The Last Ten Days of Ramadan & The Night of Al-Qadr

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr

Abu Hurairah (raa) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saws) said: “Whoever performs the night prayer on the night of Al-Qadr with Eemaan (firm belief) and seeking reward will have all his past sins forgiven.” [1]

This hadeeth is evidence for the virtue of the night of Al-Qadr as well as performing qiyaam (night prayer) during it. And it indicates that it is a grand night, which Allaah has honored and made better than a thousand months, with regard to its blessing and the blessings found in the righteous deeds that are performed in it. Thus it is better than the worship of a thousand months and that is equivalent to eighty-three years and four months. Due to this, whoever performs qiyaam (night prayer) with true faith and while seeking reward in it, will be forgiven his past sins. There were certain verses revealed concerning this virtue:

Allaah says: “We sent it (the Qur’aan) down on a blessed night. Verily We are Ever-Warning. Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment.” [2]

Therefore, it is a “blessed night” meaning it possesses much good and blessing due to its merit and the great reward that awaits the one who does good deeds in it. Among its blessings, is that Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in it. Allaah says:

“Verily, We have sent it (the Qur’aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel) by their Lord’s permission with all decrees. (All that night) there is peace, until the appearance of dawn.” [3]

Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said concerning Allaah’s saying: “Therein descend the angels and the Rooh”: “This means that the descending of the angels increases during this night due to the vast amount of its blessings. And the angels descend along with the descent of blessing and mercy, just as they descend during the time when the Qur’aan is recited and encompass the gatherings in which Allaah is remembered and spread their wings for the true seeker of knowledge, out of respect for him.” [4]

This night occurs only in Ramadaan, since Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in it. He informs us that its revelation occurred during the month of Ramadaan in His saying: “Verily, We have sent it (the Qur’aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr.” [5]

And His saying: “The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur’aan” [6]

This means that its revelation from Allaah to His Prophet Muhammad (saws) began in it.

Allaah’s statement: “The night of Al-Qadr” is either an indicative of the honor and station of that night, as it is said: “Such and such person has great Qadr”. The conjunction of “the night” to Al-Qadr is the joining of a descriptive feature to it, thus making it mean “An honorable night”. The word “Al-Qadr” may also be in reference to the ordainment and disposal of affairs. Thus, its being joined to the word “the night” would be in order to denote a place or time for it. So it would mean “the night in which all that will occur in the following year will be decreed.” This is similar to Allaah’s saying: “Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment.” [7]

Qataadah said of this: “Therein is decreed every matter for the (upcoming) year” [8] and Ibn Al-Qayyim said that this is the correct opinion. [9]

What seems most correct is that there is nothing that restricts the possibility of these two understandings and Allaah knows best.

His statement: “with Eemaan” means with firm conviction in what Allaah has prepared for those who stand in prayer during this magnificent night. And “seeking reward” means looking for reward and the attainment of recompense.

Thus, this is a grand night, which Allaah has chosen for beginning the revelation of the Qur’aan. So the Muslim must acknowledge its weight in worth, by guarding it and spending it in worship whilst having firm conviction and seeking the reward of Allaah, in order that Allaah may forgive all of his previous sins. This is why the Prophet (saws) warned us about being heedless of this night and being neglectful of spending it in worship, for the Muslim would be prevented from its good.

Abu Hurairah (raa) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saws) said: “Ramadaan has come to you - a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory upon you to fast in it. During this month, the gates of heaven are open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allaah belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is prevented from its good, then he has been deprived.” [10]

The Muslim should supplicate much on the nights in which the night of Al-Qadr is sought. And he should supplicate with that which the Prophet (saws) instructed 'Aa’ishah (raa) with, when she asked him: “What if I know on which night the night of Al-Qadr occurs, what should I say?” So he (saws) said: “Say: O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me.” [11]

Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said: “It is recommended to supplicate a lot at all times and (to supplicate) more than that during the month of Ramadaan, its last ten days and its odd days. And it is highly recommended to increase ones invoking with this supplication: ‘O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so forgive me.’” [12]

Footnotes:

[1] Al-Bukhaaree (4/2550 and Muslim (759)

[2] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 3-4

[3] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1-5

[4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: (8/465)

[5] Surat-ul-Qadr: 1

[6] Surat-ul-Baqarah: 185

[7] Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 4

[8] Reported by At-Tabaree in his Tafseer (25/65) as well as Al-Bayhaqee in his book Fadaa’il-ul-Awqaat (pg. 216). Its chain of narration is saheeh.

