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Laylatul-Qadr – The Night of Decree | Better Than a Thousand Months

 

Importance of Laylatul Qadr

Laylatul Qadr is one of the most blessed nights of the Islamic calendar and perhaps there is no other night that stands equal to it in sacredness and Holiness in Islam. This night usually resides in the last ten days of Ramadan and within those days it is in the odd nights of the Ashra.

The importance of Laylatul Qadr is great since Holy Quran was sent down in this night.

Allah almighty says in the Holy Quran:

“verily! We have sent it (Quran) down in the Night of Decree (Laylatul-Qadr). And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (i.e. Gabriel) by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees, Peace! until the appearance of dawn.”

(Al-Qadr 97: 1-5)

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (Radi Allah Anhu):

Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramazan. Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said, “It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it should search in the last seven nights of Ramazan.”
[Sahih Bukhari]

Read: THINGS THAT SAVE US FROM HELLFIRE

The prophet (P.B.U.H) used to stay up and pray on Lailatul-Qadr so it is prescribed to stay up and pray whole night.

 

The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:

“Whoever stands in (Prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Eemaan and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven.”

(Bukhari)

It was narrated by Ubada bin As-Samit (May Allah be pleased with him):

“The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to inform us about the Night of Qadr but two Muslims were quarreling with each other. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, I came out to inform you about the Night of Qadr but such-and-such persons were quarreling, so the news about it had been taken away; yet that might be for your own good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramadan).” 

Sahih al-Bukhari

Read: The Signs of the Day of Judgment

It is narrated by Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him):

“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said,

“Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven.” 

Sahih al-Bukhari

Signs of Laylatul Qadr

One of the signs of Laylatul Qadr is that the temperature of the night won’t be high or low; it will be medium. (from the narrations of Ibn Abbaas and Jaabir) -Shuab Ul Iman By Imam Bayhaqi; 5475.

The sun of the next day will be a little bit red. (from a narration of Ibn Abbaas) -Shuab Ul Iman By Imam Bayhaqi; 5475.

Look at the sun, the morning of that night, it does not have a beam like a volcano when it rises. (from a narration of Abu Bakr Ibn Kaab)

It is a seventh or twenty-ninth night of Ramadan. In that night, there are more angels in the earth than the number of stones. (from a narration of Abu Hurayrah) -Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal; 10734.

It has been proven from the Saheeh Hadiths that Laylatul Qadr comes from the odd number of the last ten days (twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh, twenty-ninth). Perhaps they were not categorically determined so that the Muslims would strive in their prayer and worship in the last ten days wholeheartedly. Allah knows best.

Jazakum Allahu Khairan! We pray that Allah makes us ones who humbly seek Laylatul Qadr with strength, sincerity, and enthusiasm. Please share this with your friends and family.

(Source: beabettermuslim.com)

It is a night that we CANNOT miss out on so here is how we can maximise this blessed night:

1. Recite the Qur’an abundantly

Az-Zuhri used to say upon the coming of Ramadan, “It is only about reciting the Qur’an and feeding the poor.” 

Abdur-Raziq said, “When Ramadan came, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would give up all acts of (voluntary) worship and devote himself to the recitation of the Qur’an.” 

Laylatul Qadr is the night the Qur’an was revealed so we should spend much of the night reciting it for we will gain 700 hasanah or more by reciting each letter!

2. Strive to gain forgiveness

One should strive and do their utmost to gain the mercy of Allah especially in the odd numbered nights of the last ten days. If one leaves Ramadan without gaining the mercy of Allah then surely they are the most unfortunate ones and are the biggest losers in this world and the next.

The main Dua for Laylatul Qadr is the following:

Aisha (Ra) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’ He said: 

‘Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’ “ 

“Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee” 

(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

Gaining forgiveness on laylatul Qadr

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

We should sincerely repent for past and present sins with the intention of not repeating them again and ask of Allah Ta’aala to help us prevent ourselves from doing them again and ask Allah to perfect our characters and to help us improve ourselves in everyway possible.

