Laylat-Ul-Qadr – The Night of Power

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, the topic of our hutba is linked to the Laylat’ul Kadr.

In a Hadith reported by Salman Al-Farisi, the messenger (saw) said: “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 Hellfire…”

The Prophet (saw) made it clear that: “If any Muslim comes out of Ramadan without gaining forgiveness and goodness, then he/she is a real loser.”

Muslims believe that the month of Ramadan is the holiest month of the year, and the Night of Power (Laylat Ul-Qadr) is the holiest night of Ramadan as well as the whole year.

“We have indeed revealed it (this message) on 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. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, on every errand. (That night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.” (Surat Al-Qadr 97:1 – 5)

Allah also says about this powerful night in Surah Dukhan:

“Ha. Mim. By the book that makes things clear. We sent it down during a blessed night. For We (ever) wish to warn (against evil). In that (night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom, by command, from Our Presence. For We (ever) send (revelations), as a mercy from Thy Lord: for He hears and knows (all things).” (44:1-6)

The Night of Power

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This chapter was revealed in Makkah, and its basic theme is honoring the revelation of this blessed book, the Holy Qur`an. The Night of Power or honour is a special gift only to the community (Ummah) of Islam. The night is one which even the angels in the heavens see as worthy of witnessing. The night is so rich with holiness, and is equal to a thousand months in the sight of Allah.

Why the name, the Night of Power? What Laylat Al-Qadr Means

The word Al-Qadr has several meanings. Qadr implies having power over something, as in the case of the Creator over the creation. Allah’s (SWT) excellence is Al-Qadir, capable, omnipotent, almighty, all powerful.

It also implies excellence, honour and high esteem, and as for this Night of Power, it is highly esteemed and regarded. For this night is equal to over 80 years in the sight of Allah (SWT).

It also implies to maintain, appoint, assign or decree an order. Thus, in the Night of Power, Allah (SWT) proclaims to the Angels His commands and orders with regard to the affairs of the universe. From this meaning is derived the concept of Al-Qada Wa Qadar, the fifth article of faith, that Allah has decreed or preordained or, in other words, has full knowledge of all that the human being will do with his free will. A man’s decision to act freely in good conscience or bad conscience is all known to Allah (SWT), past, present and future.

Qadr also implies measurement, that is, all the events of the year will occur in accordance to the exact measurement of what is in the knowledge of Allah, Who states: “Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.” (Al-Qur`an, 54:49)

The Significance of Laylat-Ul-Qadr

“And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.” (Al-Qur`an 97:2-3)

Allah (SWT) is emphasizing the importance of this night by putting the second verse in question form. The answer being no one knows, or comprehends, the awesomeness and the depth of honour of the night. As if to say, the night bears no resemblance to the things you already know about.

The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. This indicates that acts of worship such as prayer, charity, and recitation done on this night are better in reward than the same act done on other nights. The rewards (thawaab) are being multiplied several-fold.

Imam Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) was shown the long life span of people of previous nations, so the Prophet bemoaned the shortness of the life span of the Ummah, fearing that they might not be able to save many good deeds for the Hereafter. Therefore, Allah gave him the Night of Power to compensate for their lack of longevity. Hence, the devoted believer has a chance of adding approximately 83 years of worship to his life on the Night of Power.

Recommandations on How to Spend the Night of Power (Collectively or Individually)

Take a Vacation for Allah: We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not now to focus on worshipping and thanking our creator?

• Recitation of the Our’an and / reading the translation.
• Additional voluntary prayers after Taraweeh.
• Remembrance of Allah or zikr.
• Supplication or Du’a for you and for others.
• Pondering and contemplating the universe, the creation of the Heavens and the Earth: “…and they contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heaven and the earth….”(3:191)
• Reading books of Hadith so as to enjoy the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (saw).
• Repeating the recommended dua (at least 100 times).
• Giving charity to others.
• Repentance and asking forgiveness from one’s sins.
• Self evaluation & Self criticism – evaluate where you are in life and where you are going.

To summarize, The Night of Power is a very important occasion in Islam. Everyone is asked to live it and to enjoy it. This Night is a night of Mercy, a night of Blessing, a night of Peace and a night of Guidance. It is a night of Unification between the finite world of ours and the Infinite Universe of the Unseen. As the rainy season is suitable for farming, similarly for the attainment of nearness to Allah, specific times , specific days and specific nights are most suitable, e.g. the time of Tahajjud prayers, Friday prayers, the month of Ramadhan, the Day of Arafah, etc. So also the Night of Power is the most suitable night for attaining nearness to Allah.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As a conclusion for this hutba, I’d like to pray for all of you to understand the value and importance of this priceless night and be surrounded by the bounties of it.