Friends of Allah

Aisha (Radiallaho Anha) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam)said "Seek Laylatul Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten days ofthe month of Ramadhan".Note: According to the great majority of the religious scholars, the last tennights commence on the 21st night. Such is the case whether the month ofRamadhan consists of 29 days or 30. S0, one should seek Laylatul Qadr on the21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th night.Ibn Hazm has a different opinion saying that the word Asharah used in the Hadithmeans ten. As such, the above calculations will only be correct in cases wherethe month of Ramadhan consists of thirty days. However, when there are onlytwenty nine days in the month (as often happens), the last ten days willcommence with the 19th day and the night being the 20th night. According to thiscalculation, it would appear that the unevenly numbered nights will actually bethe 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th and 30th nights.But all Ulama agree that when in search of Laylatul Qadr Rasulullah (SallallahoAlaihi Wassallam) went into Aiteekaaf, he commenced it on the 21st night ofRamadhan. In view of this, these Ulama consider the odd nights to be theappropriate nights for Laylatul Qadr.One should, therefore, spend each and every night from the 20th onwards inworship of Allah, so that one may be sure of having got the Barakah of Ramadhan,Spending ten or eleven nights in devotion is definitely not so difficult, if onelooks at the great reward that is promised.5. Precise Knowledge of Laylatul Qadr was taken awayo Ubaadah Ibn Saamit (Radiallaho Anho) said "Once the Nabi (Sallallaho AlaihiWassallam) came out to inform us of the (correct date of) Laylatul Qadr.Unfortunately, a quarrel took place between two Muslims, whereupon He(Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said 'I came out to inform you as to when LaylatulQadr occurs, but because two people quarreled with each other, the knowledge ofthe correct date was taken away. Perhaps that is better for you. So, seek itamong the ninth, seventh and fifth nights.'"Note: Three important points are referred to in this Hadith. Firstly it tells usof a quarrel, as a result of which the knowledge of the precise night ofLaylatul Qadr was lost to us. Arguments and quarrels are always the cause ofloss of blessings.Once Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) inquired of the Sahabah: "Shall Iinform you of an action that is better than Salaah, fasting and charity?" TheSahabah replied: "Certainly." Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) thensaid" "Maintain peaceful and good relations amongst yourselves, for verilyquarrels among yourselves destroy (shave off) faith," i.e. just as a razorshaves off the hair, so does quarrelling affect the Deen.Let alone the worldly people, even those among us who appear exceptionallyreligious and busy with Zikr are victims of these arguments and strife and areobstinate in their stand, in spite of the saying of Nabi (Sallallaho AlaihiWassallam). In the first chapter of this book, we read how Rasulullah(Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said that to insult a Muslim is indeed a seriouscrime and equivalent to the worst kind of usury , but we do not even spare aMuslim's honor or refrain from insults and little notice is taken of theinjunctions of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) and His Rasul (Sallallaho AlaihiWassallam).The Quran says: "And argue not among yourselves, otherwise you will lose courageand your strength will depart" (al-anfaal 46). It is now the duty of those whoalways seek to injure and destroy the honor and dignity of others to ponder andreflect how much harm they have, in fact, done to themselves, and think how muchthey have, through these despicable deeds, degraded themselves in Allah(Subhanahu wa Taala) 's sight and in the sight of those around them.Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said that he who severs relations witha brother Muslim for more than three days and dies in this state, will gostraight to Jahannam. In another Hadith, it is stated that on every Monday andThursday, the actions of human beings are brought before Allah (Subhanahu waTaala). Then through His mercy (as a result of certain good deeds), forgivenessis granted, except to the idolaters and those who set up equals to Allah(Subhanahu wa Taala), However, regarding those two people between whom a quarrelhas taken place, friendship having been cut off, it shall be said, "Leave theiraffair in suspense until such time as they become reconciled."Another Hadith states that, when actions are produced before Allah (Subhanahu waTaala) every Monday and Thursday, repentance is accepted from those who repentand forgiveness is granted to those who seek pardon. As for those who hadarguments (with each other) they are left as they were.A Hadith further teaches us that, on the night of the 14th of the month ofShaban the mercy of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) is directed at all Allah(Subhanahu wa Taala) 's creation and forgiveness is freely