the Glorious Quran and the Sunna of His Messenger pbuh.
I say this and ask Allah for forgiveness for me and you, so invoke Him for forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. He made the Night of Decree a source of plentiful rewards for us. I bear witness that there is no deity save Allah, having no associates. The Ultimate Sovereign, the Ultimate Truth, the Manifest. I also bear witness that our Master Muhammad is the Servant of Allah and His Messenger. He is the example for those who prostrate themselves before their Lord. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his pure blessed family and companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of Judgment.
As to what follows,
I urge you, O servants of Allah, and myself to be aware that you are asked to obey Him Allah for obedience is the fruitful conclusion of Fasting the days of Ramadan. The Most Exalted says, “indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.” (Al-Qalam: 34).
O Observers of Fasting,
These days of Ramadan that we are witnessing are amongst the most blessed ones in the holy month, the days of forgiveness and mercy. In them falls the Night of Decree, a night that is better than a thousand months. In His Book, Allah has elevated its status saying, “indeed, We sent the Quran down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Al-Qadr: 1-3).
Truly, the Night of Decree is an honoured night. At this blessed night, doing good and performing Qiyam (night prayer) is better than that of a thousand months. That is, it is better than over eighty three years. Allah raised its status because He chose it as a time for sending down the holy Quran. The Almighty says, “indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night is made distinct every precise matter.” (Ad-Dukhan: 3-4).
The Most Exalted attributed to this sacred night many merits. In it, He grants multiple rewards to His servants for every act of worship. It was narrated that Al Hasan Al Basri said, “In that night is made distinct every precise matter. In it, Allah, the Almighty decrees people’s lots and provisions for the next year.”
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, also said that in this night all of the occurrences of the year, including birth, death, provision, and rain are to be recorded with Allah.
It was also reported that the Night of Decree was given this name because in it Allah, the Most High, sent down an honoured Book to an honoured Prophet from amongst an honoured nation.
The Night of Decree is a night that is celebrated in the Heavens and on earth too. In it, the blessings and bounties flow limitlessly. The Exalted is He says, “the angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.” (Al-Qadr: 4). That is, the angels descend from each Heaven and from Sudrat al Muntaha (Lote tree that marks the end of the seventh heaven). They come down to earth to say Amin following people’s supplications and prayers until dawn sits in.
Indeed, in this night, Allah, the Almighty, sends numerous number of angels down to earth along with His blessings and mercy. The Prophet pbuh said in this regard, “In that night, the number of angels who descend to earth is more than the number of stones on it.”
Therein, they exchange the greeting of peace amongst themselves and with the believers. Allah, the Almighty made this night as the night of tranquillity, goodness and peace for He says, “peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (Al-Qadr: 5).
O Worshipers,
The Night of Decree is a blessed night that begins with the call for Maghrib prayer and ends when the dawn emerges. Our Master Muhammad pbuh valued highly this night. In it, he used to strive hard in acts of worship and obedience more than in any other times hoping to attain its virtues and goodness. He also urged his companions to spend it in prayer and illustrated to them the virtues of doing so, saying, “Whoever spends the night of Laylat Al Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward from Allah, he will be forgiven his previous sins.”
Amongst the other traditions of the Prophet pbuh during this blessed night was reviving it with sincere supplications and humbly imploring to Allah. It was reported that the Mother of Believer, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “I asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah! If I realise Laylat Al Qadr, what should I supplicate in it?’ He pbuh replied, ‘you should supplicate: O Allah, You are the Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me.”
Truly, this is the best of supplications that one may perform in this sacred night. Here, forgiveness means pardoning others’ misdeed and averting from blaming them. Indeed, Allah is the Most Forgiving and is over all things competent. He forgives with His Supreme Power, which the extremely perfect type of forgiveness.
O Observers of Fasting,
Please know that a night with such a highly elevated status is an opportunity for each Muslim to exert himself in seizing its merits and winning its rewards. This can be possible by engaging further in acts of goodness, making them the sap of the holy month of Ramadan. As such, one should show his righteousness to his Lord through striving in acts of worship. He should draw closer to Him by remembering Him much and being grateful to His bounties by thanking Him and giving as much for charity as possible.
This can also be achieved by reciting Quran and being diligent in observing prayers in congregation. Saeed Ibn Al Musayyab, may Allah be pleased with him, said in this regard, “Whoever offers the Isha prayer in congregation in Laylat al Qadr has taken his portion from it.”
On another level, whoever performs Taraweeh fully in congregation till the Imam has finished, he will, by Allah’s favour, attain the reward of standing for prayer for a whole night. Indeed, the best of acts through which one can seize the virtues of this holy night is offering prayer before the dawn emerges. Therein, one will be standing, prostrating and submissively supplicating to Allah. This way, one will grab the virtues of the two sacred times: the late hours of the night and Laylat al Qadr. Truly, at these times one can, by Allah’s Grace, see his supplications answered, for Allah enjoins upon us to supplicate to Him and bestows on us the favour of responding to our calls. The Almighty says, “call upon Me; I will respond to you.” (Ghafir: 60).
With this in mind, we beseech Allah to guide us to seize the merits of the Night of Decree and grant us in it forgiveness and rewards. O Allah, may we also implore to You to accept our fasting, Qiyam and righteous deeds.
O Allah, please guide us all to obey You and obey Your Messenger Muhammad pbuh and obey those You have commanded us to obey in line with Your orders: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” (An-Nisaa: 59).
May Allah direct us all to the blessings of the Glorious Quran and the Sunna of His Messenger pbuh.
I say this and ask Allah for forgiveness for me and you, so invoke Him for forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
