Laylatul Qadar – A Gem Everyone Is Searching For
Every Ramadan we often hear the term – “10 malam terakhir” or “the last ten nights”. What is it really with these ten nights? Why is it so important?
In one of these ten nights, there is hidden gem that every true worshipping Muslim will look for every Ramadan. This gem can never be found any other months of the year. This gem happens one night only in Ramadan and this gem is Laylatul Qadar or the Night of Power.
Even though we all know that the whole of Ramadan is a month of blessings, the night of Laylatul Qadar is very special as the Quran tells us – it is better than 1000 months!
“We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace!... This until the rise of morn!”
Surah Al Qadr; 1-5
What is Laylatul Qadar anyway?
Laylatul Qadar is a Night when spent doing ibadah, its worth is boundless and limitless. It is a Night when worshippers are esteemed and their levels are elevated, a Night that brings glory to Muslims and a Night that worshippers are given strength.
This Night is so powerful that even Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. himself devoted his time towards making the most out of it, greater than any other time.
As narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadar out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven."
When is Laylatul Qadar?
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. did not specify any particular night to be Laylatul Qadar.However, there are many hadiths that indicated it happens during the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan:
As Narrated by `Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan."
Why is it so secret?
Laylatul Qadar has been kept secret so that people respect all the nights of Ramadan.Imagine if the night of Laylatul Qadar is made known, everyone will be worshipping on that one night, forgetting other nights in Ramadan. This defeats the purpose of “making the most” out of the last ten night. Since people are unaware as to which night is Laylatul Qadar, they will try to worship Allah every night of Ramadan in search of this special gem. Well you know what they say, great things don’t come easy, right?
So what do I have to do on this Night of Power?
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Make the last ten nights count. If you think you are doing pretty good ibadah-wise since Ramadan started, get more serious in doing it. Strive to perform Tahajjud every night, give more to charity, promote to others to enjoin doing good deeds – you know the rewards are going to be multiplied than ever before
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Recite more Quran. This is a simple ibadah which brings immense benefit to those who read them. Even you can’t recite it, you can read and understand the tafsir or meaning
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Ask for forgiveness. Laylatul Qadar is a night when we do our ibadah out of pure sincerity, our past sins will be forgiven. So, what better time to ask for forgiveness if not now? There is even a special du’a in Laylatul Qadar which we can recite:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
“O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me”
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Get close to Allah. There is wisdom behind why we are encouraged to perform tahajjud in the middle of the night. That time is the quietest, calmest period of the day which we will not busy or distracted with any other activities. Take opportunity of this alone time to get close to Allah, ask for His Mercy, for strength and forgiveness.
So, there you go. Think of Laylatul Qadar as the final day of a great sale. You want to grab as many rewards and offers as possible. Difference is, to attain the rewards of Laylatul Qadar, no queue or promo codes required. All you have to do is to show up at the sejadah and start your tahajjud in the last ten nights.
May we all be given the blessings to find this gem – that is the Laylatul Qadar.
