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Ramadaan 1424                             Volume 1,  No. 8                            November 2003

The Quest for Laylatul-Qadr

 THE GLORIOUS MONTH OF RAMADAAN is on the verge of departure. It is, therefore, time for us to take stock of what was gained and what was lost during these past days of fasting, taraweeh, and ibadah. Every Muslim should be saddened upon the departure of Ramadaan. For those who strived to do good in this month, they are sad because the wonderful atmosphere of spiritual glory which they experienced in their worship is now over. They cannot continue to reap the same bounties in the coming months as they did during the Month of Ramadaan. An indication of this is found in the hadith of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), where he states that the one and only regret the people of Jannat will have is that they did not perform more ibadat whilst here on earth. When the reward of a’maal is handed out to the Jannatis, they will wish that they had performed greater amounts of a’maal.

The spiritual resplendence, radiance, and effulgence that abounds in Ramadaan can only be experienced by those who engage sincerely in ibadat during the nights, as well as those who make great effort to abstain from sin during the days.  Otherwise, we regret to say, Ramadaan will just be another month of the year, that came and went.

As for those who failed to fulfill all or part of the a’maal of Ramadaan, they have greater reason to be sad. Their reason for regret is that Almighty Allah blessed them with such a wonderful and magnanimous occasion to secure forgiveness  and Jannat, but they allowed it to pass by.  For this they have only themselves to blame. Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) severely castigated those among his Ummah who allowed this to happen. He said: May the nose of that person be rubbed into the dust, who witnessed the month of Ramadaan and allowed it to pass without securing the forgiveness of Allah..

What a harsh reprimand from Our Master and King, one whom the Quran described as Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen (A Mercy unto the Universe). In fact, it is this compassion and intense concern that he had for his Ummah which compelled The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) to utter this statement.

However, there are still a few days left of this month, so it is still not too late to at least acquire the remaining benefits of Ramadaan. In fact, the last portion  of Ramadaan is the apex of the month. This brings in the great night of Qadr.

Laylatul-Qadr

We quote some experiences and views of the great Auliyaa and Buzrugs of the past regarding this great night.

SHAIKH IBNUL-ARABI: He believes laylatul-qadr comes throughout the year because he personally experienced it, once on 15 Shabaan, and in another year on 19 Shabaan. He also experienced it during the middle 10 days of Ramadaan: once on 13 and once on 18. He also witnessed it on each of the odd nights during the last ten days, i.e., in different years. However, he still believes that it is to be found predominantly in the month of Ramadaan.

HAZRAT SHAH WALIYYULLAH: He is of the opinion that laylatul-qadr comes twice a year,once during Ramadaan and once outside Ramadaan. The one that comes outside Ramadaan is that night when Allah Decrees the affairs of the coming year and ordains the rizq etc. of His servants.This was the night The Holy Quran was brought from the Lowhe Mahfooz to the first heaven, and on that occasion it happened to be in Ramadaan.

The other night falls during the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadaan, when angels descend in abundance and spread the special mercy of Allah, and duas are readily accepted. Hazrat Shaikh Zakariyya (rahmatullahi alaih) says that his father, Hazrat Moulana Yahya (RA) gave preference to this opinion. 

One group maintains that Laylatul-Qadr falls on one night any time during the year, not only in Ramadaan. The Ulema who say this are Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (RA), Imam Ikrama Shaikh Ibnul-Arabi and Imam Abu Haneefa (RA). Hazrat Abdullah Bin Umar (RA) believes that this great night can fall on any night during Ramadaan. This another view of Imam Abu Haniefa (RA), and is also the view of Imam Subki of the Shaf’i Ulema. The great Jurists, Hazrat Imam Malik and Imam Ahmed bin Hambal hold the view that  it can fall in any of the odd nights during the last ten days of Ramadaan. Imam Shaf’i (RA) says it is specifically on the 21^st night of Ramadaan. Hazrat Ubay bin Ka’b (RA) and the majority of Ulema believe it is on the 27^th night of Ramadaan. This view has also be narrated from  Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas, Imam Ahmed bin Hambal, and Imam Abu Haniefa.