Friday, August 26, 2011

Blessings of 'Lailat-ul-Qadr'

On August 25, 2011 LE MAURICIEN Newspaper, which is published from the Mauritius, carried an article by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib on the extraordinary spiritual phenomenon known as Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree). In the article, Hadhrat Sahib reflects upon the Divine Grace and Mercy in the last 10 days of the Holy Month of Ramadan available to the believers who engage in fasting and other acts of worship only for the sake of Allah, the Most High. We are reproducing below the article here for the benefit of all].

The Holy Quran describes one of the greatest and most beautiful night as thus:“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (Al-Qadr 97: 2-6)
After having completed twenty days of fasting during this blessed month, the believer feels the deep connection between him and his Lord. He is altogether satisfied that he succeeded in fulfilling the commands of his Lord, of sacrificing many aspects of his life, all for the pleasure of his Creator. This sense of achievement is a boost for him to strive further to make the best of these remaining days when Ramadan will go away, leaving a big vacuum in his life. Like I have so many times said, Ramadan is a month of training; such a month in which he prefers to indulge in seeking the pleasure of God through numerous forms of acts of worship, to seek God’s forgiveness and His protection against Hell-fire.
The Mother of the Believers, Lady Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her), the noble wife of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) narrated:Allah’s Apostle used to practice  Itikaf (spiritual retreat) in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say,Look for the Night of Qadr (Decree) in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.” The last ten days of Ramadan, the month of fasting in Islam is also time for repentance of an exquisite aura.

Lady Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated: “When the last ten days of Ramadan would come, the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to tighten his lower garment belt, spend the whole night in prayer and worship, and wake his family (at night for prayer and worship).” It was also narrated on her authority that she said that the Prophet of God would strive [to do acts of worship] during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time.
The “Laila tul Qadr” is that special night in the last ten days of Ramadan amongst all nights in this month. This night brings in its wake special signs of the grace and mercy of God Almighty which the righteous, pure and close to God perceive. These signs are revealed to them; the same signs which beforehand were invisible to their eyes and heart. These people of God are made to see these signs with both their physical and inner eyes, to witness the light and favours of God pouring down upon them either through a true dream, vision or even revelation. This night is witness to the descent of angels, including the Holy Spirit which comes down to enlighten those whom God has chosen to enlighten. 
God Almighty the Possessor of Glory and Majesty has said: “The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (97: 5-6)
What better times that a believer can witness than the times of a Messenger of God? This was the case when the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) came to revive the spiritually dead and give them the light, just like the noble prophets (on them be peace) before him came to bring the light of truth to shine in the hearts of the people. Like his brothers-prophets, Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to teach the believers such supplications and prayers so that Allah may have mercy upon them all, and admit them in His grace and love, and open for them the gate of “Ar-Rayaan”; the gate through which the devoted fasting believers will enter paradise. 
Allah promised goodness for the one who fasts only for His pleasure, to seek Him alone as his récompense. In these days, the companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gladly sacrificed everything for the sake of God and His Prophet, the Blessed One. The days of Ramadan were for them an opportunity anew to strive to obtain the forgiveness and mercy of Allah all the more, to purify them and attain their goal, that is, God Almighty in His everlasting glory and majesty. 

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