By: Haroon Ibn Rasheed
We have revealed the Holy Qur’an in a blessed night.We have sent it down on a blessed night.And verse no. 4 of Surah Al-Baqarah, The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed. Meaning of Shab-e-Qadr:- Shab-e-Qadr has two meanings and both are meant here. One is that this is the night in which the decisions of destiny are made, as in Surah Al-Dukhan verse 4 ; that is, every wise deed is decided in that night. The second meaning is to have great value, dignity, and honor. This is the night, as mentioned in detail in Surat al-Qadr.
The revelation of the Holy Qur’an on this night means descending from the Tablet (Al-lawh Al-Mahfooz), to the heavens and the earth, or the whole of the Holy Qur’an being revealed to the angels on this night, or it means that the revelation of the Holy Qur’an began on this night.
And then according to the events and circumstances from time to time in a period of 23 years revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
The Virtue of Laylat al-Qadr in the words of the Holy Prophet: There are various Ahaadith in the books of ahadith regarding the virtue and importance of Shab-e-Qadr.Here I am mentioning some ahadith due to brevity, May Allah makes us all doers. Amen. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said; Whoever stands on the night of Qadr with faith and with the intention of reward (for worship), all his past sins are forgiven. (Bukhari and Muslim). Meaning of standing; Praying, reciting Qur’an and engaging in dhikr, etc. To hope for a reward means to act not for the sake of fame and appearance but for the sake of gaining the pleasure of pure Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said; A month has come upon you in which there is a night which is better than a thousand months. The one who is deprived of this night is as if deprived of all good, and is not deprived of its goodness except the one who is truly deprived. (Ibn Majah). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Seek the night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan (Bukhari). According to the aforesaid hadith, the search for Shab-e-Qadr should be done on the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th nights. Hazrat Ayesha (RA) asked the Holy Prophet (SAW): O Messenger of Allah if I find out about Shab-e-Qadr, what should I pray for? The Holy Prophet (SAW) said; Read: Allahumma Innaka Afuwwun Tuhibbul Afwa Fa’fu Annee. O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me” or “O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me.”(Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi).
Two important signs of Shab-e-Qadr; Two important signs of Shab-e-Qadr are mentioned in the books of Hadith: One is that the night is neither too hot nor too cold and the other sign is that there are no rays of the sun when the sun rises in the morning after Shab-e-Qadr. Note; Due to differences of study, there is no problem if Shab-e-Qadr is on different days in different countries and cities because according to each place, the night which will be considered as Shab-e-Qadr will have the blessings of Shab-e-Qadr on the same night. God willing.
I’tikaaf: Staying in the mosque with the intention of reward is called I’tikaaf. In I’tikaaf, a person leaves worldly pursuits and goes to the door of Allah Almighty, ie the mosque. The special relationship and closeness that is created by engaging in worship with full attention have a unique glory in all worships. There are three types of I’tikaaf: Masnoon I’tikaaf; which is a Sunnah of Ala-Al’Kifaya. This is the I’tikaaf of the last ten days of Ramadan, In other words, if even one person observes I’tikaaf in the mohalla, he will be relieved of all responsibilities Otherwise, all Turks will be sinners of Sunnah.
I’tikaaf is started on the twentieth day of Ramadan Mubarak, shortly before sunset.
And the Eid moon continues until it appears. Through this I’tikaaf, one attains the worship of Shab-e-Qadr with nearness to Allah Almighty, in which worship is better than worshiping for a thousand months, i.e, 83 years, according to the command of Allah Almighty.۔ From the obligation of fasting in 2 AH until his death, the Holy Prophet always observed I’tikaaf in Ramadan.Obligatory I’tikaaf: It is obligatory because of making a vow: For example, if someone says that if I do something, then I will observe I’tikaf for so many days. I’tikaaf of at least one day with fasting is required for vows. Mustahab I’tikaaf: Whenever a person enters the mosque, he should make the intention that as long as I stay in this mosque, I make the intention of I’tikaaf. There is no restriction on time and fasting in this I’tikaf. I’tikaaf ends when you leave the mosque.
Some Ahadith of the Prophet regarding Masnoon I’tikaaf: Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed I’tikaaf in the first ten days of Ramadaan and then in the second ten days also, then he took his head out of the tent in which he was performing I’tikaaf and said: Then I did it in the second decade because of this, then someone (ie angel) told me that night is in the last decade, so those who are doing I’tikaaf with me should also do I’tikaaf in the last decade. (Bukhari Muslim).It is narrated from Hazrat Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to observe I’tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. After you, your wives will continue to observe I’tikaaf. (Bukhari and Muslim) It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to observe I’tikaaf in the last ten days of every Ramadan, but in the year he died he observed I’tikaaf for twenty days (Bukhari).It is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to the one who observes I’tikaaf that he (because of being confined in the mosque due to I’tikaaf) avoids sins and good deeds are written for him. For those who do I’tikaaf (ie, the one who performs I’tikaaf withholds many good deeds, such as attending a funeral, visiting a patient, etc., because of I’tikaaf, the reward for these deeds is given to the one who performs I’tikaaf even without doing it).(Ibn Majah) The Muslim Ummah agrees that women can observe I’tikaaf like men and if a woman observes I’tikaaf in the mosque then her I’tikaaf will be valid, but Imam Abu Hanifa, born in 80 AH and other scholars said The special place of the house which is usually reserved for prayers etc. instead of mosques Much better.(Sahi Bukhari).
Chapter I’tikaaf al-Nisa ‘, Hadith No. 1896 states that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) did not like to observe I’tikaaf in the mosque of the mothers of the believers.
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to appreciate Ramadan Mubarak, accept all our worships and grant us Paradise in the Hereafter through the intercession of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).Ameen!
Author is a Research Scholar. He can be mailed at warharoon406@gmail.com
