EXCELLENCE OF SHAB-E-QADR (LAILAT-UL-QADR)

'Abdullah b. Unais reported Allah's Messenger (may peace beupon him) as saying: I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr; then I was made to forget it, and saw that I was prostrating in water and clay in the morning of that (night). He (the narrator) said: There was a downpour on the twenty-third night and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) led us in prayer, and as he went back, there was a trace of water and clay on his forehead and on his nose. He (the narrator) said: 'Abdullah b. Unais used to say that it was the twenty-third (night).

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Zirr b. Habaish reported: I thu asked Ubayy b. Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him): Your brother (in faith) Ibn Mas'ud says: He who stands (for the night prayer) throughout the year would find Lailat-ul-Qadr, whereupon he said: May Allah have mercy upon him; (he said these words) with the intention that people might not rely only (on one night), whereas he knew that it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) is in the month of Ramadan and it is the twenty-seventh night. He then took oath (without making any exception, i. e. without saying Innsha Allah) that it was the twenty-seventh night. I said to him: Abu Mundhir, on what ground do you say that? Thereupon he said: By the indication or by the sign which the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) gave us, and that is that on that day (the sun) would rise without having any ray in it.

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'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and Ibn Numair reported Allah's Mes- senger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Look for (and in the words of Waki, seek) Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

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Salim b. 'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that his father said: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: So far as Lailat-ul-Qadr is concerned. some persons among you have seen it (in a dream) in the first week and some persons among you have been shown that it is in the last week; so seek it in the last ten (nights).

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Essence of Obedience in Laylatul Qadr

From the outset, for an act or deed to be considered a proper worship, 'ebadah, it must contain two things:

(1) Sincerity (Ikhlas). It must be offered simply for the sole purpose of pleasing Allah (SWT) and seeking His pleasure.
Allah, said: “And they have been commanded no more than this, to worship Allah offering Him sincere devo­tion...” (Al-Qur`an 98:5).

(2) It must be done in accordance with the commands of Allah (SWT) and the practice of the Messenger of Allah (saas); that is what is called obedience (mutaaba'ah).
Allah (SWT) states: “Say: if you do love Allah, follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. For Allah is oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al-Qur`an 3:31)

This verse indicates whoever claims to love Allah without fol­lowing the commands of the Messenger, his claims are lies. To be a true lover of Allah one has to obey, and his deeds must mirror those of the Messenger of Allah (saas). This is why many scholars call this verse the verse of trial, because we have been tried to see whether we will obey or not.
The Messenger said: “Whoever does a deed without our command, it will be rejected.” (Muslim/Bukhari)

To achieve the essence of obedience, six points must be con­sidered. I call them the essence of obedience.
(1) REASON( SABABB),

(2) METHOD (KAYFIYYAH),

(3) KIND (JINS),

(4) AMOUNT (QADAR),

(5) PLACE (MAKAAN), and

(6) TIME (ZAMAAN).

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When to find the Night Shab-e-Qadr (Laylatul Qadr)?

The majority of the scholars who agreed that the night occurs in the month of Ramadan, disagreed on the exact night. Some said it comes on the first day of Ramadan. Others said it is on the seventh; while others say its on the 19th night. All these opinions are not built on sound proof. There is evidence that the night comes on the last ten days of Ramadan, specifically on the odd numbered nights.

In a report by Bukhari, the Mes­senger of Allah (saas) said: “Seek it on the odd nights of the last ten days of Rama­dan.”

In a hadith by Ibn Umar (raa), some men among the compan­ions saw the night in a dream occurring in the last seven nights.
Responding to this, the Messenger of Allah (saas) told them, “I see your dreams coincide on the last seven, whoever wants to seek it should do so in the last seven.” (Agreed upon)

In Muslim's report, the Prophet (saas) said, “Seek the night in the last ten days, and if any of you is weak, or can't observe it, he should not miss the remain­ing seven days.”

