WHAT IS THE “LAILAT Al-QADR”?

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Uploaded July 07, 2015

WHAT IS THE “LAILAT Al-QADR”?  

Author : Widjaja Kartadiredja

In  welcoming the holy of Ramadhan 1434 Hijriyah, to the moslems (muslimin and muslimat) wherever they are, I say :  “Congretulation  for  conducting the  fast in  a full month with incerily”. 

In the holy of  Ramadhan, there’s a tremendous moment in  the last ten night - that always awaited by the moslems - that is the Lailat al-Qadr, the night is a better night than a thousand months.

To remain and prepare ourselves for a wonderful evening glorify it, we present a decription of “What is the Lailat al-Qadr?”.   

The Moslems whose Allah Blesse,

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said: "If my people know all features contained by the month of Ramadhan, they would be expecting any month was Ramadhan". This shown that the month of Ramadhan is a tremendous  month from the  others.   The verse of 185 Albaqarah letter explained that Al-Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadhan. In another statement, in  Al-Qadr letter (QS.97) 1-3, God said : (1). "Verily, We have been down (Al Quran) on the Night of Glory', (2). "And do you know what the Night of Glory  is?" (3). "The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months".

The Night of Glory is the Laylat al-Qadr.  That is the night of glory and grandeur, since the beginning the night of Al-Qur'an's revelation was down. Worship at this night is much greater reward, and better than a good works for a thousand months.

According to the scholars, before man was created, the Qur'an was revealed in Lauhil Mahfuz  Lauhil Mahfuz was on below  the seventh heaven. The first night  of Lailat al-Qadr down to  earth  from Lauhil Mahfuz, in the Cave of Hira. Also, In other  story, Lailat Al-Qadr down when Moses came to the dialogue with God in Mount Thursina. “Tafsir” Jalalain mention, that Ibn Abu Hatim and Al Wahidi, both of which have been narrate by Mujahid, the Prophet Muhammad  told about a man from among Children of  Bani Israel, who bore arms for a thousand months for the fight in Allah's way. The  Moslems feel surprise for that, so then Allah revealed His word in the letter of Al-Qadr  verses 1-3 as discribed above. The idea suggests that worship of God in the Glory  Night (that is the Laylat al-Qadr) is better than a good work for a thousand  months.

For the result, it is not  surprisingly  for  the Moslems embed  a tradition of the “i'tikaf” (stay worship in mosques) in the last 10 days of Ramadhan. The ”i’tikaf” is performed in congregation,  starting by the prayer of Laylat al-Qadr begins at about 24.00, Followed by dhikr, reading salawat, read wirid and other practices of worship, on beside waiting for Laylat al-Qadr be coming, then closed with prayer of "tahajud" twice and prayer of "intent" (demand)  which all the activities finished at around 02:00. The Moslems believe that this times the grace of God and forgiveness will be derived, and all the prayer will be granted.

The activity of "i'tikaf" is performed on  the odd nights of the last 10 days of  Ramadhan.

To gain a benefit and add confidence about “aqeedah”, let us look at the events of  experience  (the Prophet) Muhammad received the first revelation, the prophetic message, which carries the mission rahmatan lil alamin (mercy for all of nature).  That was said, when (the Prophet) Muhammad before the age of 40 years, he likes seclusion in the cave of Hira that used to distance themselves from the indigenous people of "jahiliyah" (ignorance) in Mecca  full of superstition and idolatry. This habit by the Arabs called "tahanuth", performed by him (Muhammad) every month of Ramadhan came.

With frequent “tahanuth”over time he got more and more perfect life, and after his soul is made perfect, he gained a perfect dream, as a bright light like the dawn in the morning, which came on the sidelines of contemplation, which, according to a story that the event occurred in a period of 6 months.

According to the statement, that these events are part of the prophetic signs. Coinciding with the arrival of the dream, he viewed the Arab community in Mecca was out of the nature of truth and deep of error. They have been swept away by the worship of idols and other beliefs are no less damaging. 

