𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 24 | 24 Sha’bān 1444H

The fourth matter which the scholars discuss in the book of Ṣiyām is what relates to Laylatul Qadr, and this is what we're going to cover in this lesson InshāAllāh. This lesson will be presented in a Q&A format. ➢ 1. What is Laylatul Qadr? • Laylatul Qadr is the best night of the year. • Allāh described it as a blessed night. [Ad-Dukhān 3] • It is better than a thousand months. [Sūrah Al-Qadr 3] 🔺Note: it is BETTER than and not EQUAL to a thousand months, so it's incorrect to equate Laylatul Qadr to 83 years or any other specific figure. • It is the night in which Allāh revealed the Qur'ān. [Al-Qadr 1] 💡Benefit: Most of the scholars said that the Qur'ān was taken from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawḥ Al-Mahfūdh) and brought down in its entirety to the first heaven on Laylatul Qadr, then after that it was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ gradually over twenty-three years. • It is the only night wherein standing in prayer is a means for all of one's previous sins to be forgiven. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands Laylatul Qadr in prayer with faith and anticipating Allāh's reward will have his past sins forgiven. [Bukhāri & Muslim] ➢ 2. Does Laylat Qadr still exist or has it been taken away? There's a strange view which states that Laylat Qadr was taken away during the Prophet's lifetime so it no longer exists. The evidence used to substantiate this view is the ḥadīth of ’Ubādah ibn Aṣ-Ṣāmit raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu that: “The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to inform us about the Laylatul Qadr but two Muslims were quarreling with each other. So the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I came out to inform you about the Laylatul Qadr but such-and-such persons were quarreling, so it was taken away.” [Bukhāri & Muslim] An-Nawawī raḥimahullāh said: “This view which was contrived by this fringe group is an obvious error and clear foolishness, since the end of the ḥadīth refutes them; because he ﷺ (continued on to say): “so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramaḍhān)”, if what was intended was complete removal, he would not have instructed to search for it.” [Al-Majmū’ (6/402)] So, without any doubt Laylatul Qadr still exists, but knowledge of it's exact occurrence, i.e. the exact night on which Laylatul Qadr occurs, is unknown to us. And this is for own good, as the Prophet ﷺ said in the same ḥadīth; because if we knew which night it was, we'd probably become lazy to worship Allāh on the other nights. ➢ 3. Why is it called Laylatul Qadr? This phrase is made up of two parts. The first part (Laylah) means night. However, The second part (Qadr) carries several meanings; from them: (1) Decree; it is called so because on this night Allāh decrees everything that will happen throughout the next year, as Allāh said (translated meaning): “Therein (on this night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.” [Ad-Dukhān 4] (2) Constriction; it is called so because a huge number of Angels descend to Earth such that the earth becomes congested, as Allāh said (translated meaning): “Therein descend the angels and the Rūḥ (Jibrīl) by Allāh's Permission with all Decrees.” [Al-Qadr 4] (3) Dignity & honour; it is called so because this is a dignified and honourable night, wherein dignified and honourable Muslims strive to draw closer to Allāh. ➢ 4. When is Laylatul Qadr? Ibn Al-Ḥajar mentioned in Fat-ḥ Al-Bāri that there are over fourty different opinions concerning when this night is. However, as Sheikh Uthaymīn raḥimahullāh said, we know beyond any doubt that it occurs in the month of Ramaḍhān; because Allāh said (translated meaning): “We revealed it (the Qur'ān) in Laylatul Qadr” [Al-Qadr 1], and we know that the Qur'ān was revealed in Ramaḍhān based on the saying of Allāh (translated meaning): “Ramaḍhān is the month in which the Quran was revealed...” [Al-Baqarah 185] We also know that it occurs during the last ten nights of Ramaḍhān based on the statement of the Prophet ﷺ: “Look for the Laylatul Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramaḍhān.” [Bukhāri & Muslim]