In Hadith by Ubayy bin Ka'ab (raa), he said: “By Allah, I know which night it is. It is the night the Messenger commanded us to observe, the night of the 27th.” (Ahmed/Tirmidhi)

Analyzing all these citations indicates still no one knows for sure which night is the Night of Power, at least in a given year. It seems that the night shifts and rotates to different nights from one year to another. It may occur on the 27th in one year, while the next year it will be on the 25th, while on the following year it will be occurring on the 29th, etc.

There is an indication to this in hadith by Bukhari, when the Messenger of Allah (saas) states:
“Seek it on the twenty-ninth; it may be on the twenty-seventh, or on the twenty-fifth.”

Imam Ibn Hajr, in his book, “Fathul Bari”, in the commentary of the Book of Bukhari, said:
“I accept the ruling that the night occurs on the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, namely the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh and or twenty-ninth.”

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The special night - Laylat al-Bara’ah

Laylat al-Bara’ah : The special night

On this auspicious night, you should perform fresh Ghusal and Wudhu and perform the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu. In every Rakaat, after the Suratul Fatiha, you should read Ayatul Kursi once and Surah Ahad 3 times. Also perform eight Rakaats of Salah with four Salaams.In each Rakaat after the Surah Fatiha, you should read the Ayatul Kursi (once) and Surah Ahad fifty times.

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) has stated: “Verily! Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on this Night. He forgives my Ummah more than the number of wool that is found on the sheep of the Bani Kalb”. We should remember that in those days the Bani Kalb possessed the most number of sheep that any other tribe.

How great is the Mercy of Almighty Allah on this night that He forgives millions of Muslims. We also realise from this that these numbers can only pertain to the Ahl as-Sunnah Wah Jama’ah collectively, for the righteous followers of the Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali indeed number millions of Muslims.

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu ta’ala alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Almighty
Allah forgives all Muslims on this night, besides the fortune tellers, the
magicians, the alcoholics, those who disrespect their parents and those
who take part and encourage adultery”.

In another narration, the following people have also been mentioned:

1. One who deals in usury (Riba),

2. One who wears his trousers below his ankle with pride and arrogance )In Arabia, people displayed their wealth and boasted in this manner),

3. One who creates disunity among two Muslims,

4. The person who unjustly takes away the right and property of another Muslim and has not yet rectified himself.

Hadrat Ghawth al-A’zam, Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) has mentioned in his famous”Gunyat-ut Talibeen” that the month of Shaban according to some narrations is related to Rasoolullah (salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam). So, it is our duty, as the Ummat of Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu ta’ala alayhi wa Sallam) to love and respect this month more than any other month (besides Ramadan). We should also offer abundantly salutations (Salaat-o-Salaam) upon the Most Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu ta’ala alayhi wa Sallam).

Also read:

• Shab-e-Baraat : Night of Salvation
• Prayers for Shab-e-Baraat
• Nafil Salaah on Shab-e-Baraat

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Nafil Salaah to be read on Shab-e-Baraat

Basharat of Jannat : Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) is reported to have said that Allah Ta’ala instructs and assigns 100 angels to the person who performs 100 Nafil Salaahs on this auspicious night – 30 of which will bring the good news of Jannat, 30 angels to protect one from the Azaab (Punishment) of Dozakh (Hell), 30 to remove all misfortunes and miseries of this world and 10 angels to protect one from Shaitaan.

The Guardian of Imaan : After performing Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. In the first rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah Falaq once.In the second rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah Naas once. After Salam, make Du’a and ask Allah to protect your Imaan.

Barakah in Rizq : After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Thereafter, read Surah Yasin once, Surah Ikhlaas 21 times and Du’a Nisf Shabaan once. Then, make Du’a for Barakah in Rozi and ask Allah not to make you dependent on anyone.

Long Life filled with Piety : After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Read Surah Yasin once. Then read Du’a Nisf Shabaan once. Thereafter, make Du’a for long life filled with piety and righteousness.

Reward for ten thousand good Deeds : Anyone who performs 20 rakaahs of Nafil after Maghrib in such a way that after Surah Fatiha, recites Surah Ikhlaas 10 times in every rakaah, will be rewarded abundantly by Allah Ta’ala, and ten thousand good deeds will be recorded in his Amal Namaa (Book of Deeds).

