Laila tul Qadar, some specific clarifications

[Zaman Sharf]

AsSalam Aleiykum.  Request you to provide me with post with information on Laila tul Qadar which is approaching soon InshAllah on April 17th night.  Feedback for specific question I’m looking for are

1. Does Surah Al Qadar state that worshiping on the night of Laila tul Qadar is equivalent to 1000 months (i.e. 83 yrs)?  According to our imams worshiping Allah on this one night equals to a lifespan of worship (83 yrs) which is the reason why everyone is so enthusiastic about this night. 

2. Tradition says  Leilatul Qadr in last 10 odd nights.   Some scholars also claim based on traditional talk that Leila tul Qadr could be in the final 20 odd nights of Ramadan.  These opinions are very widespread.  How much of it is consistent with the Quran?

3. Praying ins in Laila tul Qadr with true devotion for the sake of Allah only  will have all their previous sins forgiven.  Is this from the Quran?

[Ruhi_Rose]

Walaykum As-Salam.   Certainly, we already have lots of information here @ MV on Leilatul Qadr.  Alhumdulilah.   Please read our post Leila tul Qadr.

2. Tradition says  Leilatul Qadr in last 10 odd nights.   Some scholars also claim based on traditional talk that Leila tul Qadr could be in the final 20 odd nights of Ramadan.  These opinions are very widespread.  How much of it is consistent with the Quran? 

Nothing of that is consistent with the Noble Quran.  These are all non-Quranic info and guesses from ahadith and the imagination of 13th and 14th century ulemas.  Surah Al- Qadr gives no reasons at all to presume any of this.  Such non-Quranic contents are no confirmation of Truth.  It would be a transgression to accept such unwarranted stuff.

1. Does Surah Al Qadar state that worshiping on the night of Laila tul Qadar is equivalent to 1000 months (i.e. 83 yrs)?  According to our imams worshiping Allah on this one night equals to a lifespan of worship (83 yrs) which is the reason why everyone is so enthusiastic about this night. 


3. Praying ins in Laila tul Qadr with true devotion for the sake of Allah only  will have all their previous sins forgiven.  Is this from the Quran?

First off, how much of anyone’s sins are forgiven at any time is only known to Allah and confirmed by Him.  No one else has the knowledge nor the authority to make any declarations about it.

Secondly it should also be known that the expression “thousand months” in Arabic language does not literally denote one thousand by the count. The expression basically stands for many, many nights.

Thirdly, Surah Al Qadr, the 97th Chapter of the Noble Quran which is the only one that speaks on the Night of Qadr doesn’t say that.  Verse 97:3 which states “The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months.” is often viewed as the infinite reward for praying on this Night. In my opinion, this is not an accurate interpretation.  Allah Almighty wants us to pray as much as we can throughout the very significant and blessed month of Ramadan.  He has not picked any particular day or days stating we should pray more or much more on those days.  When Allah says that the Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months, it refers to the very significant spiritual event of that Night elucidated in the following Ayats of the same Surah, quote: “The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Rab, with all decrees.  (The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.”  97:4-5.  This is the reason why this Night is so very important, making it different that all other nights which Allah describes as “better than a thousand months.” The exact nature of the decrees on this Night is known to Allah only.  Some readers of the Quran have surmised that the reference is to the decrees of The Almighty for the entire following year.  But only Allah knows the exact details in this regard.

Last but not least, it’s something to reflect upon.  If praying on the Night of Qadr was that much more rewarding than any other night including any other night of Ramadan, then wouldn’t The Almighty decide to inform us about this precise day?  Wouldn’t Allah Almighty want to make it easy for His slaves to benefit from this Night?  Allah has already said He has not placed any hardships in religion.  So, why would Allah keep the exact date of this Night a secret?  The answer is, Allah wants us to offer salah and du’a everyday of Ramadan to the best of our endeavours.  The revelation of the Noble Quran started on one specific day of the month of Ramadan.  We don’t know which day that is.  However we may, if we wish, pick any particular night in the month of Ramadan to dedicate it to that specific Night and pray still more.  But we surely need to pray a lot throughout the month of Ramadan.  How much reward we earn throughout Ramadan is known to Allah only.  Thus we supplicate to Allah Almighty to accept our efforts for the blessed month.

