Gems Of Ramadan ✔

DAY 20 - THE NIGHT OF DESTINY (LAYATUL QADR)

Yesterday I covered the main aspects of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan and I purposely left out the details of one of the most significant matters, which is the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadar). I wanted to single it out in a talk because it is something that needs to be addressed before the ten nights, because you have to prepare for it.
You have had many opportunities in Ramadhaan and this is one of your final shots at it. As we mentioned in the first Khaatirah:
مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
This is the final shot at it, the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadar).

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LAYLAT AL-QADAR

An entire Surah with five verses was revealed about it and it was named after it, and then if you go to the beginning of Surat ad-Dukhaan you have approximately four to six verses in that Surah speaking about Laylat al-Qadar. So you have nearly eleven verses in the Qur’an and an entire Surah talking about that one night, the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadar).
It is not any ordinary night, it is a night the Qur’an was revealed in.
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ‌ ﴿القدر: ١﴾
Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadar (Decree). (Surat al-Qadar: 1)
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَ‌كَةٍ... ﴿الدخان: ٣﴾
We sent it (this Qur’an) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Qadar) in the month of Ramadhaan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. (Surat ad-Dukhaan: 3)

Now why was it called Laylat al-Qadar? For one of two reasons or for both reasons together. It goes back to the root word of Qadar (قدر), which in Arabic means the value and importance. The Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadar) is deeply valued and we are going to speak about its value Inshaa Allah. The second reason is Qadar comes from destiny, it means your destiny is written in this night.

Someone will say stop here, you are confusing me. One minute you tell me it was written fifty thousand years before the sky and the Earth was created and now you are telling me it is written in the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadar)? Make up your mind. Well here is how it goes, it was written in the fifty thousand years before the sky and the Earth was created and now on this specific night the tasks of that year are given to the angels.
فِيهَا يُفْرَ‌قُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ‌ حَكِيمٍ ﴿الدخان: ٤﴾
Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments. (Surat ad-Dukhaan: 4)
The tasks for the entire year are given to the angels. So and so is going to die, so and so is going to be prosperous and so and so is going to become poor. The tasks for that entire year, so there is no time to sleep on a day that your provision is written. Your matters are given to the angels to carry out the tasks (both good and bad) on this night, so turn to Allah in mercy. Some people are going to be dead men walking on this night.
فِيهَا يُفْرَ‌قُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ‌ حَكِيمٍ ﴿الدخان: ٤﴾
Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments. (Surat ad-Dukhaan: 4)
The tasks for the entire year are given to the angels. So and so is going to die, so and so is going to be prosperous and so and so is going to become poor. The tasks for that entire year, so there is no time to sleep on a day that your provision is written. Your matters are given to the angels to carry out the tasks (both good and bad) on this night, so turn to Allah in mercy. Some people are going to be dead men walking on this night.
وَمَا أَدْرَ‌اكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ‌ ﴿القدر: ٢﴾
And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is? (Surat al-Qadar: 2)
If I were to buy something valuable and you come to me and ask me for it, I tell you do you even know how much that cost? Immediately it is embedded in your mind that it is a very, very high price and such a high figure beyond that which is normal and comprehendible. Allah tells you do you even know what Laylat al-Qadar is? Do you even know what you are going to get out of Laylat al-Qadar?
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ‌ خَيْرٌ‌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ‌ ﴿القدر: ٣﴾
The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months (i.e. 83 years and 4 months)). (Surat al-Qadar: 3)