granted, except totwo persons: One, a nonbeliever and the other, who harbors revenge againstothers.In another Hadith it is stated: "There are three people whose Salaah does notascend even a span above their heads." Listed among these are those who quarrelamong themselves.In the above few paragraphs, I have digressed from the point under discussion.It was not my intention to discuss all these Ahadith on quarrels or arguments. Imerely did it to bring to your notice this great evil, which we ignore, so muchso that even those whom we consider to be noble and righteous are guilty of it.On the other hand, it must be noted that this quarrelling, use of harsh wordsand cutting oneself off from one another is a crime and evil in Islam, onlycauses. It is permitted to break off relations with someone because of his evildeeds or because of some religious matter (wherein he is in the wrong andblamable).Ibn Umer (Radiallaho Anho) once quoted a saying of Rasulullah (Sallallaho AlaihiWassallam) to which his son said something that outwardly appeared as anobjection to it. The results was that Ibn Umer never again spoke to that son, aslong as he lived. There are several similar incidents related of the Sahabah.In our own cases, Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) is All-knowing, All-Wise and Healone knows the true state of affairs, as to which relations are broken offbecause of Deen and which because of our own honor, pride and dignity havingbeen hurt.The second point to which the Hadith under discussion draws attention is thefact that man should be satisfied with and accept gladly. Allah (Subhanahu waTaala) 's ruling in all matters. For example, even though it seems that the lossof the knowledge as to when Laylatul Qadr actually falls is a great loss, yet ithas to be accepted because it is from Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala).Because of this, Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said. "It is better forus that way." One should ponder over this. Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) is at alltimes Merciful to His slaves. Even when someone becomes overtaken by a greatpunishment because of his own evil deeds, he needs only appeal to His Creator,admit his own evil deeds, he needs only appeal to His Creator, admit his ownweakness and that same punishment is made the cause for greater good.Our Ulama have pointed out quite a few advantages in our not knowing the precisedate for Laylatul Qadr. First, had we known the actual location of this blessednight, there would have been many who would not have worshipped Allah (Subhanahuwa Taala) at all during the other nights. As things are, one has to stay awakeand be in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) for quite a number of nights,hoping that each night is perhaps the night. This means spending more nights inAllah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's worship and getting reward for these.Secondly, there are among us those who are just not able to avoid evil. Howextremely dangerous and unfortunate for them would it be, when, in spite ofknowing that such and such a night is Laylatul Qadr, they might still spend itin sin and evil? Once the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) on entering theMasjid, saw one of the Sahabah sleeping, He (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) saidto Ali (Radiallaho Anho) "Wake him up so that he can make Wudu".This Ali (Radiallaho Anho) did and then addressed the Nabi (Sallallaho AlaihiWassallam) thus: "O Rasul of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) you are alwaysthe first to hasten towards any good deed. Why then did you not wake him upyourself?" To this the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied: "I fearedlest this man may refuse and refusal to my command is Kufr , Denial of Deen. Ifhe had refused your command, it would not be Kufr."Similarly, Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) in His mercy, does not wish that, in spiteof knowing which night is the real one, a Muslim should still spend it in sinand evil.Thirdly, if we did know and in spite of that, for one reason or another, withinor outside our control, we allowed that night to go by without worship of Allah(Subhanahu wa Taala) then it is very likely that thereafter, for the rest ofRamadhan, no other night would have been spent in worship, whereas now manypeople find it possible to spend one, two or three nights in worship of Allah(Subhanahu wa Taala) because we do not know which is Laylatul Qadr.Fourthly , every night spent in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) in searchof Laylatul Qadr is a night for which separate reward is promised.Fifthly, we have read that Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) speaks highly to HisAngels about those believers who exert themselves in worship of Allah (Subhanahuwa Taala) during Ramadhan, Now more such occasions of receiving Allah (Subhanahuwa Taala) 's appreciation arise. In spite of not knowing when the real night ofLaylatul Qadr is and, although they have only a vague idea about its fixed time,still they exert themselves