Surah Al-Qadr is Makki Surah. It is composed of 5 verses, and it is Surah no. 97 according to arrangement of the Mushaf. The subject of this Surah is the revelation of the Quran on the Night of Decree (Laylat Al-Qadr); it discusses the great status this night has with Allah (swt) and that it is better than a thousand months. The English translations of these five verses are as under:
Indeed, we sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Destiny.
And what can make you know, what is the Night of Destiny?
The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months.
The angels and the spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.
Peace of Allah it is until the emergence of dawn.
The Night of Destiny is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. The night of destiny is the most blessed and excellent of all nights. A prayer or a good deed during this night is superior to the prayer of a thousand months. The destiny for the year is decided on this night. The Angels and Spirit (a highly dignified Angel, Gabriel) descend on earth, with the permission of Allah (swt) and call on the Imam of the time, and what is ordained (by Allah) for everybody is presented before the Imam.
The Night of Destiny is a celebration to commemorate the arrival of the final guidance for humans. It is a tribute to the commencement of the message revealed to mankind by their Creator, a message which shows them the way to achieve happiness in both the worlds. Just as the arrival of a child is celebrated, on its birth and then every year, as a bringer of joy and fulfilment for the family, the night of destiny is celebrated as a bringer of light and guidance for mankind. Unlike the birthday which is celebrated with a feast for the senses, the night of destiny includes a feast for the spirit, a feast of worship and prayers.
The good acts performed in this Night are superior in value to the good acts of a thousand months. There is no doubt that this is in itself correct and the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has described great excellences and virtues of the good acts and devotions of this Night. According to a tradition related in Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Hadrat Abu Hurairah, the Holy Prophet said: The one who remained standing in worship in the state of belief and for the sake of rewards from Allah during the night of destiny, would have all his previous sins forgiven. The night of destiny is better than a thousand months. And "a thousand months" also does not imply 83 years and 4 months exactly, but a very long period of time as "a thousand" denoted among the Arabs.
Therein descend the angels and the Gabriel by their Lord's permission with every matter, during the Night of Al-Qadr due to its abundant blessings. The angels descend with the blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur'an is recited, they surround the circles of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and they lower their wings with true respect for the student of knowledge. In reference to Gabriel, it is said that here it means the angel Gabriel. Therefore, the wording of the Ayah is a method of adding the name of the distinct object (in this case Gabriel) separate from the general group (in this case the angels).
The entire Night, from evening till morning, is peaceful, free from every evil and mischief. "It is security in which Shaytan (devil) cannot do any evil or any harm.'' Qatadah and others have said, "The matters are determined during it, and the times of death and provisions are measured out (i.e., decided) during it.
Allah (swt) has chosen certain human beings for Himself to be Messengers. Amongst places, He has chosen for Himself Makkah Al-Mukarramah. Amongst times, He has chosen Laylat Al-Qadr in the month of Ramadan. No one knows the greatness of Laylat Al-Qadr except Allah.
To show the significance of the night in which Quran was revealed, the angels descend and fill the heaven and the earth, and they continue to invoke Salam until the appearance of dawn for the believers who are standing in prayer. Standing in prayer on Laylat Al-Qadr is a source of forgiveness for our sins.
Md. Touhidul Alam Khan is the Deputy Managing Director of Prime Bank Limited. He is the post graduate diploma and fellow member of Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance (IIBI), United Kingdom.
Read Bangladesh Post National categorie news.