Finding The Night of Decree

The Night of Decree or as some translate the Night of Power to emphasize its importance, is a once a year occurrence that is a great opportunity for all Muslims to gain bountiful rewards from Allah SWT.  The Qur'an dedicates an entire chapter to this special night: "Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree.  And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?" (Al-Qadr, 97:1-2).  This night is in the month of Ramadan (literally translated as the month of scorching), the month in which all the scriptures were revealed to the various messengers.  Imam Ahmad reported Wathilah bin Al-Asqa` RAu that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: The Suhuf (Pages) of Ibrahim (as) were revealed during the first night of Ramadan. The Torah was revealed during the sixth night of Ramadan. The Injil was revealed during the thirteenth night of Ramadan. Allah revealed the Qur'an on the twenty-fourth night of Ramadan.  Musnad Ahmad.

"The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.  The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.  Peace it is until the emergence of dawn." (Al-Qadr, 97:3-5).  Already we see the power of this night.  1000 lunar months is 83 and a third lunar years or to satisfy the inquisitive, in average solar years (crunching some numbers with 365.2422 days per solar year and 354.36708 per lunar year) is about 80.85 years.  Regardless that is one night that is better than an entire a lifespan or possibly more.  It is of the great spiritual multipliers that come from Allah's mercy and bounties with the angels and Spirits remaining and presumably rotating around the dark side of the earth opposite from the sun for an entire day or two as moon sightings vary as no matter where in the world, one is this night will still occur.

The question that must be at the front of one's mind is: so when is this night?  And the answer is one that requires a bit of analysis.

Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit RAu: "Allah's Messenger ﷺ went out to inform the people about the (date of the) night of decree (Al-Qadr) but there happened a quarrel between two Muslim men. The Prophet ﷺ said, "I came out to inform you about (the date of) the night of Al-Qadr, but as so and so and so and so quarreled, its knowledge was taken away (I forgot it) and maybe it was better for you. Now look for it in the 7th, the 9th and the 5th (of the last 10 nights of the month of Ramadan).  Sahih al-Bukhari 49.

Amazing, the divine wisdom that made this night a bit elusive. Some scholars have reported as many as 46 different views on this topic!  The Prophet ﷺ knew it but because this knowledge being so specific was not as good for us, Allah SWT removed that knowledge back to the unknown.  Our inability to refrain from quarreling presumably during Ramadan, where it is strictly forbidden was the motivation for this removal of knowledge.  Yet we still have enough reports to narrow it down.  There are a good number of hadith on the topic in fact.

'Aishah RAaa reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe I'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan and say, "Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadan."  [Al- Bukhari].

The safest assumption based on majority opinion seems to be just this, take advantage of all of the odd nights of the final 10 days of Ramadan, though there is a narration also mentioning the 24th night (when the Qur'an was first revealed).  Certainly acts of worship and devotion will not go unrewarded if done more and will make one earn the honor of finding the Night of Decree by not knowing its exact date.  Allah SWT left this a bit of a mystery intentionally to test as to who will study the knowledge passed down, and who will attempt to cover every possibility.  Some claim certainty in the matter and

So what to do to get these rewards and what are the rewards?

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah RAu said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to encourage (us) to pray Qiyam during Ramadan, without insisting on that, and he said: 'Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer (Qiyam) out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins'.  Sunan an-Nasa'i 2192.  Grade: Sahih (Darussalam).

The main acts of worship are those specified for Ramadan or its last 10 days:

1) Night prayer which in Ramadan is called taraweeh though additional tahajjud prayers are also allowed and witr still greatly emphasized.

2) Tilawat (reading and recitation of the Qur'an).  If one has memorized the whole or parts of the Qur'an then prayer would amplify the reward.

3) Making sincere dua'a (supplication).  It was narrated from 'Aishah RAaa that she said: "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?" He said: "Say: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).'" Sunan Ibn Majah 3850.  Grade: Sahih (Darussalam).

4) Stay in i'tikaaf (seclusion in the mosque or a tent for Muslim men and women) during the last 10 days as per prophetic tradition.

Doing as much of these acts as possible during the last half of the night should maximize the rewards and benefits of the Night of Power.  It is a once a year opportunity to become an extremely devoted and pious worshipper fasting daytime, and praying all night and remaining secluded.  It is an experience that every believer should strive to have to gain spiritual awareness and reflect on that which Allah SWT has revealed and blessed us with.

Let us make it a goal to achieve great rewards on The Night of Power this Ramadan and may Allah SWT grant all Muslims great benefit when it occurs this year 1436 after the Prophet ﷺ's migration.