to the utmost in Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 'sservice, night after night. If such then is their exertion when Laylatul Qadr isnot known, how much more will they exert themselves were it made known to them.There are other advantages also. it is common knowledge that Allah (Subhanahu waTaala) often keeps certain things secret, as for example, the Al-Ism Al-Azam(the Great Name of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), whereby if we call upon Him, Heanswers). Similar is the case of that special moment on Friday when a Muslim'sDua 's are accepted, this time, too, is not known with complete certainty.The third point to which attention is drawn in the Hadith is the fact thatLaylatul Qadr should be sought among three nights: The ninth, seventh and fifth.By reading this together with the other Ahadith, we come to know that thisrefers to the last ten nights of Ramadhan.So to determine which nights are these, if we start from the 20th, countingupwards, then these three nights are the 25th, 27th and 29th. If, on the otherhand, we start counting from the 29th backwards (where Ramadhan has 29 days)these nights would be the 21st, 23rd and 25th, but it Ramadhan has 30 days, thenthese would be the 22nd, 24th and 26th nights.From the above, one can see how much uncertainty there is about the correctdate, and in fact, among the learned Ulama, there are approximately fiftydifferent opinions. Because of this, some Ulama have said Laylatul Qadr does notfall on one and the same night every year. If in this particular year, it fallson a particular night, then the following year it will fall on another night.There are times when the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) commanded theSahabah to search among a number of nights, whereas at other times he used tofix a certain night.Abu Hurairah (Radiallaho Anho) reports that once during a conversation with theSahabah, someone spoke of Laylatul Qadr. Rasulullah (Sallallaho AlaihiWassallam) asked: "What is the date to day?" They replied: "The 22nd ofRamadhan." The Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said: "Search for LaylatulQadr in the night following this day."Abu Zarr (Radiallaho Anho) reports, "I inquired of the Nabi (Sallallaho AlaihiWassallam) whether Laylatul Qadr was only granted during the lifetime ofRasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) or whether it would continue to comeafter him, Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied: It will continueuntil the day of Qiyamah.' I then inquired in which section of Ramadhan does itcome? The Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied, 'Search for it in thefirst ten and in the last tens days.'""Thereafter the Nabi (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) became busy with other work.I waited and finding another chance inquired: 'In which section of those tendays Laylatul Qadr comes? Upon this, Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam)became angry with me, as He (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) had never been beforeand said "If it had been Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's wish to make it known,would He not have informed us? Search for it among the last seven nights, andask no more.'"In another Hadith again, Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) is reported tohave told one Sahabi that Laylatul Qadr was on the 23rd night. Ibn Abbas(Radiallaho Anho) related: "While sleeping once, someone said to me in my dream:'Rise up, this is Laylatul Qadr,' I woke up and proceeded in hast to Rasulullah(Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) and I found him in Salaah. That was the 23rdnight." According to other reports again, the 24th was Laylatul Qadr. AbdullahIbn Masood (Radiallaho Anho) said: "Whoever remains all the nights of the yearin worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) can find Laylatul Qadr. (In otherwords, the blessed night moves throughout the year and does not necessarily haveto come in Ramadhan only).When this was related to Ubay Ibn Kaab (Radiallaho Anho) he said: "Yes, IbnMasood 's meaning is that people may not stay awake just on this night andbecome contented." Thereafter he swore by Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) thatLaylatul Qadr comes on the 27th. This is also the view held by numerous Sahabahas well as Taabiees.What Ibn Masood and Ubay (Radiallaho Anho) actually meant was that the personwho remains in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) all the nights of the yearwill certainly realize when Laylatul Qadr is. Among the Imams, a well-knownopinion of Imam Abu Hanifah (Rehmatullah Alaihi) is that Laylatul Qadr movesthroughout the year, while another view of his is that it moves about throughoutthe month of Ramadhan. His famous student-followers, Imam Mohammed and Imam AbuYusuf, however, were of the opinion that the night is fixed on one specificnight (which is unknown) during the month of Ramadhan, while scholars of theShaafi school of Islamic law believe that very likely it occurs on the 21st.Imam Ahmed and Imam Maalik ( Rehmatullah