Ramadan, the Holy Month (cont’d)

Lailatul Qadr

We should thank Allah, the Lord of Power, for giving us the health and will power to fast until now.

Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is the night we are searching for in the whole month of fasting.  Lailatul Qadr is stated in the Glorious Qur’an in Sura Al-Qadr “We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power.  And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The night of Power is better than a thousand months of worship. Therein come down the angels and the spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand peace!... this until the rise of the moon!”

It is also in Sura Ad-Dukhan V1-6: “Ha Min By the Book that makes things clear: We sent it down during a blessed night: for we (ever) wish to warm (against evil).  In that (night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom, by the command from us for we (ever) send (revelations) as a mercy from the Lord, for He hears and knows (all things).

According to the wife of Prophet Mouhammad, Aisha, during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan, Prophet Mouhammad used to worship Allah with all his family, especially  on the night of Lailatul Qadr.

Imam Tirmidth narrated that the Prophet used to double his worship during the last ten days of Ramadan, more than twenty previous days.

According to Imam Qurtubi (a learned scholar), the majority of scholars said that the night of Lailatul Qadr is on the night of 26th  and 27th day of the month of Ramadan.

Abu Hurairata narrated that Prophet Mouhammad said in a hadith that “any Mulsim who worships Allah on this powerful night (Lailatul Qadr) with faith, then Allah will pardon all your past sins and even the ones that you are about to commit”.

It is a night in which all the gates of heaven shall be opened, and prayers of those worshipping Muslims will be accepted.  Aisha, the Prophet’s wife once asked him (Mouhammad) “On the night of Lailatul Qadr, what shall I say when praying?”
Prophet Mouhammad replied;  you have to say, “Allahuma Innaka Afuuwun tu hibbul afwa fafu annee”, which means: Allah the Almighty you are the one who gives us peace.

May you give me peace.
It is also recommended to say: “Laa Illaha Illa Laahu al Halimu Al Karimu Sub haana Laahe Rabbi Samaa Waati Sabi wa Rabi arshe alzeeme”.  This is said three times. Or you can say: Subhaana Laahi wabehamde hee adada halkhee  waredaa nafsehee wa zennata ar she hee wa me daa da kalimaate hee”- 313 times.

This one should be said 100 times:  Laa Illah Illalaahu Wahdahu Laa Sharee Ka Lahuu Lahul Mulka Walahul Hamdu Wahul Wa Ala Kuli Sahyin Qadiirun”.
You can take either one of these prayers and add to the one you have already .  It is recommended on this night that to pray with a gathering or in a mosque during the Maghrib and Isha prayers.  You can also do the same between the Isha (evening prayers) and the Fajr (early morning) prayers.  

Then you will have the night of Lailatul Qadr. This night should be set aside for worshipping Allah.  As learned in Sura Qadr, all the angels will come down on earth and enter the houses of Muslims who worship, they will sit beside them folding their wings as stated in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairata.  It states: “Allah (glorified and exalted by He) has super numeral angels who rove about seeking out gatherings in which Allah’s name is being invoked; they sit with them and fold their wings round each other, filling that which is between them and between the lower heaven.

When (the people in the gathering) depart, (the angels) ascend and rise up to heaven.  He said: Then Allah (mighty and subline be Me) asks them - (though) He is most knowing about them: From where have you come? And they say: We have come from some servants of yours on earth:

They were glorifying you, exalted you, witnessing that there is no God, but you, praising you and asking (favours) of you.  He says; And what do they ask of Me? They say, they ask of your paradise.  He says, have they seen my paradise?

They say ! No Ô Lord, He says and how would it have been if they have seen My paradise: They ask protection of Me? They say: From your Hell fire, Ô Lord He says: And have they seen my hell fire? They say No, He says: And how would it have been if they have seen my Hell - Fire.  They say: And they ask for your forgiveness. Then He says: I have forgiven them and I have bestowed upon them, what they have asked for, and I have granted them sanctuary from that which they ask protection.  He said: They say: Ô Lord among them is so and so and so, a most sinful servant who was merely passing by and sat down with them.  “And to him (too) I have given forgiveness: He said who sits with such people shall not suffer”.