He found that the essence of the truth, only true God, creator and sustainer of the universe all its contents. There is no God but Him, He is the Most Gracious and Most Loving.   Valued human dignity solely because of his deeds. Any person who doing good although it would seem as a heavy ”dzarah” (small ant or dust), and whoever does evil despite weighing dzarah will appear (or will return to him ) (QS.99: 7-8). This means that all human actions, good or bad will be rewarded with a perfect. That Paradise is true, Hell is true. Whoever worshiped but Allah, it will be put in hell, where the return of those who disbelieve and idolatrous.

Events of the first revelation in the cave of Hira can be obtained from the narrative of Ayesha ra.  In a hadith, he said:

 "The first revelation received by Prophet Muhammad began with a dream true. In the dream he saw a bright light like the crack of dawn in the morning.

Then God shown him to implement seclusion in the cave of Hira for a couple of nights, then returned to the family (Khadija). It conducted by him so many times until one day he was surprised by the arrival of the truth in the cave of Hira. An angel came to him and said, "Read". He replied: "I can not read ". Prophet tell then further:" The angel then came to me and hugged me so I feel very weak, then I released ". He said again,"Read".  "I replied:  "I can not read". He approached me again and held me until I was completely helpless, then I was released. He said again, "Read". I replied: "I can not read." Then the angel said: "Read with the name of God that Creaters. He has created man from a clot. Read it, and the God the Most Gracious. He taught man what he did not know ". After the hearing read by an angel (Gabriel) and Remembered in the hearts, the Prophet Muhammad as soon go home to Khadijah in a state of whole body trembled, and said: "I am blanket, cover me, cover me". He then covered up to lose his  fear. After calm returned the Prophet  told Khadijah what had experienced in the cave of Hira.

That's a bit of the story when the first revelation down in the cave of Hira, as one of the features of Ramadhan was always commemorated on 17th of Ramadhan as a warning “Nuzulul Qur'an”. This happen  should be contemplated in heart in the mosque when performing I'tikaf as a lesson that can affirm “aqeedah”, in hopes of coming right on the night of Laylat al-Qadr downs as a secret of God.

It will be very nice if we read a piece of lyrict from the song of Bimbo entitled "Laylat al-Qadr", which gives a picture of serenity, while  waiting for  Laylat al-Qadr coming on contemplation : 

"Wild life is not sounded, the mountain holding his breath, the wind stopped, the trees subject, Laylat al-Qadr in the fall of the dark night, in the holy Qur'an down to earth ".

The Prophet also told to seek the peace of the night,  as his saying:

"Seek Laylat al-Qadr night at ten days et the end of Ramadhan. But if one among you can not afford, then do not lose the last 10 days of the seventh” (Hadith Muslim History).

The Prophet informs in his any saying about the signs of Laylat al Qadr, namely:

1) The air and atmosphere of a quiet morning. Ibn Abbas said: Messenger of Allah said: "Laylat al-Qadr is the night of peace and quiet, not too hot nor too cold, the sun rises the next day with a weak red light" (Hasan hadith).

2) Light a weak sun, shining brightly not strong the next day. Ubay ibn Ka'b of r.a. that the Prophet said: "Laylat al-Qadr night  shown in the morning the sun rises up like a light high without a tray" (Hadith Reported by Muslim).

3) Sometimes carried in a dream. As sometimes experienced by some of his companions of the Prophet.

4) The Moon appears half-sphere. Abu Hurairoh r.a. has ever been said :  We never talk about Laylat al Qadr in the Messenger of Allah, he said: "Who of you who still remember when the moon appeared, a half-size trays" (Reported by Muslim Hadith).

5) The night is bright, no heat, no cold, no clouds, no rain, no wind, and nothing is t hrown on the night with a star (meteor throws the devil).

As spoken by the Prophet: "LilatulIQadr is a night light, no heat, no cold, no clouds, no rain, no wind, and nothing is thrown on the night with a star (meteor throws the devil) (Hadith history of at-Tabrani with Hasan isnad).

6)   Those who worship at the evening has nicely sense, sobriety and enjoyment on worship to Rab was not like other nights.

That is a signs of Laylat al Qadr. May we include servants who can find the night of Laylat al Qadr. Amien.

         

author

   Widjaja Kartadiredja