Alaihi) hold the view that it comesamong the last ten nights of Ramadhan, shifting from year to year and not fixed.But the vast majority of the Ulama, consider it most likely that Laylatul Qadrcomes annually on the 27th (of Ramadhan).Ibn Arabi (Rehmatullah Alaihi) says: "In my opinion, the view of those whobeliever that Laylatul Qadr comes on various nights throughout the year is mostlikely correct, because twice I have seen it in in the month of Shaban, once onthe 15th and once on the 19th and twice I have seen it in the middle ten nightsof Ramadhan, the 13th and the 18th, and I have seen it on every odd night of thelast ten. For this reason, I am certain it moves over all nights throughout theyear, but comes mostly in Ramadhan."Shah Waliullah of Delhi believed that Laylatul Qadr comes twice every year (a)One Laylatul Qadr is that one on which Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) 's commandsare revealed (to the Angels); this is also the night on which the Quran wascopied from the original and brought down to the first sky. This night does notcome in Ramadhan alone, but shifts and can come on any other night of the year.However, the particular night on which the Quran was revealed fell in Ramadhan.(b) The second Laylatul Qadr is the one of tremendous spiritual value, whenAngels descend in large numbers, while shayateen are held back and when Dua isanswered. This night comes only in Ramadhan, during the various odd nights ofthe last ten days. (This view of Shah Waliullah used to be most acceptable to myfather).Anyway, whether there are two Laylatul Qadr or whether there is only one, thefact still remains that one has to search for it, if not throughout the year,then at least in Ramadhan. Should that prove difficult, then at least during thelast ten days. When that, too, seems a bit too much for us, then at least theodd-numbered nights of the last ten days. In case one has missed some of thesetoo, then the 27th should not be allowed to go by.Thus, if by good fortune one is blessed with finding the night, then it wouldoutweigh all comforts and enjoyable things in the world. Even if one fails toget the much searched for night, then at least the reward for the worship isreceived. At least efforts should be made that the Salaah of Maghrib isreceived. At least efforts should be made that the Salaah of Maghrib and Ishathroughout the year is performed with Jamaah because if it is Laylatul Qadr thereward for both is so much more.It is a great blessing of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) that when one makes aneffort for religious aims and cannot meet with success, he is still rewarded forthe efforts. But is spite of this, how few are those who would make every effortin the service of Deen? On the other hand, in worldly affairs when one's effortsdo not bear fruit, then these efforts are written off as a loss. In spite ofthis, numerous people continue to spend their time, efforts and wealth inworldly pursuits that are fruitless and without worthwhile purpose and do nothold forth any such sure reward.6. Signs of Laylatul Qadro Ubadah Ibn Saamit (Radiallaho Anho) reports that he asked Rasulullah(Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) about Laylatul Qadr, He (Sallallaho AlaihiWassallam) replied "It is in Ramadhan, during the last ten days on the unevenlynumbered nights, either 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or the last night of Ramadhan.Whosoever stands in worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) on this night withsincere faith and with genuine hopes of gaining reward, his previous sins willbe forgiven. Among the sighs of this night is that it is a serene, quiet,shining night, neither hot, nor cold but temperate as if a moon is shining clearand no meteors are shot at the Shayateen on that night. It lasts until the breakof the dawn. Another sign is that at morn, the sun rises without any radiantbeams of light, appearing rather like the moon in its fullness. On that day,Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) prohibits the Shayateen from rising up with the sun."Note: Part of what has been stated in this Hadith has already been dealt with.Some signs are here related about the actual night. These signs are clear andneed no further explanation. Apart from these, there are other signs too, asstated in Ahadith or in the experiences of those who had the good fortune toexperience Laylatul Qadr.The sign that is, however, most specific in the Hadith is the rising of the sun,without any radiant beams of light. Other signs are not always there. One SahabiAbdah Ibn Abi Lubaaba (Radiallaho Anho) says: "On the evening of the 27th , Itasted the water of the sea and it was sweet." Ayyoob Ibn Khalid said: "I oncehad to bath myself with sea water and on tasting it, found it sweet. This was onthe 23rd night."Some of the Mashaikh wrote that on the evening of Laylatul Qadr, everything doesSajdah before Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala), so much so that trees fall flat on theground, then return to their normal position, there are, however, spiritualphenomena not visible to the ordinary person.