Laylatul Qadr - A night which is better than a thousand months

 Laylatul Qadr

So valuable is this Night of Qadr that the Quran devotes a special surah to
it “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months” [97:3]

Reason of Revelation

The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) told the companions about a man of the previous nations; a man who lived and fought jihad and worshipped Allah (S.W.T.) for over 1000 months (roughly 83 years, 4 months).

The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) was shown the average age of previous nations and he was shown the average age of his nation, he noticed that his ummah had the shortest lifespan (60-70 years), he was afraid that his ummah would not have enough time to do good deads like the previous nations.Thus, Allah (S.W.T.) gifted him and his ummah with Laylatul Qadr, which is not equavalent to the worship of 1000 months of the man of the previous nation, infact, it is BETTER  than thosse 1000 months.

Translation of Surah Al-Qadr

This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. The most authentic account of the occurrence of the Night indicates that it can occur on any one of the last ten days of Ramadan.

According to few accounts it is believed to be on one of the odd numbered nights of Ramadan, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, while most people believe it to be on the 27th, there's no guarantee or confirmation regarding that.

We should target and strive to stay up and make abundent supplications through out the last 10 days of Ramadan if we want to make sure we don't miss the Night of Power. 

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).

 

• Subhan'Allah very informative lecture - The Night of your Life : Tafseer of Surah Al-Qadr by Sheikh Omar Suleiman -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oam2qJz0y8

"Allah is more pleased with the repentance of his slave .."

I was listening to a lecture yesterday, the scholar described the hadith below in an amazing manner that made me realize the importance of repentance and it's over all impact.

Imagine a traveler traveling through a desert in the middle of the day, when it's blazing hot, there are no rest stops through out the isolated journey from source to destination.

In the olden days there were no rest stops on the way to provide the basic necessities such as food and water during long journeys. The traveler had tied up all the basic necessities such to his camel.

The traveler sees a tree/shade in the middle of the journey and stops to get some rest. He takes a nap and wakes up to find that his camel has wandered off with all his food and water with it !
Frantic and desperate the traveler searches here and there because he knows that that the camel is his only means of survival and escape through the desert.

After frantically searching  the traveler finally gives up accepting that his death is imminent now as there are no means of survival.

The dejected traveler comes back to the same resting spot and lays down anticipating death. Since he is understandably hungry, thirsty and highly exhausted he falls asleep.

He then wakes up to find that his camel has come back and is right in front of him ! Imagine the joy, relief and sheer happiness of finding his lost camel especially when he had given all hope of living and had accepted death!

The importance of repentance and reciting Astagfar is brilliantly illustrated with the hadith mentioned below.

Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert. "
[ Sahih Al Bukhari :book 75 , hadith 321]

According to the HADITH Allah is more pleased with his repenting slave than that traveler who lost and then found his camel in the middle of an isolated desert !!

SubhanAllah..we should all start including the zikr of Astagfar in our daily lives.. and not just recite it with our tongue but feel it and repent for our sins and wrongdoings sincerely. InshaAllah..!