Death with complete Faith/Imaan : Anyone who performs 2 rakaahs of Nafil on the last Friday of Shabaan between Maghrib and Esha will die with full faith and Imaan. After Surah Fatiha, one should read Ayatul Kursi once, Surah Ikhlaas 10 times and Surah Falaq and Surah Naas once in both rakaahs. If the person who reads Nafil in such a way dies until the next Shabaan, will die with Imaan, Inshaa-Allah.

The performing of Salaatul Tasbeeh on this night is also very virtuous.

Click here to know about Nawafil Namaz and Dua-e-Nisf-e-Shabaan

• Prayers for Shab-e-Baraat

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Shab-e-Baraat : Night of Salvation

Shab-e-Baraat : Night of Salvation

The 15th night of Shabaan is a very blessed night. According to the Hadith Shareef, the name of this Mubarak night is “Nisf Shabaan” which means 15th night of Shabaan. The reason for this special night to attain its name of Laylat al-Bara’ah, meaning the Night of Salvation, Seeking Freedom from Azaab and Calamity, is that in this night the Barkaat and acceptance of repentance may be accomplished. Laylat al-Baraa’ah in Persian, as well as in Urdu, is called Shab-e Bara’at.

There is one night in the year when Allah (Soobha Nahu Wata’ala) gives the knowledge to the Angels, about what is going to happen in the following year, for example, who is going to die, who will be born, who will be ill and how much food people will have in the year, etc.
Hazrat ALI (radi Allahu ta’ala anhu) has said:"o people,spend the 15th night of shabaan in divine worship and keep fast on the 15th day of shabaan. on this auspicious night,ALLAH spreads HIS mercy on the earth and calls out:'IS THERE ANY WHO SEEKS CURE FROM ILLNESS THAT I MAY CURE HIM?Thus HE calls the needy ,and grants them their needs,up till dawn." (ibn majah)

A’la Hadrat, Imam Ahmad Rida Fadil e-Bareilly (radi Allahu ta’ala anhu) has given a beautiful advise in this regard. This great Imam said: “Verily the auspicious night of Shab-e- Bara’a is drawing near when the deeds of the slave will be presented to the Almighty Allah. I humbly supplicate in the Darbar-e-Aqdas of the Almighty Allah that through the Wasila-e-Uzma of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (Salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam) He forgives the sins and transgressions of all Muslims. Aameen.

Imam Tirmidhi writes:
Aisha Radi Allahu unha said: “On this night the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] went to Jannat-ul-Baqee to make du’a, I followed him. The Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] said to me: Allah puts His attention towards the first Heaven, and forgives the sins of the people, even if they were equivalent to the hairs of the goats of Bunn Qalb. (A tribe who at the time had a lot of goats) [ Tirmidhi , Kitab-us-Siyaam]

Hazrat ABU BAKR (radi Allahu ta’ala anhu) said:"on the night of shabaan,ALLAH spreads HIS mercy on the earth and pardons all the sinners except the Polytheist,the Hypocrites and those who harbour ill-feeling towards their brethren." (baihaqi)

Further,a special point must also be made to visit the cemetery on this night and spend a long time there,reading and praying for the deceased.
Finally,on the 13th,14th,and 15th of this month one must fast not only to end one's AMAL NAMA with a good deed and begin the new AMAL NAMA with a good deed,but also because the Holy Prophet(PBUH)has said:"O PEOPLE,LIGHTEN AND CLEANSE THY BIDIES BY WAY OF FASTING DURING SHABAAN,SO THAT IS SHALL BE EASY AND HELPFUL TO YOU FOR THE FASTING DURING RAMADAAN.WHO SO FASTS THREE DAYS DURING SHABAAN,ALL HIS PAST SINS ARE WIPED OFF."

“On this occasion, it should be the duty of all Sunni Muslims to forgive one another and to make sure that whatever debts owed to one another is settled. The importance of Huqooq al-Ibaad cannot be over-emphasised as this is among the pre-requisites for proper Ibaadat. I pray that all Muslims humbly remember this night and try as much as possible to perform Ibaadat and other pious deeds so that their Record of Deeds be presented in all dignity.

Also read

Prayers for Shab-e-Baraat

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