--- On Mon, 9/1/08, canadianmuslims <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: canadianmuslims <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: When to look for Laylatul Qadr? To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Received: Monday, September 1, 2008, 11:02 AM Aisha (Radiallaho Anha) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said "Seek Laylatul Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of the month of Ramadhan". Note: According to the great majority of the religious scholars, the last ten nights commence on the 21st night. Such is the case whether the month of Ramadhan consists of 29 days or 30. S0, one should seek Laylatul Qadr on the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th night. Ibn Hazm has a different opinion saying that the word Asharah used in the Hadith means ten. As such, the above calculations will only be correct in cases where the month of Ramadhan consists of thirty days. However, when there are only twenty nine days in the month (as often happens), the last ten days will commence with the 19th day and the night being the 20th night. According to this calculation, it would appear that the unevenly numbered nights will actually be the 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th and 30th nights. But all Ulama agree that when in search of Laylatul Qadr Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) went into Aiteekaaf, he commenced it on the 21st night of Ramadhan. In view of this, these Ulama consider the odd nights to be the appropriate nights for Laylatul Qadr. One should, therefore, spend each and every night from the 20th onwards in worship of Allah, so that one may be sure of having got the Barakah of Ramadhan, Spending ten or eleven nights in devotion is definitely not so difficult, if one looks at the great reward that is promised. 5. Precise Knowledge of Laylatul Qadr was taken away o Ubaadah Ibn Saamit (Radiallaho Anho) said "Once the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) came out to inform us of the (correct date of) Laylatul Qadr. Unfortunately, a quarrel took place between two Muslims, whereupon He (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said 'I came out to inform you as to when Laylatul Qadr occurs, but because two people quarreled with each other, the knowledge of the correct date was taken away. Perhaps that is better for you. So, seek it among the ninth, seventh and fifth nights.'" Note: Three important points are referred to in this Hadith. Firstly it tells us of a quarrel, as a result of which the knowledge of the precise night of Laylatul Qadr was lost to us. Arguments and quarrels are always the cause of loss of blessings. Once Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) inquired of the Sahabah: "Shall I inform you of an action that is better than Salaah, fasting and charity?" The Sahabah replied: "Certainly." Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) then said" "Maintain peaceful and good relations amongst yourselves, for verily quarrels among yourselves destroy (shave off) faith," i.e. just as a razor shaves off the hair, so does quarrelling affect the Deen. Let alone the worldly people, even those among us who appear exceptionally religious and busy with Zikr are victims of these arguments and strife and are obstinate in their stand, in spite of the saying of Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam). In the first chapter of this book, we read how Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said that to insult a Muslim is indeed a serious crime and equivalent to the worst kind of usury , but we do not even spare a Muslim's honor or refrain from insults and little notice is taken of the injunctions of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) and His Rasul (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam). The Quran says: "And argue not among yourselves, otherwise you will lose courage and your strength will depart" (al-anfaal 46). It is now the duty of those who always seek to injure and destroy the honor and dignity of others to ponder and reflect how much harm they have, in fact, done to themselves, and think how much they have, through these despicable deeds, degraded themselves in Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's sight and in the sight of those around them. Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said that he who severs relations with a brother Muslim for more than three days and dies in this state, will go straight to Jahannam. In another Hadith, it is stated that on every Monday and Thursday, the actions of human beings are brought before Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala). Then through His mercy (as a result of certain good deeds), forgiveness is granted, except to the idolaters and those who set up equals to Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), However, regarding those two people between whom a quarrel has taken place, friendship having been cut off, it shall be said, "Leave their affair in suspense until such time as they become reconciled." Another Hadith states that, when actions are produced before Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) every Monday and Thursday, repentance is accepted from those who repent and forgiveness is granted to those who seek pardon. As for those who had arguments (with each other) they are left as they were. A Hadith further