Blessings of Laila-tul-Qadr: The Night Better Than a Thousand Months

Excellence of Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī 🌹

The Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said, 'Whoever recites Ṣalāt upon me a thousand times daily shall not die until he sees his place in Heaven.' (Attarghīb Watarhīb, pp. 328, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 22)

صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! Laila-tul-Qadr is an extremely blessed and sacred night. It is called Laila-tul-Qadr because the commandments of the whole year are enforced in this night. In other words, the angels make a record of whatever is going to happen the following year. It is stated in Tafsīr Ṣāwī on page 2398 volume 6:

اَیْ اِظْہَارُ ھَا فِیْ دَوَاوِیْنِ الْمَلَاءِ الْاَعْلٰی

Translation: It (destiny) appears in the registers of the angels.

There are several other reasons for the greatness of this night. A renowned exegetist of the Quran, Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān عَلَيْہِ رَحْمَۃُ الرَّحْمٰن has stated: This night is called Laila-tul-Qadr for several reasons:

1. In this night, the tasks of the following years are set and assigned to the angels. Qadr refers to either destiny or dignity.
2. The Holy Quran was revealed at this night.
3. The worship performed in this night has great Qadr (excellence).
4. Qadr also means 'narrowness.' Angels descend at this night in such a great number that the earth is crowded with them. For these reasons, this night is called Laila-tul-Qadr. (Mawā'iẓ-e-Na'īmiyyah, pp. 62)

There is a Ḥadīš in Bukhārī Sharīf that says, 'Whoever offers Ṣalāh with faith and sincerity at this night shall be forgiven for all of his previous sins.' (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 660, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 2014)

More reward than worship of 83 years and 4 months

We must not spend this sacred night in heedlessness. Whoever worships in this night is rewarded more than the worship of 1000 months, (which implies) more than 83 years and 4 months. Only Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved and Blessed Rasūl صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم (who was informed by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ) know how much 'more.'

Sayyidunā Jibrāīl عَلَيْہِ السَّلَام and other angels descend at this night and shake hands with the worshippers. Each and every of this blessed night is full of peace that remains till dawn (Ṣubḥ-e-Ṣādiq). It is a huge grace of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that He عَزَّوَجَلَّ has granted this glorious night only to His Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and his Ummah for his sake. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says in the Holy Quran:

اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنٰہُ فِیۡ لَیۡلَۃِ الۡقَدۡرِ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اَدۡرٰىکَ مَا لَیۡلَۃُ الۡقَدۡرِ ۫ لَیۡلَۃُ الۡقَدۡرِ ۬ۙ خَیۡرٌ مِّنۡ اَلۡفِ شَہۡرٍ ۭ۬ تَنَزَّلُ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ وَ الرُّوۡحُ فِیۡہَا بِاِذۡنِ رَبِّہِمۡ ۚۛ مِنۡ کُلِّ اَمۡرٍ ۛۚۙ سَلٰمٌ ۣ۬ ہِیَ حَتّٰی مَطۡلَعِ الۡفَجۡرِ ﴿﴾

Undoubtedly, We sent it down in the blessed night. And do you know what the blessed night is? The blessed night is better than a thousand months. Therein descend angels and Jibrāīl by the commandment of their Rab for every affair. That is all peace till the rising of the dawn. [Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Sūrah Qadr)

Dear Islamic brothers! Did you see! Laila-tul-Qadr is so important that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has revealed a whole Sūrah, describing its excellence. In this blessed Sūrah Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has mentioned several unique qualities of this sacred night.

Commenting on this Sūrah, the honourable exegetists of the Quran have said, 'In this night, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ sent down the Holy Quran from the Lauḥ-e-Mahfūẓ to the first sky and then gradually revealed it to His Beloved Rasūl صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم over a period of approximately 23 years.' (Tafsīr Ṣāwī, pp. 2398, vol. 6)

Our Holy Prophet 🌹 got dejected

It is stated in 'Tafsīr-e-'Azīzī' that when the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم considered the fact that the previous Ummahs were given long lives, whereas his Ummah was given short lives as compared to them, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم got dejected and concerned that his Ummah would not be able to surpass previous Ummahs even if it worships abundantly. The mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ intensified and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ granted His Beloved Rasūl صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم Laila-tul-Qadr. (Tafsīr-e-'Azīzī, pp. 434, vol. 4)

A faith-refreshing parable

Explaining the background of the revelation of Sūrah Qadr some honourable exegetists of the Quran have documented a very faith-refreshing parable that is as follows: Sham'ūn رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ worshipped Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for a thousand years in such a way that he would offer Ṣalāh the whole night, fast during the day and fight unbelievers in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ was so strong that he could break heavy iron chains with his hands. When the wicked unbelievers saw that they would not be able to defeat Sham'ūn عَلَيْہِ الرَّحْمَة they persuaded his wife, tempting her by a lot of wealth, to tie him with strong ropes while he was asleep and then hand him over to them.

The unfaithful wife tied him with ropes while he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ was asleep. When Sham'ūn رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ awoke and found himself tied up, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ broke the ropes with no difficulty, setting himself free. Then he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ asked his wife 'Who tied me?' Pretending to be loyal, the unfaithful wife lied, 'I was just testing as to how strong you are, and wanted to see how would free yourself.' The incident was then ignored.

Despite failing the first time, his unfaithful wife constantly waited for another opportunity to tie her husband in the state of sleep. One night, she had another opportunity to do what she wanted. When he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ went to sleep, his cruel wife cunningly tied him with iron chains. As soon as he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ woke up, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ broke the chains instantly and became free easily. Though shocked, his wife cunningly made the same excuse again, 'I was just testing your strength.' During the conversation, Sham'ūn رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ revealed his secret to his wife that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has blessed him with the status of Wilāyat and nothing could harm him in the world except his own hair.'

The devious wife understood what he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ meant. Worldly riches had blinded her. One day she found the opportunity to tie him with his own eight hair whose length was up to the ground. When he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ awoke he tried hard to free himself but could not succeed.

The treacherous woman that was intoxicated by worldly riches handed over her pious and righteous husband to the enemies. The malicious unbelievers tied Sham'ūn رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْہِ to a pillar and brutally mutilated his nose and ears and cut his eyes. The wrath of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ was intensified by the helplessness of His Walī. The cruel unbelievers sunk into the ground and a lightning of divine wrath struck the unfaithful, selfish, unfortunate wife, burning her to ashes. (Extracted from Mukāshufa-tul-Qulūb, pp. 306)