By Allah’s special grace, we are now in the most virtuous part of Ramadan; the last ten days of the holy month during which sinning Muslims are liberated from Hell fire. This is when believers are at the peak of ibadah (worship). Within this concluding period of Ramadan is a night that is better than a thousand months. This virtuous night is called “Laylat ul-Qadr;” meaning “The Night of Power.” Tomorrow, Monday being the 24th day of Ramadan and the night of 25th, would be a plausible day for Muslims to strive in worship and prayers seeking mercy and forgiveness of their sins from Allah. Allah (SWT) asserts in Qur’an 97:3 that the ibadah (worship) observed by a Muslim on (the night of) Laylat ul-Qadr is better than all the devoutions offered in a thousand regular months that are not Laylat ul-Qadr.
In His wisdom, however, Allah (SWT) concealed the knowledge of the exact night of Laylat ul-Qadr (just as He hides other forms of knowledge mentioned in Qur’an 31:34) from us. Aisha (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Search for Laylat ul-Qadr in the last ten days of Ramadan”. Imam Malik (RA) reports in his Muwatta that Ziyad related from Malik that he heard a man of knowledge say, “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) was shown the lifespan of the people (who have gone) before him and it seemed the lifecycle of his ummah (community) had comparatively become too short for them (to have enough time) to put forth as many good deeds as those before them did. So, Allah gave him Laylat ul-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months”.
Imam Malik (RA) reports in his magnum opus, the Muwatta, that Ziyad related from Malik that he heard a man he trusted of the people of knowledge say, “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) was shown the lifespan of the people (who had gone) before him and it was as if the lifecycle of his Ummah (community) had comparatively become too short for them (to have enough time) to put forth as many good deeds as those before them did. So, Allah gave him Laylat ul-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months”.
Many scholars share the view that Laylat ul-Qadr falls on either the night of 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th which are the odd days in the last ten days of Ramadan. In practical terms, Muslims are encouraged to search for Laylat ul-Qadr on the night preceding the odd days listed above. Many scholars opine that Laylat ul-Qadr occurs on the 27th day of Ramadan. A School of Thought that shares this view goes further to explain that the Arabic letters which make up the Arabic phrase “Laylat ul-Qadr” are nine in number, and that the phrase occurs three times in the holy Qur’an. It gives a total of 27 when nine is multiplied by 3; buttressing 27th of Ramadan as Laylat ul-Qadr. No restrictions are placed on a Muslim as to which particular form of worship to engage in on this virtuous day.
It is, nonetheless, profitable if a Muslim diversifies his ibadah as to include tilawah (recitation the holy Qur’an), observing nafilah (superogatory) prayers generally called Tahajjud after midnight; seeking for forgiveness; glorifying Allah’s name through Tasbih (saying of ‘Suhana-llah’); or Takbir (saying of ‘Allahu Akbar’); or Tahlil (saying of ‘La ilaha ila-llah’); or Tahmid (saying of ‘Alhamdu lillah’); or similar invocations of glory and gratitude to Allah (SWT). Aisha (RA) once asked the Prophet (SAW) about what to recite on this night. The Prophet (SAW) replied and recommended the supplication, “Allahumma Innaka Afwun, Tuhibb ul-Afwa, Fa’fu anni,” meaning “O Allah! Certainly, You are Pardon; You like Pardon; Pardon me.”
Let us encourage our family members, male and female, to engage in these worthwhile acts of ibadah. The Tahajjud prayer usually observed after midnight could be performed in congregation of family members including the husband, wife/wives, children, relations and aides. If there’s a memorizer of the Qur’an amongst the children, his father should allow him to lead the congregational Tahajjud prayer. Where there’s no memorizer, the best reciter of the Qur’an in the family could be asked to lead others in the Tahajjud prayer.
If Laylat ul-Qadr with its exclusive value is specifically for our spiritual benefit, we should have no reason, as believers with the ultimate goal of bliss in paradise, not to take advantage of the spiritual bonanza it offers. Let us not miss the special goldmine offered by Laylat ul-Qadr. Aside of glorifying Allah and seeking for forgiveness, let us use the night to also ask Allah for all our needs including blessed wealth, useful knowledge, pious heart, healthy body, righteous wife, respectful children, gainful employment, a house we can call our own, a good car, peace of mind, success and prosperity in life. May Allah guide us to seek and find Laylat ul-Qadr, amin. Ramadan Kareem!
Israel’s butchery of Palestinians in Gaza:
This column joins other individuals, groups and organisations including the United Nations and many countries around the world to condemn Israel’s latest deadly strikes on Gaza on Tuesday March 18, 2025. The strikes, which killed more than 400 people have been described as the deadliest since a cease-fire took effect in January. This was even as families of Israeli hostages pleaded with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the violence.
While Britain and France have both called for an end to the renewed hostilities, Iran denounced the wave of attacks as a “continuation of the genocide and ethnic cleansing” in the Palestinian territories. Russia and China have also warned against an escalation, while Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and Turkey condemned the violence. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a statement that the strikes were part of “deliberate efforts to make the Gaza Strip uninhabitable and force the Palestinians into displacement”.
The body language of America’s President Trump is believed to have encouraged Israel to carry out its latest attacks on Gaza. Trump has floated a proposal to move Palestinians out of Gaza; suggesting that Egypt or Jordan could take them in. We are calling on Arab leaders to ask the UN to mount pressure on Israel to exercise full restraint. Israel’s use of sophisticated weapons on defenceless Palestinians to kill women and children is akin to using a sledge hammer to kill a fly. This is more about humanity than religion.
