We and Laylatul-Qadr

By: Iftikhar Islam

Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah, He has bestowed the blessed month of Ramadhan on upon us. He has given us another opportunity to earn more and more blessings so that Allah forgives us by his infinite mercy. Apart from the increment in blessings on regular worship in Ramadhan, He has also blessed us with Laylat-ul-Qadr – a night which is more blessed than a thousand months.

The glorious Quran testifies about the Laylat-ul-Qadr and beautifully conveys by saying:

Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn. (Surah Qadr (97):1-5)

Subhanallah, it is confirmed that the Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months. And in this month the blessed Prophet (peace be upon him) used to seclude himself in the masjid so that He can acquire more and more blessings of Allah. He used to wake-up his family members so that even they can get benefited by the Laylatul-Qadr.

In this blessed night, the Noble Prophet, his family, his companions; dedicated themselves personally to the worship of Allah. We need to seclude ourselves and get involved in the Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah. When Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Prophet, asked "O Messenger of Allah, what do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?" He said: "Say: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).'" Sunan Ibn Majah 3850. This shows that the worship you do in Laylatul Qadr is a personal worship. This shows the purpose of laylatul-Qadr is to seek forgivness.

We, on the contrary, dedicates this blessed night in listening (and watching) to the various programs on the so called “Islamic Channels”. We roam freely in the market for shopping or tasting new foods with our friends and family. We waste time on social networking sites. How can we expect the forgiveness from Allah when we are disobeying him? What did the Noble Prophet tell to his wife Aisha to recite in the blessed night? And what are we doing? Are we really following the commandments of the Prophet (peace be upon him)? This is not the night to sit on the chair watching the television. This is not the night to roam in the market for shopping and tasting the delicious food. This is not the night to waste your time on social networking sites. Remember, a sincere worship is much more precious than a delicious food, variety of shopping and our status updates.

Let’s dedicate this night in the worship of Allah, seclude ourselves in His remembrance, put our efforts in getting the forgiveness from the Most Merciful.

O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive us. Aameen