3. Do much Superogatory Prayers (Nafil)

Rabi’ah ibn Malik al-Aslami reported that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: “Ask (anything).” Rabi’ah said: “I ask of you to be your companion in paradise.”The Prophet said: “Or anything else?” Rabi’ah said: “That is it.” The Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said to him: “Then help me by making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers).” 

(Muslim)

The Prophet peace be upon him said: 

“Whoever draws near to Allaah during it (Ramadaan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.” – Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887. 

In this most blessed month of Ramadhan all good deeds are multiplied by 70 or more. Every Nafil one prays one will gain the reward of a Fard Salaah and every Fard Salah is the reward of 70 Fard salaah. Subhanallah what other time of the year is this possible? NONE! So let us make the best of these precious seconds and pray as many Nafil prayers as is possible!

Here are some Nafil prayers we can pray on Laylatul Qadr:

1. Two Rakat after performing Wudu (Ablution)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him): 

“Tell me about the best of your deeds (i.e. one which you deem the most rewarding) since your embracing Islam because I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “I do not consider any act of mine more rewarding than that whenever I make ablution at any time of night or day, I perform Prayer for as much as was destined for me to do.” 

(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)”

2. Tahajjud

Imam Abu Sa’id al-Khadimi said,

“There is scholarly consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous acts is the night vigil prayer.” [al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]

The scholars derived the following in regards to Tahajjud from the Qur’an and prophetic hadiths:

1. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 rakats. [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

2. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 rakats, because this was the general practice of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions). [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

3. Lengthier recitation is superior to a larger number of rakats prayed. [Durr al-Mukhtar, Radd al-Muhtar]

4. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short rakats, because of the hadith of Abu Hurayra that the

Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “It you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats.” 

[Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, “I cannot pray at night.” He said, “Your sins have prevented you.”

3. Salaatul Tasbih

This is a very rewarding prayer that we should pray on each of the odd numbered nights.

Ibn al Mubarak says: “The tasbih prayer is a greatly desired act and it is desirable that one should punctually observe it and never neglect it.

4. Increase in Dhikr (Rememberance of Allah)

We should glorify Allah night and day, especially in the last odd nights. 

Here are some easy and very beneficial Dhikr and glorification we can do throughout the last ten odd nights:

1. Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee

2. Subhanallah

3. Alhamdulillah

4. Allahu Akbar

5. Laa ilaha ilallah

6. LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH

7. Asthaghfirullah

8. SUB-HAN’ALLAH HIL AZEEM WA BI-HAM’DIHI, 

9. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm

10. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr

Or the shortened version:

11. Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer

One can also recite the durood that one recites in one’s Salaah or a Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim

5. Make much dua

We should be very busy in Dua as much as we can especially in the last 10 odd numbered.

Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an:

“When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me.” [2:186] 

The place of duaa is so high to Allah, that the Prophet(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim) had said: “Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than du`a.” [Sahih al-Jami` no.5268]. 

Almighty Allah also said: 

“The most excellent worship is du`a.” [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1133]

Therefore let us devote much of the night of Qadr in dua asking of Allah for his mercy and forgiveness for all of our past sins and making firm intentions to Allah that we will change for the better and strive to become closer to him as well as make our deen a FULL part of our lives and not just a little part of our life as Allah says:

Allah tells us In the Qur’an to enter fully into our deen and not partly:

O believers enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, surely he is your clear-cut enemy…. (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 208-210)

So then will we not make Islam a FULL part of our lives? This is our best opportunity and if we don’t take it and death comes to us then surely we will regret it for ETERNITY!

And Allah knows best in all matters

Source: ummah.com

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Duas to Increase Rizq & Wealth | Duas for Provision Islamic Duas! Recite this 100 Times a day! Easy Dhikr! 4 Promises that ALLAH Made in Holy Quran! SABR.. Beautiful. Masha’Allah ❤ Beautiful Masjid Al Haram Makkah ❤
Duas to Increase Rizq & Wealth | Duas for Provision 4 Promises that ALLAH Made in Holy Quran! Recite this 100 Times a day! Easy Dhikr! Islamic Duas! Beautiful Masjid Al Haram Makkah ❤ Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee