Lailatul Qadr -what is it? Virtues & what to do in it?
Contents
1)What happened on this day? 2)All sins can be forgiven on this night 3)Virtues of this night 4)Some special prayers and Zikr for Laitul Qadr Qadr means honour and dignity.
1)What happened on this day? 2)All sins can be forgiven on this night
It is this night in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira.
Since this night enjoys the honour of having the first revelation brought to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, it has been named Lailatul Qadr.
This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadhan and most likely to be the 27th.
The reward of worship on this night is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship, equivalent to a person's lifetime.
So, on this night one should pray nafil namaz, recite the Quran, do Tasbih, Zikr, Duas, etc as much as possible. Every year in the month of Ramadhan, this night is given to the Ummah.
2)All sins can be forgiven on this night
As the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said:
"The person who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and with hope of reward from Allah, all his past sins have been forgiven." (Bukhaari) 'Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan'.(Bukhaari).
In the Hadeeth, we have been asked to seek it in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadhan.
Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wasallam has said,
'Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan'.(Bukhaari).
By odd nights, the reference is made to the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th night of the month of Ramadhan. No one night has been fixed so that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more nights in worshipping Allah. From this aspect, the importance of `Itikaaf (seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadhan is clear.
3)Virtues of this night 3.Why Precise Knowledge of Laylatul Qadr was taken away 1.All Sins Forgiven on Worshipping during this Night
Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaho Anhu) reports (Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam) said,
Whoever stands in prayer and Ibaadah on the night of Power with sincere faith and with sincere hope of gaining reward, his previous sins are forgiven (Targheeb from Bukhari and Muslim) 2.Descent of the Angels
Anas (Radiallaho Anho) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said:
"On Laylatul Qadr, the Angel Jibraeel (Alaihi Salaam) descends upon the earth with a group of Angels making Dua for blessings for every servant of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) whom they see in worship, standing or sitting and engrossed in Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's praise.
'Ubaadah Ibn Saamit (Radiallaho Anho) said
"Once the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) came out to inform us of the (correct date of) Laylatul Qadr. Unfortunately, a quarrel took place between two Muslims, whereupon He (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said 'I came out to inform you as to when Laylatul Qadr occurs, but because two people quarreled with each other, the knowledge of the correct date was taken away. Perhaps that is better for you. So, seek it among the ninth, seventh and fifth nights.'" "Shall I inform you of an action that is better than Salaah, fasting and charity?" The Sahabah replied: "Certainly." Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) then said" "Maintain peaceful and good relations amongst yourselves, for verily quarrels among yourselves destroy (shave off) faith," he who severs relations with a brother Muslim for more than three days and dies in this state, will go straight to Jahannam.
Note: Three important points are referred to in this Hadith. Firstly it tells us of a quarrel, as a result of which the knowledge of the precise night of Laylatul Qadr was lost to us. Arguments and quarrels are always the cause of loss of blessings.
Once Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) inquired of the Sahabah:
"Shall I inform you of an action that is better than Salaah, fasting and charity?" The Sahabah replied: "Certainly." Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) then said" "Maintain peaceful and good relations amongst yourselves, for verily quarrels among yourselves destroy (shave off) faith,"
i.e. just as a razor shaves off the hair, so does quarrelling affect the Deen.
Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said that
he who severs relations with a brother Muslim for more than three days and dies in this state, will go straight to Jahannam.
In another Hadith, it is stated that
on every Monday and Thursday, the actions of human beings are brought before Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala). Then through His mercy (as a result of certain good deeds), forgiveness is granted, except to the idolaters and those who set up equals to Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala),
4)Some special prayers and Zikr for Laitul Qadr
1. Seeking Forgiveness.
Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa asked the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam that if she happened to get the night sublime what prayer should she say. The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam replied that she should say the following prayer :
(O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, loves forgiving, so forgive me.)
2. Reciting Astaghfar.
The following should be recited as much as possible:
"Astaghfirullah hallazi la-ila-ha illa huwal Hayyul Qayyumo wa atu-bu ilaihe"
(I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Almighty, there is no God but He. He is self-Existent, the Eternal and I return to Him)
3. Reciting Surah `Inna anzalnahu...'
"Inna anzalnahu fee lailatul Qadr, Wa maa adraka maa lailatul Qadr. Lailatul Qadri khairum min alfi shahr. Tanazzalul malai-katu var-roohu fee ha bi izni Rabbihim min kulle amr. Salaamun heya hatta matla-il fajr."