L A Y L A T

Al Qadr

CHAPTER 18
SHAYKH MUSA JIBRIL
CHAPTER 18

Laylat Al-Qadr
All Praise is due to Allah [alone], we praise Him, seek His
Aid [in our affairs], His Guidance, and His Forgiveness.
And we seek Refuge in Allah from the evil within
ourselves, and from our evil actions. Whosoever Allah
Guides, then surely, he is Guided. And whosoever Allah
Misguides, then he will never find anyone to guide him.
And I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of
worship, but Allah alone, without any partners [in His
Lordship and Worship]. And I bear witness that
Muhammad (‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬is His Slave and
Messenger.

O mankind, be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from

a single person, and from him, he created his wife, and
from them both He Created many men and women. And
Fear Allah through Whom you demand your [mutual]
rights, and [do not cut the relations of] the wombs
(kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you.

O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah and Fear Him,
and speak [always] the truth. He will direct you to do
righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And
whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (‫صىل هللا عليه و‬
‫)سلم‬, has indeed achieved a great achievement.
AS FOR WHAT FOLLOWS;
Verily, the most truthful of speech, is The Speech of Allah
And the best guidance, is The Guidance of Muhammad
(‫)صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬. And the most evil affairs are the
newly invented matters, and every newly invented matter
is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and
every misguidance is in the hellfire.

This lecture today is about Who is worthy of witnessing

Laylat Al-Qadr. This is the topic of today, however I will
address this more specifically near the end of the lecture.
First, I will be discussing Laylat Al-Qadr, and the
superiority and greatness of it, as well as the effort one
should put forth to witness and take advantage of it.

Allah (‫ )سبحانه وتعاىل‬says in the Qur’an: Verily! We have

sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree).
And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr
(Decree) is?

And this is directed at the Messenger (‫)صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬,

implying the Messenger knew [when Laylat Al-Qadr was],
when Allah says: “And what will make you know…” it’s
implying the Messenger had knowledge [by virtue of this
rhetorical question]. And what will make you know what
the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The night of Al-Qadr
(Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e.
worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping
Him a thousand months). 1000 months! If a person is
worshipping Allah in Laylat Al-Qadr, his deeds and
worship are multiplied 1000 month-fold – which comes
out to be approximately 83 years and 4 months – and this
will be as if you worshipped Allah for around 80 years.
Where are the people who claim to have a brain, yet allow
this night to pass them, without standing its night in
worship to Allah. So, it’s a great and blessed night, where
the lives and sustenance of mankind are portioned – of
which are but a few of the things that take place in this
blessed night. Allah (‫ )سبحانه وتعاىل‬says: Verily! We have
sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree).
And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr
(Decree) is? And what will make you know what the night
of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is
better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in
that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand
months).

Therein descend the Angels and the Ruh (Jibreel) by

Allah’s Permission with all Decrees, Peace! (All that night,
there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing
slaves) until the appearance of dawn. The Angels don’t
descend except as a mercy for the believers, and
especially within this night, the number of Angels that will
descend will outnumber the number of pebbles on this
earth. A great and blessed night, that only a wretched and
evil individual is prevented [from witnessing it].

[More than] 80 years-worth of worship is added to the

book of deeds of an individual [if they witness this night
standing in worship, expecting the reward from Allah].
Indeed, it is a superior night, and it was called Laylat Al-
Qadr, due to its great honor and superiority.

Allah sent down the Qur’an in this night. A narration on

the authority of Ibn Abbaas (‫)رضي هللا عنه‬, mentions that
Allah sent down the Qur’an from the Preserved Tablet to
the House of Honor.
The seven heavens each have Houses within them,
There is Bayt Al-Ma’moor, Bayt Al-‘Izza, and others, which
the Angels visit – similar to how we visit the Ka’ba. For
example, Bayt Al-Ma’moor is visited every single day by –
as mentioned in the Hadith of the Messenger (‫صىل هللا عليه‬
70,000 - )‫ و سلم‬Angels, of which never visit it again, until
the Day of Judgement.

Seven Heavens, each of which has a House, which 70,000

Angels visit, and never have a chance to visit again, until
the Day of Judgement. Ponder and reflect over the
Greatness and Might of Allah (‫)سبحانه وتعاىل‬, and these
Angels are in a constant state of Bowing and Prostration.

The Messenger (‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬said: “…The heaven is

creaking and it should creak, for there is no space in it the
width of four fingers but there is an angel there,
prostrating to Allah…” These Angels, from the moment
they’re created, are in a state of prostration in the
heavens, bowing, praying, not raising their heads whilst
Praising and Exalting Allah (‫)سبحانه وتعاىل‬. And when these
Angels lift their heads on The Day of Judgement, they will
say: “Exalted are You! We surely did not worship you as
You ought to have been worshipped…” Look at that, these
are the Angels of which are in the Heavens.

