In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr
Author:'Abdullaah Ibn Saalih Al-Fawzaan
Source:Ahaadeeth As-Siyaam (pg. 141-143)
Translator:Al-Manhaj.Com Staff



Abu Hurairah (raa) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saws) said:
"Whoever performs the night prayer on the night of Al-Qadr with Eemaan (firm
belief) and seeking reward will have all his past sins forgiven." [1]
This hadeeth is evidence for the virtue of the night of Al-Qadr as well as
performing qiyaam (night prayer) during it. And it indicates that it is a
grand night, which Allaah has honored and made better than a thousand
months, with regard to its blessing and the blessings found in the righteous
deeds that are performed in it. Thus it is better than the worship of a
thousand months and that is equivalent to eighty-three years and four
months. Due to this, whoever performs qiyaam (night prayer) with true faith
and while seeking reward in it, will be forgiven his past sins. There were
certain verses revealed concerning this virtue:
Allaah says: "We sent it (the Qur'aan) down on a blessed night. Verily We
are Ever-Warning. Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of
ordainment."AD-DUKHAN (SMOKE) [2]
Therefore, it is a "blessed night" meaning it possesses much good and
blessing due to its merit and the great reward that awaits the one who does
good deeds in it. Among its blessings, is that Allaah revealed the Qur'aan
in it. Allaah says:
"Verily, We have sent it (the Qur'aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr. And
what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr
is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh
(Jibreel) by their Lord's permission with all decrees. (All that night)
there is peace, until the appearance of dawn." AL-QADR (POWER, FATE) [3]
Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said concerning Allaah's saying: "Therein
descend the angels and the Rooh": "This means that the descending of the
angels increases during this night due to the vast amount of its blessings.
And the angels descend along with the descent of blessing and mercy, just as
they descend during the time when the Qur'aan is recited and encompass the
gatherings in which Allaah is remembered and spread their wings for the true
seeker of knowledge, out of respect for him." [4]
This night occurs only in Ramadaan, since Allaah revealed the Qur'aan in it.
He informs us that its revelation occurred during the month of Ramadaan in
His saying: "Verily, We have sent it (the Qur'aan) down in the night of
Al-Qadr." [5]
And His saying: "The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'aan"
[6]
This means that its revelation from Allaah to His Prophet Muhammad (saws)
began in it.
Allaah's statement: "The night of Al-Qadr" is either an indicative of the
honor and station of that night, as it is said: "Such and such person has
great Qadr". The conjunction of "the night" to Al-Qadr is the joining of a
descriptive feature to it, thus making it mean "An honorable night". The
word "Al-Qadr" may also be in reference to the ordainment and disposal of
affairs. Thus, its being joined to the word "the night" would be in order to
denote a place or time for it. So it would mean "the night in which all that
will occur in the following year will be decreed." This is similar to
Allaah's saying: "Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of
ordainment." [7]
Qataadah said of this: "Therein is decreed every matter for the (upcoming)
year" [8] and Ibn Al-Qayyim said that this is the correct opinion. [9]
What seems most correct is that there is nothing that restricts the
possibility of these two understandings and Allaah knows best.
His statement: "with Eemaan" means with firm conviction in what Allaah has
prepared for those who stand in prayer during this magnificent night. And
"seeking reward" means looking for reward and the attainment of recompense.
Thus, this is a grand night, which Allaah has chosen for beginning the
revelation of the Qur'aan. So the Muslim must acknowledge its weight in
worth, by guarding it and spending it in worship whilst having firm
conviction and seeking the reward of Allaah, in order that Allaah may
forgive all of his previous sins. This is why the Prophet (saws) warned us
about being heedless of this night and being neglectful of spending it in
worship, for the Muslim would be prevented from its good.
Abu Hurairah (raa) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saws) said:
"Ramadaan has come to you - a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory
upon you to fast in it. During this month, the gates of heaven are open, the
gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allaah
belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is
prevented from its good, then he has been deprived." [10]
The Muslim should supplicate much on the nights in which the night of
Al-Qadr is sought. And he should supplicate with that which the Prophet
(saws) instructed 'Aa'ishah (raa) with, when she asked him: "What if I know
on which night the night of Al-Qadr occurs, what should I say?" So he (saws)
said: "Say: O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so
forgive me." [11]
Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said: "It is recommended to supplicate a lot at
all times and (to supplicate) more than that during the month of Ramadaan,
its last ten days and its odd days. And it is highly recommended to increase
ones invoking with this supplication: 'O Allaah, indeed you are
All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me.'" [12]





Footnotes:

[1] Al-Bukhaaree (4/2550 and Muslim (759)
[2] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 3-4
[3] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1-5
[4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: (8/465)
[5] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1
[6] Surat-ul-Baqarah: 185
[7] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 4
[8] Reported by At-Tabaree in his Tafseer (25/65) as well as Al-Bayhaqee in
his book Fadaa'il-ul-Awqaat (pg. 216). Its chain of narration is saheeh.
[9] See Shifaa'-ul-'Aleel of Ibn Qayyim (pg. 42)
[10] This hadeeth is reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa'ee. See Ahmad Shaakir's
checking of the Musnad (no. 7148) and Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb of
Al-Albaanee (1490) as well as Tamaam-ul-Mannah (395)
[11] Reported by At-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah with an authentic chain.
[Translator's note: The supplication transliterated from Arabic reads:
"Allaahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun Tuhibbul-'Afwa Fa’affoo ‘annee." ]
[12] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 8/472