The Pursuit of Laylatul Qadr

 

الحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، أما بعد

 

Shaikh ‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said: “Allaah has distinguished this month with Laylatul Qadr, regarding which Allaah, The Most High, revealed an entire Soorah pertaining to its virtue. He, The Most High, said:

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ* وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ* لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ* تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ* سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ

((Indeed; We sent it [the Qur’aan] down in the Night of Al-Qadr [Decree]. And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr [Decree] is? The Night of Al-Qadr [Decree] is better than a thousand months. The Angels and the Rooh [Jibreel] descend therein by permission of their Lord with every matter. Peace! It is until the appearance of dawn.)) (Al-Qadr: 1-5)

 

He, The Most High, said likewise:

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ * فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ * أَمْرًا مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ * رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

((Indeed, We sent it [the Qur’aan] down on a blessed night. Verily, We are ever warning. Therein [that night] is decreed every matter of ordainment.­­­­­­­­­­­­­ A command from Us. Verily; We are ever sending [the Messengers]. As a Mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing.)) (Ad-Dukhaan: 3-6)”[1]

 

The Shaikh (rahimahullaah) stated likewise: “Laylatul Qadr – in it the door is opened and the dearest are brought near and the discourse is heard and the reply is given and for those who apply themselves to endeavour; there is written within it an immense reward. Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months, so strive hard, may Allaah have mercy upon you in its pursuit. For this is the time for pursuit, and beware of negligence, for in negligence there is ruin.”[2]

 

Standing in Prayer on Laylatul Qadr

 

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) who said that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

مَن قَامَ لَيْلَةَ القَدْرِ إيمَانًا واحْتِسَابًا، غُفِرَ له ما تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنْبِهِ

((Whoever stands [in prayer] in Laylatul Qadr out of true faith and seeking reward, then his previous sins will be forgiven for him.))[3]

 

Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: “Its standing is done by way of the prayer and by making dhikr and by supplicating and reciting the Qur’aan and other than that from the aspects of good.”[4]

He said likewise: “Whoever stands in all ten nights out of true faith and seeking reward, then he accomplishes this night without doubt, and he succeeds with that which its people have been promised.”[5]

Shaikh ‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said: “From the virtues of Laylatul Qadr is that which has been established in the Saheehayn from the hadeeth of Abee Hurairah (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) who said that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

مَن قَامَ لَيْلَةَ القَدْرِ إيمَانًا واحْتِسَابًا، غُفِرَ له ما تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنْبِهِ

((Whoever stands [in prayer] in Laylatul Qadr out of true faith and seeking reward, then his previous sins will be forgiven for him.))

 

So his saying: ((Out of true faith and seeking reward)) meaning: true faith in Allaah and in that which Allaah has prepared by way of reward for those who stand (in prayer) within it, as well as seeking reward and pursuing merit.”[6]

 

The Factors to the Attainment of Forgiveness During Ramadhaan Are More so – and From Them is the Standing on Laylatul Qadr

 

Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) said: “The month of Ramadhaan; within it the factors to the attainment of forgiveness become plentiful, so from the factors of forgiveness within it is: fasting within it and standing (in prayer) within it and standing (in prayer) on Laylatul Qadr.”[7]

He said likewise: “Since the factors to the attainment of forgiveness become plentiful in Ramadhaan, then the one who has forgiveness elude him within it is deprived in the utmost deprivation.”[8]

 

The Wisdom in Why the Exact Night Upon Which Laylatul Qadr Falls Each Year Has Not Been Made Known

 

Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr (rahimahullaah) said: “The scholars have stated that wisdom in the concealment of Laylatul Qadr is so that exertion comes about in its search, in contrast to if there had been a night which was specified for it, since a person would limit oneself to it.”[9]

Shaikh ‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said: “Allaah, The Mighty and Majestic, has hidden it from His servants due to two great points of wisdom:

The first of them: is so that the diligent one becomes manifest in its quest – the one who strives in each night – so that he may attain it.

The second point of wisdom: is that the people should increase in righteous action and that by way of it they draw close to their Lord and benefit by way of it.”[10]

 

Seek Out Laylatul Qadr in Prayer – The Attainment of Forgiveness is Still Possible at the End of Ramadhaan

 

Ibn al-Jawzee (rahimahullaah) said: “My brothers; by Allaah; one would not be going to excesses in pursuing it over ten (nights), no by Allaah; not even a month; no by Allaah; not even a lifetime. So strive hard in pursuit, for perhaps a diligent one may well achieve.”[11]

To conclude; Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said: “The people of integrity; in their conclusions they are stauncher in exertion than in their initiations.”[12]

 

وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين

 

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[1] Al-Liqaa-aat ar-Ramadhaaniyyah p.773-774

[2] Majaalis Shahr Ramaadhaan p.255

[3] Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (no.1901) and Muslim (no.759)

[4] Majmu’ Fataawaa vol 15 p.426

[5] Majmu’ Fataawaa vol 15 p.427

[6] Majaalis Shahr Ramadhaan p.252

[7] Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif p.210

[8] Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif p.211

[9] Fathul Baaree vol 4 p.315

[10] Majmu’ Fataawa vol 14 p.230

[11] At-Tabsirah vol 2 p.106

[12] Madaarij as-Saalikeen vol 3 p.122