[9] See Shifaa’-ul-'Aleel of Ibn Qayyim (pg. 42)

[10] This hadeeth is reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa’ee. See Ahmad Shaakir’s checking of the Musnad (no. 7148) and Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb of Al-Albaanee (1490) as well as Tamaam-ul-Mannah (395)

[11] Reported by At-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah with an authentic chain. [Translator’s note: The supplication transliterated from Arabic reads: “Allaahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun Tuhibbul-'Afwa Fa’affoo ‘annee.” ]

[12] Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 8/472

Author: 'Abdullaah Ibn Saalih Al-Fawzaan

2

** Exerting Oneself During the Last Ten Days of Ramadaan**

‘Aa’ishah (raa) said: "When the last ten days (of Ramadaan) would come, the Prophet (saws) would spend his night in worship, wake his family (at night), exert himself and tighten his Izaar (waistcloth)." [1]

This hadeeth is proof that the last ten days of Ramadaan have a special virtue over any other (set of days), in which one should increase in obedience and acts of worship, such as prayer, making dhikr (remembrance) and reciting the Qur’aan.

‘Aa’ishah (raa) has described our Prophet and role model, Muhammad (saws), with four attributes:

  1. He (saws) would "spend his night in worship", meaning he would not sleep during it. Thus, he (saws) would remain awake throughout it in worship and he would liven his soul by spending the night in sleeplessness. This is since sleep is the brother of death. The meaning of "spend his night" is that he (saws) would spend all of it in the state of qiyaam (night prayer) and performing acts of worship that are done for the sake of Allaah, Lord of the worlds. We must remember that the last ten days of Ramadaan are fixed and numbered.

As for what has been reported concerning the forbiddance of spending the entire night in prayer, which has been mentioned in the hadeeth of 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Amr (raa), then it is in regards to someone who does that consistently throughout every night of the year.

  1. He (saws) would "wake up his family" meaning his (saws) pure wives, the Mothers of the Believers, so that they may take part in the profiting of good, the dhikr (remembrance) and the acts of worship during these blessed times.

  2. He (saws) would "exert himself", meaning he (saws) would persevere and struggle in worship, adding more to his deeds than what he had done in the first twenty days (of Ramadaan). He only did this because the night of Al-Qadr occurs during one of these (last ten) days.

  3. He (saws) would "tighten his Izaar (waistcloth)" meaning he would exert himself and struggle intensely in worship. It is also said that it means he (saws) would withdraw from women. This seems to be more correct since it inclines with what was mentioned previously and with the hadeeth of Anas (raa): "He (saws) would rollup his bed and withdraw from women (i.e. his wives)." [2]

Also, he (saws) would observe 'Itikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadaan and the person who is in the state of 'Itikaaf is restricted from interacting (sexually) with women.

So, O Muslim brother, strive to characterize yourself with these attributes. And guard the prayer you make in the depths of the night (tahajjud) with the Imaam in addition to the Taraaweeh prayer (which is prayed in the early parts of the night), so that your exertion in these last ten days may go beyond that of the first twenty. And so that you may achieve the attribute of "spending the night in worship" by praying.

And you must be patient in your obedience to Allaah, for indeed, the tahajjud (night) prayer is difficult, but its reward is great. By Allaah, it is a great opportunity in ones life and a profitable thing to take advantage of, for the one whom Allaah grants it to. And a person does not know if perhaps he will encounter one of Allaah's many rewards during the night prayer, thus serving as assistance for him in this world and in the Hereafter.

The righteous predecessors of this ummah would lengthen the prayer at night, exerting themselves. As-Saa'ib Ibn Yazeed said: "'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab ordered Ubay Bin Ka'ab and Tameem Ad-Daaree to lead the people in prayer with eleven raka'aat. The reciter would recite one hundred verses, to the point that we had to lean upon wooden staffs due to the long standing. And we would not stop until the early parts of Fajr." [3]

'Abdullaah Ibn Abee Bakr reported: "I heard my father (i.e. Abu Bakr) say: 'During Ramadaan, we would finish (the night prayer) late and we would hurry the servants to present the food (of suhoor) for fear that Fajr (morning) would come upon us." [4]

There are two struggles of the soul that the believer faces during Ramadaan: the struggle by day with fasting and the struggle by night with qiyaam (night prayer). So whosoever combines these two and fulfills their rights, then he is amongst the patient -- those who will "be given their reward in full without any reckoning." [5]

These ten days are the last part of the month and a person's actions are based on his last ones. So perhaps, he will encounter the night of Al-Qadr, while standing in prayer for Allaah and thus have all his past sins forgiven.

And one must incite, animate and persuade his family to perform acts of worship, especially in these great times in which no one neglects it except that he has been deprived. What is more incredible than this is that while the people are performing prayer and making tahajjud, some individuals spend their time in forbidden gatherings and sinful events. This is indeed the greatest loss. We ask Allaah for his protection.