teaches us that, on the night of the 14th of the month of Shaban the mercy of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) is directed at all Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's creation and forgiveness is freely granted, except to two persons: One, a nonbeliever and the other, who harbors revenge against others. In another Hadith it is stated: "There are three people whose Salaah does not ascend even a span above their heads." Listed among these are those who quarrel among themselves. In the above few paragraphs, I have digressed from the point under discussion. It was not my intention to discuss all these Ahadith on quarrels or arguments. I merely did it to bring to your notice this great evil, which we ignore, so much so that even those whom we consider to be noble and righteous are guilty of it. On the other hand, it must be noted that this quarrelling, use of harsh words and cutting oneself off from one another is a crime and evil in Islam, only causes. It is permitted to break off relations with someone because of his evil deeds or because of some religious matter (wherein he is in the wrong and blamable). Ibn Umer (Radiallaho Anho) once quoted a saying of Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) to which his son said something that outwardly appeared as an objection to it. The results was that Ibn Umer never again spoke to that son, as long as he lived. There are several similar incidents related of the Sahabah. In our own cases, Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) is All-knowing, All-Wise and He alone knows the true state of affairs, as to which relations are broken off because of Deen and which because of our own honor, pride and dignity having been hurt. The second point to which the Hadith under discussion draws attention is the fact that man should be satisfied with and accept gladly. Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's ruling in all matters. For example, even though it seems that the loss of the knowledge as to when Laylatul Qadr actually falls is a great loss, yet it has to be accepted because it is from Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala). Because of this, Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said. "It is better for us that way." One should ponder over this. Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) is at all times Merciful to His slaves. Even when someone becomes overtaken by a great punishment because of his own evil deeds, he needs only appeal to His Creator, admit his own evil deeds, he needs only appeal to His Creator, admit his own weakness and that same punishment is made the cause for greater good. Our Ulama have pointed out quite a few advantages in our not knowing the precise date for Laylatul Qadr. First, had we known the actual location of this blessed night, there would have been many who would not have worshipped Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) at all during the other nights. As things are, one has to stay awake and be in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) for quite a number of nights, hoping that each night is perhaps the night. This means spending more nights in Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's worship and getting reward for these. Secondly, there are among us those who are just not able to avoid evil. How extremely dangerous and unfortunate for them would it be, when, in spite of knowing that such and such a night is Laylatul Qadr, they might still spend it in sin and evil? Once the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) on entering the Masjid, saw one of the Sahabah sleeping, He (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said to Ali (Radiallaho Anho) "Wake him up so that he can make Wudu". This Ali (Radiallaho Anho) did and then addressed the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) thus: "O Rasul of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) you are always the first to hasten towards any good deed. Why then did you not wake him up yourself?" To this the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied: "I feared lest this man may refuse and refusal to my command is Kufr , Denial of Deen. If he had refused your command, it would not be Kufr." Similarly, Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) in His mercy, does not wish that, in spite of knowing which night is the real one, a Muslim should still spend it in sin and evil. Thirdly, if we did know and in spite of that, for one reason or another, within or outside our control, we allowed that night to go by without worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) then it is very likely that thereafter, for the rest of Ramadhan, no other night would have been spent in worship, whereas now many people find it possible to spend one, two or three nights in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) because we do not know which is Laylatul Qadr. Fourthly , every night spent in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) in search of Laylatul Qadr is a night for which separate reward is promised. Fifthly, we have read that Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) speaks highly to His Angels about those believers who exert themselves in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) during Ramadhan, Now more such occasions of receiving Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's appreciation