Ibn Abbaas (‫ )رضي هللا عنه‬meantions how the Qur’an was

sent down from the Preserved Tablet to Bayt Al-‘Izzah,
and some of the scholars have weakened this narration,
however some classed it as Sahih, never the less from
Bayt Al-‘Izzah it was revealed to The Prophet (‫صىل هللا عليه‬
‫ )و سلم‬during the span of 23 years.
And the Qur’an was revealed within certain circumstances
and during certain occurrences within this time frame, [for
instance] he would be asked something, and through the
revelation of the Qur’an in that instance, he would be able
to respond.

So it was sent down from The Preserved Tablet, all the

way down to Bayt Al-‘Izzah, after which, it was revealed in
parts to the Heart of Messenger (‫)صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬, over a
span of 23 years in Mecca and Medina.

Allah (‫ )سبحانه وتعاىل‬says, with regards to Laylat Al-Qadr:

Allah (‫ )سبحانه وتعاىل‬says here: “Therein (that night) is
decreed every matter of ordainments.” In this great and
honorable night, 4 things are portioned for the upcoming
year, hence why it’s referred to as “The Time of Yearly
Portioning.” [The 4 portioned matters consist of] the
matter of life and death, as in who shall be born and
likewise die, and the matter of Sustenance, and the
matters of calamities.

And if the person is up during the night in prayer, and he

is in need of wealth, he will ask Allah, and Allah (‫سبحانه‬
‫ )وتعاىل‬will Answer his Duaa (insha’Allah), even if a
medically diagnosed barren woman stands the night in
prayer and asks Allah for a child, Allah will give her.

Because The Messenger (‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬said in the

Sahih Hadith: “Nothing changes the Qadr, except Duaa…”
So if it is decreed that the woman be barren (not being
able to bear children), and she stands in that blessed night
in prayer and Duaa to Allah (‫[ )سبحانه وتعاىل‬Allah will give
her], because prayer and Duaa are the means [of achieving
ones goal].
And this is from the basic principles of one achieving
their goal – to take all practical precautions and/or steps,
and have full trust in Allah (‫)سبحانه وتعاىل‬. Even in death! If
a person is sick, and he is nearing the time of death, and
he rises up this night in prayer and Duaa to Allah (‫سبحانه‬
‫)وتعاىل‬, Allah (‫ )سبحانه وتعاىل‬Will Cure him. Allah (‫سبحانه‬
‫ )وتعاىل‬says: Allah blots out what He wills and confirms
(what He wills). And with Him is the Mother of The Book
(The Preserved Tablet). Meaning Allah (‫ )سبحانه وتعاىل‬can
change and replace [any situation] – if one is sick (and he
asks Allah for a cure), He Can Cure him. It is not too big
of a task for Allah, in fact there is nothing to big or
greater than Allah (‫)سبحانه وتعاىل‬.

If a person rises in that night (or any night) and asks

Allah with a pure and content heart [Allah will grant him
that which he asks for]. For the one who desires
sustenance, a pious progeny, that Allah make his life long,
and likewise divert any and all calamities away from him
– then he should rise in worship during that night (Laylat
Al-Qadr), and ask Allah (‫)سبحانه وتعاىل‬.

Allah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He

wills). And with Him is the Mother of The Book (The
Preserved Tablet). [And this is further supplemented by]
the Sahih Hadith: “Nothing changes the Qadr, except
Duaa…” If it was decreed that a woman be barren, yet she
makes Duaa to Allah, Allah will give and provide, Allah is
The Most Generous.

He does not descend (in a manner that befits his Majesty)

every night to the Lowest Heaven,
except to be asked by His slaves, and He Answer them
(‫)سبحانه وتعاىل‬.
So, The Qur’an was sent down to Bayt Al-‘Izzah, and from
there, it’s been said that it was then revealed to the Heart
of The Messenger (‫( )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬By Way of Jibreel
(‫ ))عليه السالم‬during a span of 23 years while he was in
Mecca and Medina.

Now, onto the necessary effort one needs to put forth

during Laylat Al-Qadr. Many Sahih Hadith indicate that
this night is found within the last 10 days of Ramadan. “…
Witness it in the last 10 nights…” and “…odd nights…” The
Messenger (‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬mentioned to find it in the
last 10 nights, and all these Hadiths are Sahih
(insha’Allah). With that, one particular Hadith mentions
that the Messenger (‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬was inspired by
Allah, to know the time of Laylat Al-Qadr by Allah, and
how he wanted to inform the Sahabah (‫)رضي هللا عنهما‬
when it was, yet on his way to inform them, he saw two
Sahabah in a quarrel, at which he point he says, “…and I
then forgot about it (i.e., the time that Laylat Al-Qadr
occurs).”