Therefore, embarking on these last days means entering into the profiting from righteous deeds in what remains of the month. From the unfortunate matters is to see that some people excel in righteous actions, such as prayer and recitation of the Qur'aan, in the first part of the month, but then signs of fatigue and weariness begin to show on them afterwards, especially when the last ten days of Ramadaan come in. And this is in spite of these last ten days possessing a greater standing than the first ones. Thus, one must persevere in striving and struggling and increase his worship when the end of the month draws near. And we must keep in mind that a person's actions are based on his last ones.

Footnotes:

[1] Al-Bukhaaree (4/269) and Muslim (1174)

[2] See Lataa'if-ul-Ma'aarif: pg. 219

[3] See Al-Muwatta (Eng. Dar El-Fiker): vol. 1, pg 154

[4] Also in the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik: vol. 1, pg. 156

[5] Surat-uz-Zumar: 15

Author: 'Abdullaah Ibn Saalih Al-Fawzaan

3

:jazak: for sharing this.

4

Allahu Akbar!

Thx for sharing Sadiyah. I was wondering about the "Quran was revealed' part for a while. This post answered my query that the Quran began to be revealed during the month of Ramadan.

5

Wa iyyakum.

Rukhsarbibi, I'm glad it answered your query.

The signs of Laylatul-Qadar
www.fatwa-online.com,

Question: What are the signs of Laylatul-Qadar (the night of power)?

Response: From amongst the signs of Laylatul-Qadar is that it is a
calm night and the believer's heart is delighted and at peace with
it, and he becomes active in doing good actions, and the sun on the
following morning rises clearly without any rays.

Shakyh Ibn al-'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 2, Page 852, Fatwa No. 841;
Fataawa ash-Shaykh Muhammad as-Saalih al-Uthaymeen - Volume 1, Page
563

6

Specifying the 27th of Ramadhaan as Laylatul-Qadar

www.fatwa-online.com

Question: Some of the Muslims have taken the 27th night of Ramadhaan
as Laylatul-Qadar. Is their any basis for this specification and is
there any evidence for this?

Response: Yes, there is basis for this specification and that is
that the night of the 27th of Ramadhaan is mentioned in the hadeeth,
in Saheeh Muslim, on the authority of 'Ubayy Ibn Ka'b (radhi-
yallaahu 'anhu).

However, the overwhelming opinion of the people of knowledge, from
the forty or more opinions, is that Laylatul-Qadar is in the last
ten nights, and specifically in the last seven of those nights. So,
it is possible that it could be on the 27th night, the 25th, the
26th or even the 24th night (and so on).

Because of this, it is befitting for (each) person to exert (himself
in worship) during all the nights such that he does not deny himself
the excellence of them and the reward (to be gained) in them.

Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:

{We sent it (this Qur.aan) down on a blessed night (i.e. Laylatul-
Qadar) in the month of Ramadaan]. Verily, We are ever warning
[mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our
Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]}, [Soorah ad-
Dukhkhaan, Aayah 3]

And He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) also said:

{Verily! We have sent it (this Qur.aan) down in the night of al-
Qadar. And what will make you know what the night of al-Qadar is?
The night of al-Qadar is better than a thousand months (i.e.
worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a
thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the
angels and the Rooh (Jibreel) by Allaah's Permission with all
Decrees. Peace! (all that night, there is Peace and Goodness from
Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn},
[Soorah al-Qadar, Aayaat 1-5]

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 2, Page 852, Fatwa No.842
al-Fataawa libni-'Uthaymeen - Kitaab ad-Da'wah - Volume 1, Pages 204-
205

7

Distinguishing a particular night with worship

www.fatwa-online.com

Question: Some people seek Laylatul-Qadar so they active by offering
their prayers and other forms of worship whilst they do not do
likewise on other nights in Ramadhaan, so is this in accordance with
that which is correct?

Response: No! It is not in accordance with that which is correct,
for certainly Laylatul-Qadar changes. So it could be on the night of
the twenty seventh, and it could be on any other night as has been
indicated in many ahaadeeth. It has been confirmed that the Prophet
(sal-Allaahu alayhe wa sallam) said: ((In that particular year
Laylatul-Qadar was revealed on the night of the twenty first)).
Therefore it is not befitting for a person to specify his stand (in
prayer) on a particular night or distinguish a night which he yearns
to be Laylatul-Qadar (likewise). (Rather) striving in all of the
last ten nights is from the guidance of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
alayhe wa sallam), since when the last ten nights arrived he would
tighten his waist belt and awaken his family and used to spend them
all awake (in worship). So that which is befitting for the prudent
believer is to strive in all of the last ten nights such that the
reward does not pass him by.

Shaykh Ibn al-Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 2, Page 855, Fatwa No.844;
Fiqh al-Ibaadaat libni 'Uthaymeen - Page 207