arise. In spite of not knowing when the real night of Laylatul Qadr is and, although they have only a vague idea about its fixed time, still they exert themselves to the utmost in Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's service, night after night. If such then is their exertion when Laylatul Qadr is not known, how much more will they exert themselves were it made known to them. There are other advantages also. it is common knowledge that Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) often keeps certain things secret, as for example, the Al-Ism Al-Azam (the Great Name of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), whereby if we call upon Him, He answers). Similar is the case of that special moment on Friday when a Muslim's Dua 's are accepted, this time, too, is not known with complete certainty. The third point to which attention is drawn in the Hadith is the fact that Laylatul Qadr should be sought among three nights: The ninth, seventh and fifth. By reading this together with the other Ahadith, we come to know that this refers to the last ten nights of Ramadhan. So to determine which nights are these, if we start from the 20th, counting upwards, then these three nights are the 25th, 27th and 29th. If, on the other hand, we start counting from the 29th backwards (where Ramadhan has 29 days) these nights would be the 21st, 23rd and 25th, but it Ramadhan has 30 days, then these would be the 22nd, 24th and 26th nights. >From the above, one can see how much uncertainty there is about the correct >date, and in fact, among the learned Ulama, there are approximately fifty >different opinions. Because of this, some Ulama have said Laylatul Qadr does >not fall on one and the same night every year. If in this particular year, it >falls on a particular night, then the following year it will fall on another >night. There are times when the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) commanded the Sahabah to search among a number of nights, whereas at other times he used to fix a certain night. Abu Hurairah (Radiallaho Anho) reports that once during a conversation with the Sahabah, someone spoke of Laylatul Qadr. Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) asked: "What is the date to day?" They replied: "The 22nd of Ramadhan." The Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said: "Search for Laylatul Qadr in the night following this day." Abu Zarr (Radiallaho Anho) reports, "I inquired of the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) whether Laylatul Qadr was only granted during the lifetime of Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) or whether it would continue to come after him, Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied: It will continue until the day of Qiyamah.' I then inquired in which section of Ramadhan does it come? The Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied, 'Search for it in the first ten and in the last tens days.'" "Thereafter the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) became busy with other work. I waited and finding another chance inquired: 'In which section of those ten days Laylatul Qadr comes? Upon this, Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) became angry with me, as He (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) had never been before and said "If it had been Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's wish to make it known, would He not have informed us? Search for it among the last seven nights, and ask no more.'" In another Hadith again, Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) is reported to have told one Sahabi that Laylatul Qadr was on the 23rd night. Ibn Abbas (Radiallaho Anho) related: "While sleeping once, someone said to me in my dream: 'Rise up, this is Laylatul Qadr,' I woke up and proceeded in hast to Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) and I found him in Salaah. That was the 23rd night." According to other reports again, the 24th was Laylatul Qadr. Abdullah Ibn Masood (Radiallaho Anho) said: "Whoever remains all the nights of the year in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) can find Laylatul Qadr. (In other words, the blessed night moves throughout the year and does not necessarily have to come in Ramadhan only). When this was related to Ubay Ibn Kaab (Radiallaho Anho) he said: "Yes, Ibn Masood 's meaning is that people may not stay awake just on this night and become contented." Thereafter he swore by Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) that Laylatul Qadr comes on the 27th. This is also the view held by numerous Sahabah as well as Taabiees. What Ibn Masood and Ubay (Radiallaho Anho) actually meant was that the person who remains in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) all the nights of the year will certainly realize when Laylatul Qadr is. Among the Imams, a well-known opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah (Rehmatullah Alaihi) is that Laylatul Qadr moves throughout the year, while another view of his is that it moves about throughout the month of Ramadhan. His famous student-followers, Imam Mohammed and Imam Abu Yusuf, however, were of the opinion that the night is fixed on one specific night (which is unknown) during the month of Ramadhan, while scholars of the Shaafi school of Islamic law believe that very likely it occurs on the 21st. Imam Ahmed and Imam Maalik ( Rehmatullah