The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr (the Decree)

Allah informs that He sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Al-Qadr, and it is a blessed night about which Allah says,


"We sent it down on a blessed night." (44:3)



This is the Night of Al-Qadr and it occurs during the month of Ramadan. This is as Allah says,


"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an." (2:185)


It is said that Allah sent the Qur'an down all at one time from the Preserved Tablet to the House of Might, which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allah based upon the incidents that occurred over a period of twenty-three years.


Imam Ahmad recorded that when Ramadan would come, the Messenger of Allah would say, "Verily, the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived."


Aside from the fact that worship during the Night of Al-Qadr is equivalent to worship performed for a period of one thousand months, it is also confirmed in the Two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said, "Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and expecting reward (from Allah), he will be forgiven for his previous sins."


The Descent of the Angels and the Decree for Every Good during the Night of Al-Qadr

Allah says, "Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord's permission with every matter," meaning, the angels descend in abundance during the Night of Al-Qadr due to its abundant blessings. The angels descend with the descending of blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur'an is recited, they surround the circles of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and they lower their wings with true respect for the student of knowledge.


Concerning Ar-Ruh, it is said that here it means the angel Jibril. Therefore, the wording of the Ayah is a method of adding the name of the distinct object separate from the general group. Concerning Allah's statement, "with every matter," it means peace concerning every matter.


Qatadah and others have said, "The matters are determined during it, and the times of death and provisions are measured out during it."


Then Allah says, "There is peace until the appearance of dawn." This means all of it is good and there is no evil in it until the coming of dawn.


Specifying the Night of Decree and its Signs

The Night of Al-Qadr occurs during the last ten nights of Ramadan. It is during an odd night: the ninth, or the seventh, or the fifth, the third or the last night (of Ramadan).


The signs of the Night of Al-Qadr include being pure and glowing with a bright, tranquil moon. It is not cold, nor is it hot, and no shooting star is permitted until morning. The sun appears on the morning following it smooth having no rays on it.


Supplication during the Night of Decree

It is recommended to supplicate often during all times, especially during the month of Ramadan, in the last ten nights, and during the odd nights of it even more so. It is recommended to say: "O Allah! Verily, You are the Of the Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me."


This concludes the Tafsir of Surah Laylat Al-Qadr.