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Qiyam Al-Layl
"And the
servants of Allah most gracious are those who walk on the earth with
humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say (Peace);
Those who spend the night in adoration of their Lord prostrating and
standing" [Qur'ân 63-64].
Thus, waking up in the night to pray qiyam al-layl i.e. performing
prayer in the middle of the night, was a regular act of the Prophet
(SAW) and his Companions. Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)
said, "Do not abandon qiyam al-layl, for the Messenger of Allah
(SAW) never left it. If he was not well or he felt heavy, he prayed
sitting."
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab(RA) used to pray at night what he wished, until
it was in the middle of the night, when he would wake up his family
to pray; then he would say to them "prayer.. prayer", and would
recite this verse of the Qur'ân, "Enjoin prayer on your people, and
be constant therein. We ask you not to provide sustenance: We
provide it for you. But the fruit of the Hereafter is for
righteousness" [Qur'ân 20:132].
Ibn Umar(RA) used to recite, "Is one who worships devoutly during
the hours of the night, prostrating himself or standing (in
adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope
in the Mercy of his Lord like one who does not?" [Qur'ân 39:9]. He
said that was referring to Uthman Ibn Affan (RA). Ibn Abi Hatim said
Ibn Umar said that it was due to the length of the prayer of the
commander of the faithful, Uthman, at night and his recitation to
the extent that he may have recited the entire Qur'ân in one rak'ah.
Alqamah Ibn Qays narrated, "I slept with Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (RA)
one night. He woke up in the early part of the night and began to
pray. He recited with a recitation similar to that of the
neighborhood imam with a medium regular pace. Those around him could
hear him and he continued until what remained of the night's
darkness was equal to the time between the Aadhaan (call) for
maghrib prayer and the end of the maghrib prayer time, i.e. a short
time before daybreak. He then performed Witr prayer"
Furthermore, Al-Sa'ib Ibn Zayd narrated in a Ahaadeeth that the
reciter would recite (the Qur'ân) with hundreds of verses such that
we supported ourselves with staves due to the lengthiness of the
prayer and did not leave until the time of fair (dawn prayer).
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: “Whosoever
performs the night prayer on the night of Al-Qadr with Iman (firm
belief) and seeking reward will have all his past sins forgiven.”
[Al-Bukhaaree (4/2550 and Muslim (759)]
This hadeeth is evidence for the virtue of the night of Al-Qadr as
well as performing qiyaam during it. And it indicates that it is a
grand night, which Allaah has honored and made better than a
thousand months in regards to its blessing and the blessings found
in the righteous deeds that are performed in it. Thus it is better
than the worship of a thousand months and that is equivalent to
eighty-three years and four months. Due to this, whoever performs
qiyaam (night prayer) with true faith and while seeking reward in
it, will be forgiven his past sins. There were certain verses verses
concerning this virtue:
Allaah says: "We sent it (the Qur'aan) down on a blessed night.
Verily We are Ever-Warning. Therein (on that night) is decreed every
matter of ordainment." [Surat-ud-Dukhaan: 3-4]
Therefore, it is a “blessed night” meaning it possesses much good
and blessing due to its merit and the great reward that awaits the
one who does good deeds in it. Among its blessings, is that Allaah
revealed the Qur’aan in it. Allaah says: "Verily, We have sent it
(the Qur'aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you
know what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better
than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel)
by their Lord's permission with all decrees. (All that night) there
is peace, until the appearance of dawn." [Surat-ul-Qadr: 1-5]
Ibn Katheer (ra) said concerning Allaah’s saying: “Therein descend
the angels and the Rooh”: “This means that the descending of the
angels increases during this night due to the vast amount of its
blessings. And the angels descend along with the descent of blessing
and mercy, just as they descend during the time when the Qur’aan is
recited and encompass the gatherings in which Allaah is remembered
and spread their wings for the true seeker of knowledge, showing
respect for him.”[Tafseer Ibn Katheer: (8/465)]
This night occurs only in Ramadaan, since Allaah revealed the
Qur’aan in it. He informs us that its revelation occurred during the
month of Ramadaan in His saying: "Verily, We have sent it (the
Qur'aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr." [Surat-ul-Qadr: 1]
And His saying: "The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the
Qur'aan" [Surat-ul-Baqarah: 185] This means that its revelation from
Allaah to His Prophet Muhammad began in it.
Allaah’s statement: “The night of Al-Qadr” is either an indicative
of the honor and station of that night, as it is said: "Such and
such person has great Qadr". The conjunction of "the night" to Al-Qadr
is the joining of a descriptive feature to it, thus making it mean
"An honorable night". The word “Al-Qadr” may also be in reference to
the ordainment and disposal of affairs. Thus, its being joined to
the word "the night" would be in order to denote a place or time to
it. So it would mean "the night in which all that will occur in the
following year will be decreed." This is similar to Allaah's saying:
"Therein (on that night) is decreed every matter of ordainment." [Surat-ud-Dukhaan:
4]
Qataadah said of this: "Therein is decreed every matter of the
(upcoming) year" and Ibn Al-Qayyim said that this is the correct
opinion. [Tafseer Al-Tabari (25/65) & Al-Baihaqee]
What seems most correct is that there is nothing that restricts the
possibility of these two understandings and Allaah knows best.
His statement: “with Iman” means with firm conviction in what Allaah
has prepared for those who stand in prayer during this magnificent
night. And “seeking reward” means looking for reward and the
attainment of recompense.
Thus, this is a grand night, which Allaah has chosen for beginning
the revelation of the Qur’aan. So the Muslim must acknowledge its
weight in worth, by guarding it and spending it in worship whilst
having firm conviction and seeking the reward of Allaah, in order
that Allaah may forgive all of his previous sins. This is why the
Prophet warned us about being heedless of this night and being
neglectful of spending it in worship, for the Muslim would be
prevented from its good.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Ramadaan
has come to you -- a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory
upon you to fast in it. During this month, the gates of heaven are
open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are
chained. To Allaah belongs a night in it, which is better than a
thousand months. Whosoever is prevented from its good, then he has
been prevented." [Ahmad & An-Nasaa'ee]
The Muslim should supplicate much on the nights in which the night
of Al-Qadr is sought. And he should supplicate with that which the
Prophet instructed ‘Aa’ishah RAA with, when she asked him: “What if
I know on which night the night of Al-Qadr occurs, what should I
say?” So he said: “Say: O Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You
love forgiveness, so forgive me.” [Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah]
Ibn Katheer (ra) said: “It is recommended to supplicate a lot at all
times and (to supplicate) more than that during the month of
Ramadaan, its last ten days and its odd days. And it is highly
recommended to increase ones invoking with this supplication: ‘O
Allaah, indeed you are All-Pardoning. You love forgiveness, so
forgive me.’” [Tafsser Ibn Katheer: 8/472]
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Ramadhan
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