Alaihi) hold the view that it comes among the last ten nights of Ramadhan, shifting from year to year and not fixed. But the vast majority of the Ulama, consider it most likely that Laylatul Qadr comes annually on the 27th (of Ramadhan). Ibn Arabi (Rehmatullah Alaihi) says: "In my opinion, the view of those who believer that Laylatul Qadr comes on various nights throughout the year is most likely correct, because twice I have seen it in in the month of Shaban, once on the 15th and once on the 19th and twice I have seen it in the middle ten nights of Ramadhan, the 13th and the 18th, and I have seen it on every odd night of the last ten. For this reason, I am certain it moves over all nights throughout the year, but comes mostly in Ramadhan." Shah Waliullah of Delhi believed that Laylatul Qadr comes twice every year (a) One Laylatul Qadr is that one on which Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's commands are revealed (to the Angels); this is also the night on which the Quran was copied from the original and brought down to the first sky. This night does not come in Ramadhan alone, but shifts and can come on any other night of the year. However, the particular night on which the Quran was revealed fell in Ramadhan. (b) The second Laylatul Qadr is the one of tremendous spiritual value, when Angels descend in large numbers, while shayateen are held back and when Dua is answered. This night comes only in Ramadhan, during the various odd nights of the last ten days. (This view of Shah Waliullah used to be most acceptable to my father). Anyway, whether there are two Laylatul Qadr or whether there is only one, the fact still remains that one has to search for it, if not throughout the year, then at least in Ramadhan. Should that prove difficult, then at least during the last ten days. When that, too, seems a bit too much for us, then at least the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days. In case one has missed some of these too, then the 27th should not be allowed to go by. Thus, if by good fortune one is blessed with finding the night, then it would outweigh all comforts and enjoyable things in the world. Even if one fails to get the much searched for night, then at least the reward for the worship is received. At least efforts should be made that the Salaah of Maghrib is received. At least efforts should be made that the Salaah of Maghrib and Isha throughout the year is performed with Jamaah because if it is Laylatul Qadr the reward for both is so much more. It is a great blessing of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) that when one makes an effort for religious aims and cannot meet with success, he is still rewarded for the efforts. But is spite of this, how few are those who would make every effort in the service of Deen? On the other hand, in worldly affairs when one's efforts do not bear fruit, then these efforts are written off as a loss. In spite of this, numerous people continue to spend their time, efforts and wealth in worldly pursuits that are fruitless and without worthwhile purpose and do not hold forth any such sure reward. 6. Signs of Laylatul Qadr o Ubadah Ibn Saamit (Radiallaho Anho) reports that he asked Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) about Laylatul Qadr, He (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied "It is in Ramadhan, during the last ten days on the unevenly numbered nights, either 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or the last night of Ramadhan. Whosoever stands in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) on this night with sincere faith and with genuine hopes of gaining reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. Among the sighs of this night is that it is a serene, quiet, shining night, neither hot, nor cold but temperate as if a moon is shining clear and no meteors are shot at the Shayateen on that night. It lasts until the break of the dawn. Another sign is that at morn, the sun rises without any radiant beams of light, appearing rather like the moon in its fullness. On that day, Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) prohibits the Shayateen from rising up with the sun." Note: Part of what has been stated in this Hadith has already been dealt with. Some signs are here related about the actual night. These signs are clear and need no further explanation. Apart from these, there are other signs too, as stated in Ahadith or in the experiences of those who had the good fortune to experience Laylatul Qadr. The sign that is, however, most specific in the Hadith is the rising of the sun, without any radiant beams of light. Other signs are not always there. One Sahabi Abdah Ibn Abi Lubaaba (Radiallaho Anho) says: "On the evening of the 27th , I tasted the water of the sea and it was sweet." Ayyoob Ibn Khalid said: "I once had to bath myself with sea water and on tasting it, found it sweet. This was on the 23rd night." Some of the Mashaikh wrote that on the evening of Laylatul Qadr, everything does Sajdah before Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), so much so that trees fall flat on the ground, then return to their normal position, there are, however, spiritual phenomena not visible to the ordinary person. "Virtues of Ramadhaan" available online http://www.muslimwebpage.com __________________________________________________________________ Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/
