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As Muslims across South Africa acknowledge the last few days of the blessed month of Ramadan, many will be hoping that the night of 28th April or the 27th night of Ramadan which is Thursday will be the night of power or Laylatul Qadr.
The blessed month of Ramadan is expected to end on Sunday, depending on the sighting of the moon.
This will culminate in the day Eid-ul-Fitr which is a day of celebration.
Amongst the nights of Ramadan, there is one called ‘Laylatul Qadr’, the Night of Power, a night that is noted for its greatest blessings.
The Noble Qur’an describes it as being greater in blessedness and spiritual virtue than a thousand months, which in turn means that it is more valuable than eighty-three years and four months.
Islamic teaching say that Allah first revealed the opening verses of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on one of the odd-numbered nights of the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
It is unknown exactly which, but many Muslims choose to mark Laylatul Qadr on the 27th night of Ramadan.
There are many narrations of Prophet Muhammad which say that the night of power was granted to this Muslim community of the prophet and no other nation before that.
There are various views are why the Laylatul Qadr was granted to the Prophet Muhammad and his Muslim community.
Among the many reasons, one is Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to ponder over the longer lives of people of the past ages and when comparing them with the much shorter lives of his community, he became greatly saddened, because if his community wished to compete with the people before them, then because of their shorter lives, it would be impossible for them to either emulate or surpass the previous community in the doing of righteous deeds.
Therefore, Allah in His Infinite Mercy granted them this night of great blessings.
This means that, if any fortunate person of this community during his life-time spends ten such nights in the worship of his Maker, he would have gained the reward of worship for eight hundred and thirty-three years and even more.
While many Muslims believe that the night of power is on the 27th night of Ramadan, the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked Muslims to search for the blessed night among the odd nights of Ramadan.
So, Laylatul Qadr could have been on the 21st, 23rd. 25th or can be on the 29th night.
Laylat-al-Qadr calls for much reflection and prayer with abundance of the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and prayer.
In addition to praying for our loved ones, Muslims also pray for the less fortunate and those who are ill.
There is entire chapter in the holy Qur’an dedicated to Laylatul Qadr called Al-Qadr (The Power):
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Power
And what can make you know what is the Night of Power?
The Night of Power 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.
These are the signs that are apparent during Laylatul Qadr.
The Prophet Muhammad said regarding the night: “It is a calm night, neither hot nor cold, and the sun arises on it red and feeble.”
Abu Huraira reported: “We were talking about Lailatul Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah and he said: ‘He who amongst you remembers (the night when the moon arose and it was like a piece of plate.'” (at the far end of the month in a state of waning).
There are narrations where Prophet Muhammad did mention that he dreamed about Laylatul Qadr and in that dream he had prostrated and when he came up, his face was wet with rain water and mud
Narrations say that it is going to be a sun with no rays. So, that means it’s a very weak sun, you can look straight at it.
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