| This blessed
night is also called the night of Power. It is the
particular night in the month of Ramadhan when the Holy
Quran first began to be revealed. The Holy Quran states:
|
| "The month
of Ramadhan is the month in which the Quran began to be
revealed, the Book which comprises guidance for mankind and
clear proofs of guidance and divine signs which descriminate
between truth and falsehood ... "(2:186) |
| |
| The translation
of first verses which were revealed to the Holy Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, were the following: |
| 'Recite in
the name of thy Lord Who created everthing. He created man
from a clot of blood. Recite, for thy Lord is Most
Beneficent, Who has taught by the pen, taught man that which
he knew not.' (96:2-6) |
| |
| The Holy
Prophet, peace be upon him, was forty years of age at that
time. |
| |
| The Holy Quran
regards the Night of Decree as better that one thousand
months. In chapter 97 it states: |
| |
|
Translation: |
| 'In the name
of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. Surely, We sent down
the Quran during the Night of Decree. |
| How would you
know what the Night of Decree is? |
| |
| Therein
descends angelsand the Spirit by the command of their Lord
with their Lord's decree concerning every matter. It is all
peace, till the break of dawn. |
| |
| The Holy
Prophet is reported to have said: |
| "Look for
the Night of Decree among the odd nights of the last ten
days of the month of Ramadhan." |
| |
| In fact the
whole month of Ramadhan is a period of spiritual training
wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting.
Prayers, frequent recitations of the Holy Quran and
remembrance of Allah, as well as charity and goodwill, but
during the last ten days of the month they strive more to
worship God Almighty and to do good deeds. |
| |
| The believers
gather in the mosque in large numbers for Prayers and spend
these nights in remembrance of Allah, asking forgiveness for
their shortcomings and looking for the blessed night with
the firm belief that God accepts the prayers of the
supplicant readily during this night. |
| |
| Those who can
afford to devote the whole of their time in the remembrance
of Allah, stay in the mosque for ten days. This worship is
called I'tikaf or Retreat. They observe fast during the day
and occupy themselves with the remembrance of Allah,
performing voluntary Prayers and studying the Holy Quran,
day and night, apart from the obligatory Prayers which they
perform with the congregation. Food and other necessities of
life are provided for them during their stay in the mosque,
thus they my not leave the precincts of the mosque except
for a genuine religious purpose. |
| |
| Devoting their
time thus fully to the remembrance of Allah, they hope to
receive the divine favors and blessings connected with the
blessed night. |
| |
| The Holy
Prophet, peace be upon him, was very particular in this
regard. It is related that when the last ten days of
Ramadhan began, he used to keep awake the whole night and
was most diligent in worship. |
| |
| Ayesha, the
wife of the Holy Prophet, once asked him, "Messanger of
Allah, tell me, in case I should realize which night is the
Night of Decree, how should I supplicate in it? He answered:
Supplicate; Allah, Thou art Most Forgiving and does love
forgiveness, the do Thou forgive me' (Tirmidhi)
|
