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Friday Talks |
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112 |
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Friday Talks |
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112 |
Benefits of the Night of Qadr
Written by: Sk. Omar Khadrawi
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
22 Ramadan 1430 h
11 September 2009 ad
All thanks be to Allah, we seek His help, we seek His forgiveness and we repent to Him. We fortify our selves with Him from the evil of ourselves and the worst of our acts. This who is guided by Allah shall not be misguided, and this who is misguided by Him will not be guided. I testify that there is no other God than Allah, alone and who Has no partners. And I testify that Mohammed is His slave and Messenger may peace and prayers be upon him, and upon his family and his companions.
Slaves of Allah, the holy month of Ramadan is given extra status and more benefits than other months. And the last then nights of this month are given more preference that its other nights. And the night of Qadr has been given even greater status, as it is alone considered to be better than a thousand months. Allah magnified it and elevated its status when He brought down His revelations and His words during this night, as guidance and clarification and light and mercy to the faithful. Allah says: {We revealed it on a blessed night - We are ever warning - (3) Whereon every wise command is made clear (4) As a command from Our presence - We are ever sending - (5) A mercy from your Lord. He is the Hearer, the Knower, (6) Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if you would be certain. (7) There is no God except Him. He gives life and gives death; your Lord and Lord of your forefathers} 59:3-8. Allah also says: {We revealed it on the Night of Qadr (Power). (1) what would you know what the Night of Qadr is! (2) The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. (3) The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees. (4) (The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn. (5)}97:1-5.
Yes, what a great night it is. What a high status and high glory it has. How wonderful its blessings are. One night is better than one thousand months of worship and doing good deeds. That is equivalent to more than eighty three years of worship. It is a long life time if a Muslim just spends it in worship and obedience to Allah. It is better than a thousand months as long as the thousand months do not contain a night of Qadr.
Slaves of Allah, during this night a lot of angels descend down to earth. Angels descend with goodness and blessings and mercies. Just as they descend when Koran is recited and as they descend during the circles of knowledge. This night is a total peace up to the time of dawn.
It is the night where all that is to happen for the next year is defined. The messenger (ppbu) said: {whoever stays up the night of Qadr in faith and expectation then all his/her previous sins are forgiven}
The night of Qadr is for certain one of the nights of the month of Ramadan. It is most likely to be one of the last ten nights of Ramadan. The messenger (ppbu) said: {seek the night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan}. And it is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan. The messenger (ppbu) said: {seek it in the last ten nights when three nights are left in the month, or when seven or nine nights are left in the month}. And the most likely night of those is the night of the 27th day of Ramadan.
Slaves of Allah, the reason or idea in hiding the precise night of Qadr and not defining it is: so Muslims become more active during all the last ten nights of Ramadan with acts of obedience, reciting of Koran and in perfecting themselves. It is also a way of identifying the active Muslim from the lazy. If people knew the exact night of Qadr then they would limit their acts of obedience and prayers to that night alone. And if they knew the exact night then the test would not be so perfect. Dear Muslims, we ought to be extremely active in seeking out this blessed night. So, we would win its rewards, and receive much of its plentiful goodness. The real poor is the one who is denied the reward, and the one who despite the seasons of forgiveness pass by, still is left with has his or her sins. This is because they pass without them knowing, or know but not care about such opportunities. Congratulations to the winners, those who do good deeds. And it is bad news for those are turned away and those who are blocked off the mercy and blessings in this night. This who misses out on this night because they busy doing sins and acts of disobedience. If one does not profit on this blessed night then when is it they are going to profit? This who does not repent to Allah during this honorable time then when is it that they are going to repent. And this who is sluggish and lazy for doing the good deeds then when are they going to be active?
Slaves of Allah, may Allah bless you, do get active in seeking out the blessed night of Qadr. Seek out its blesses and its goodness by maintaining your obligatory prayers, and by doing the night prayers, and giving charity (Zakah), and the perfecting your fasting, and by doing plenty of deeds of obedience, and avoiding sins and deeds of disobedience, and by feeling sorry and remorse and by repenting from all sins and misdeeds. Remember Allah a lot, and recite Koran.
It is recommended for a Muslim to make a plenty supplications or Duaa ask Allah, for Duaa is answered on this night. When you ask Allah in your Duaa make it with a general nature. The messenger (ppbu) was asked by A-Esha (عائشة): "Messneger of Allah, if I do realize the night of Qadr then what should I say?" and he said: {Say: O Allah, you are forgiving, and you love to forgive, then forgive me}. This Duaa has a great meaning and has a deep implication. It is extremely suitable for this night. It is the night of differentiation in matters of wisdom. It is the night when all deeds are evaluated for year and up to the next night of Qadr. This who is given the well-being (meaning: Allah's inspiration to all good and Allah's protection from all evil) and who is forgiven by His Lord then he or she has succeeded. And this who is granted protection from all bad and who is granted all goodness in this life and the life after then there is no equivalent to that.
Al-Abbas ben Al-Muttalib (العباس بن المطلب) asked the messenger (ppbu) to teach him something he can ask Allah. The messenger (ppbu) said: {Ask Allah for the well-being in this life and the life after(meaning: Allah's inspiration to all good and Allah's protection from all evil)}. A few days later Al-Abbas came and asked the messenger (ppbu) to teach him something he can ask Allah. The messenger (ppbu) said: {Ask Allah for the well-being in this life and the life after}.
Slaves of Allah ask Allah a plenty for forgiveness and for the well-being especially during those blessed nights. And be certain that Allah is forgives and pardons. Everybody needs Allah's forgiveness and pardons as well as needing His mercy and generosity.
O Allah, include us with your forgiveness and mercy. We ask you the well-being in this life and the next life. And we ask you forgiveness and well-being in faith and in this life and the life next. O Allah you are the most forgiving, you love forgiving, then forgive us.
The messenger (ppbu) used to give the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan a special attention. That included being extra active in doing deeds. A-esha said: "When the last ten nights approach he seized his cover and livened up his nights and woke up his family". Slaves of Allah activeness here is inclusive of all deeds of obedience, and all forms of worship which gets one closer to Allah, like reciting the Koran, remembering and praising Allah, prayers, adhering to the mosque (E-tikaf إعتكاف), donations and giving in charity, making contact with kin relatives, kindness to the slaves of Allah and other good deeds and deeds of obedience. The messenger (ppbu) used to take time off for those types of deeds and we ought to take the prophet as an example. You should take care to include your family and children by wakening them up and encourage them to join other Muslims in brining this ritual into view, and share with them in the reward, and so that they grow up in the atmosphere of Allah's worship and obedience.
Notes:
The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God. Aya (or Ayah):
is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
Faheem Bukhatwa, my email
address is : faheemfb@gmail.com
