Laylat al-Qadr

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Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لیلۃ القدر) (also known as Shab-e-Qadr), literally the Night of Decree or Night of Measures, is the anniversary of two ^{[citation needed]} very important dates in Islam that occurred in the month of Ramadan. Shia Muslims believe that this night is when their fate in the following year is decided and hence pray for Allah all night long and beg for mercy and salvation. This practice is called Ehyaa (literally mean "revival").

Contents 1 History 1.1 First revelation 1.2 Complete revelation 2 Religious importance 2.1 Qur'an 2.2 Sunnah 3 Date 4 Etymology controversy 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] History

[edit] First revelation

Main article: Muhammad's first revelation

Muslims believe that it was on this night that God first sent down the first verses of the Qur'an via the Spirit of Revelation Gabriel, to Muhammad when he was forty years old.

[edit] Complete revelation

It is also the anniversary of the night in which the Qur'an was first communicated in its entirety to Muhammad.

[edit] Religious importance

[edit] Qur'an

The verses above regard the Night as better than one thousand months. The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting, praying, recitating the Qur'an, remembering God, and giving charity. However because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims strive harder to worship God and to do good deeds on this particular date.

[edit] Sunnah

Muslims often pray extra prayers on this day, particularly the night prayer. They wake, pray, and hope God (Arabic:Allah) will give them anything they may desire for on this holy night. Mostly, they perform talawat (reading the Qur'an). Shi'a Muslims, in particular, on this night perform many religious acts, which they believe have been highly recommended by Muhammad and the twelve imams.

Those who can afford to devote their time in the remembrance of God stay in the mosque for the final ten days of Ramadan. This worship is called i'tikaf (retreat). They observe fast during the day and occupy themselves with the remembrance of God, performing voluntary prayers and studying the Qur'an, day and night, apart from the obligatory prayers which they perform with the congregation. Food and other necessities of life are provided for them during their stay in the mosque, thus they may not leave the precincts of the mosque except for a genuine religious purpose. Devoting time to remember God, Muslims hope to receive divine favors and blessings connected with the blessed night.

Muhammad was very particular in these regards. It is related that when the last ten days of Ramadan began, he used to keep awake the whole night and was most diligent in worship.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Date

All Muslims believe that the incident occurred during the last third of the month of Ramadan but they differ as to the exact date. Sunnis generally consider it to be either the 21^st, 23^rd, 25^th, 27^th, or 29^th [1] of the month; while Shi'as consider it to be either the 19^th, 21^st or 23^rd of the month. Shi'as believe the 23^rd to be the most important and 21^st the least of the three. ^{[citation needed]} Conventionally, most Sunnis celebrate it throughout the night of the 27th (i.e. the night between the 26th and 27th). However, due to the uncertainty of the exact date, Muslims are recommended to observe all the nights as a matter of precaution.

[edit] Etymology controversy

Although the literal translation of the word "Qadr" is "measure", the holyday has been popularly referred to as Night of Power. The proper way to translate "Laylat al-Qadr" has led to some controversy, some Muslims claiming that "Night of Power" is a mistranslation in Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation that got popular.

The term "Night of Power" comes from The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali (died 1953) who translated surat Al-Qadr verse one as:

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:

Marmaduke Pickthall translates it as:

Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Predestination.

While M. H. Shakir writes:

Surely We revealed it on the grand night.

And Muhammad Asad writes:

Behold, from on high have We bestowed this [divine writ] on the Night of Destiny.

In the corresponding note he adds, "Laylatil-Qadr" can also be translated as "the Night of Almightiness" or "the Night of Majesty"

See also: surat Iqra

[edit] See also

• Qadr (doctrine)
• List of Islamic terms in Arabic
• Islamic calendar
• Angels in Islam

[edit] External links

• - The Night of Qadr
• Islamic Aid - a safe and impactful way for individuals to meet their charitable obligations during Ramadan
• Al Qadr Learn Surah Al Qadr with Audio at MountHira.com
• Dates of Laylat al-Qadr until 2010
• Lailat al Qadr (BBC Religion) with dates
• Fasting in Ramadan and its culmination during Laylat al Qadr

Muslim holidays and observances

Muslim New Year | Festival of Muharram | Day of Ashura | Imamat Day | Arba'een | Mawlid

Imam Musa al Kazim day | Lailat al Miraj | Shab-e-baraat | Ramadan | Laylat al-Qadr | Eid ul-Fitr | Eid ul-Adha