[Kerim O.]

Is it true that listening to Quran recitation is not as rewarding because you are not reciting yourself;  therefor reciting yourself is more rewarding?

[Ruhi_Rose]

It all depends on the level of one’s sincerity.  If you are listening to the recitation with complete devotion to Allah Almighty and concentration, Insh’Allah, I am sure it will be very rewarding.  Similarly if someone is reciting the Quran with little concentration and a wandering mind, it might not be too rewarding.
 
Again, this aspect is only up to Allah Almighty to judge and decide.

[Zaman Sharf]

Thank you very much sister ruhi rose.   That link is very interesting but I haven’t yet read the full thread as it’s quite long but will IA continue.

Quoting your comment as given.
 “When Allah says that the Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months, it refers to the very significant spiritual event of that Night elucidated in the following Ayats of the same Surah, quote: “The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Rab, with all decrees.  (The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.”  97:4-5.  This is the reason why this Night is so very important, making it different that all other nights which Allah describes as “better than a thousand months.” “

Since Allah has confirmed that  Laila tul Qadar is special, based on that, will it not be beneficial to  offer additional prayers on this night?

[N. Truth Seeker]

.....

Since Allah has confirmed that  Laila tul Qadar is special, based on that, will it not be beneficial to  offer additional prayers on this night?

Yes certainly it's a very positive approach to offer additional salah and reading of the Noble Quran on Leilatul Qadr.  Actually the sister already clarified this point in the second paragraph of her comments quote "However we may, if we wish, pick any particular night in the month of Ramadan to dedicate it to that specific Night and pray still more.  But we surely need to pray a lot throughout the month of Ramadan."   We need to remember two aspects here.  First, we don't know the precise Night of Qadr so we can either pick any night of Ramadan for additional worship or pick the same night between 26th and 27th as per tradition for the purpose of unanimity.  Secondly, it may not literally mean that prayers offered on this Night are equivalent to prayers offered in a total of 1,000 nights or 83 years.  It is very likely that the Divine reference is to the descension of the angels with the Decrees of Allah which makes this Night better or more valuable than 1,000 nights or many, many nights.

And Allah knows best.

[Zaman Sharf]

I see, jazekAllah khair. 

The other thing I want to know, can anyone kindly give some suitable dua's to be offered during Laila tul Qadar qiyam?

[N. Truth Seeker]

Yes of course.  It's best to start with Quranic dua's.   There is nothing specific, you can select your own dua's. There are so many beautiful supplications in the Quran that you will find it hard to decide which ones to choose.  Among the 4 very popular Quranic dua's (out of many more) chosen by me and my family are the following:

(2:201)  رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
"Our Rabb, give unto us in the world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and guard us from the doom of Fire." 


رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ  (2:286)
"Our Rabb, impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear."


(23:118)  رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
"My Rabb, forgive and have mercy, for You are Best of all who show mercy."


(28:24)  رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
"My Rabb, I am needy of whatever good You send down for me."


For transliteration (that is, if you want to read the original Arabic Words of the Quran in English alphabets) you will find it at Corpus Quran or Transliteration.org

After reciting the Quranic supplications, if you wish you can also supplicate to Allah Almighty about something particular or specific which is significant in your life. Do so by all means in your own words and in your own language.  Speaking to Allah The Greatest by pouring our hearts before Him is undoubtedly the best way to try to acquire what we wish.  Alhumdulilah.

[Zaman Sharf]

Big thanks, JazekAllah khair, may Allah reward u. 

[Tamim Usmani]

Jzk.  May Allah Subhan Wa'Tala accept our efforts.   Eid Mubarak in advance to all.