That being said, he said [as mentioned above], “…Witness it

in the last 10 nights…” and odd nights in particular. This is
what the Messenger (‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬said. However, we
ask the one who only prays the last 10 nights, “Do you
have absolute certainty that you will attain the Ajr of this
night?” Maybe he will, and maybe not. A better approach
than that – to witness and cherish Laylat Al-Qadr – is to
sacrifice, and this night requires major sacrifice.

The Sahabah (‫ )رضي هللا عنهما‬when they would fast, they

would be in a trench with no food! They were constantly
in a state of striving in the path of Allah, and yet they still
made time to pray the night of Laylat Al-Qadr.
So, given that we cannot absolutely be sure of when
Laylat Al-Qadr is – which is better? The one who prays
the last 10 nights only, or the one who is praying the night
from the beginning of Ramadan?

With regards to the one who truly wants to witness Laylat

Al-Qadr, I lean towards the one who considers every Night
of Ramadan as Laylat Al-Qadr, until he witnesses the
actual Laylat Al-Qadr (insha’Allah).

The first night? Treat it like Laylat Al-Qadr, and stay up

in the night praying – and the same for the second and
third, until with certainty you will have spent Laylat Al-
Qadr standing the night in prayer (because you would
have done every single night!). Because the Messenger
(‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬said: “Whoever fasts the Month of
Ramadan with Emaan whilst expecting the reward of
Allah, his past sins will be forgiven.” And likewise,
“Whoever stands the night of Laylat Al-Qadr in prayer
with Emaan, whilst expecting the reward of Allah, his past
sins will be forgiven.”

These are Sahih Hadith (Insha’Allah), and indicate that

the aforementioned actions act as a means of
extinguishing your past sins, on top of which, you will
attain deeds equal to worshiping Allah for 80+ years!

By Allah, don’t waste this opportunity! Consider – so that

you are victorious with witnessing Laylat Al-Qadr – that
every night Ramadan is Laylat Al-Qadr, and treat it as
such. Only then, will you – with certainty – finish
Ramadan having attained the victory of
witnessing Laylat Al-Qadr, and the associated good deeds
written for you.
The Messenger (‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬used to sacrifice
tremendously in the last 10 nights. 'Aisha (‫)رضي هللا عنها‬
said: “When the last 10 nights [of Ramadan] arrived, the
Messenger (‫ )صىل هللا عليه و سلم‬would tighten his waist
strap,” as in he would get [even] more serious and sacrifice
even more, and would [increase] in his Duaa to Allah
(‫)سبحانه وتعاىل‬, as well as filling the night with obedience to
Allah, Prayer, Worship, Recitation of the Qur’an, and Dhikr.
All these are things one can spend the night doing,
such that he doesn’t miss out on worshipping Allah on
Laylat Al-Qadr.

And he would waken his family. If one has kids, he can

wake them up and raise them up on this habit, and
likewise his wife, he can wake her, and that way the whole
family will pray the night, and make Duaa to Allah (‫سبحانه‬
‫)وتعاىل‬, lest Allah (‫ )سبحانه وتعاىل‬save them from all
calamities, sufferings, and hardships – and no one can
save them from such, except Allah (‫)سبحانه وتعاىل‬

Now, I will circle back to my initial statement of, “Who is

worthy of witnessing Laylat Al-Qadr.” I know one of the
brothers, who considered and treated every night as
Laylat Al-Qadr, and persisted on this mindset and
approach his entire life. Not a single night of Ramadan
passes, except that he spends it standing up in prayer. He
saw in a dream – of which is a means of glad tidings –
that there was a knock on his door, so he opened it, and
the person at the door said to him, whilst holding papers
and pencils: “Where is the one who is worthy of Laylat Al-
Qadr?” This is a glad tiding for this brother, implying that
Allah accepted his Duaa [of witnessing Laylat Al-Qadr],
and the person with the papers and pencils, implying that
it has been written for him.
This is how the person should be, always consider every
night of Ramadan as Laylat Al-Qadr. Ramadan is a
blessed month, filled with many blessings, and it differs
from all the other months. Its days are numbered;
however, its benefits are many.

The slave can increase his Emaan in this month, likewise

his wealth, blessings, and progeny. The superiority and
honor of Laylat Al-Qadr is unforgettable, and its name
points to its grandeur (Qadr), status, and great honor.

And we should not forget all of this, such that we don’t

miss out on the victory of witnessing Laylat Al-Qadr
[whilst worshipping Allah]

And may the Salaah and Salaam of Allah, be upon

Muhammad, and upon his Family, Companions, Brothers,
and whoever follows him with sincerity in striving for
perfection till the Day of Judgement.

THE END.