‘Laila-tul-Qadr’: An Interview

 

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).” (2:185)

'Truly, We revealed this on a Night full of blessings...’ (44:4)

We revealed it on the ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’ [the Night of Destiny, the Blessed Night & filled with virtues] (97:2)

 

Ramadan is the holiest month of Islam. Muslims are commanded by Allah (swt) to observe fasting during this month, and to perform other rites of worship, and invocations in remembrance of God. The great event of the descent of Divine revelations forming the Holy Qur’an took place in this month, and Muslims believe that the ‘Night of Destiny’ [‘Laila-tul-Qadr’] comes again every year, giving a chance for true believers to seek special nearness and pleasure of God through sincere acts of worship. 

Based on Qur’anic injunction on spiritual retreat, in the final ten days of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad (sa) used to seclude himself in the corner of the Mosque for focussing his time for special remembrance, invocations and exclusive, supererogative worship of the Divine. The Holy Prophet (sa) also advised his followers to practice spiritual retreat [I’tikaaf] in the last ten days of Ramadan, abstaining from conjugal relations, fasting and praying through the night. A Hadith states: “Look for the Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramadan, on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan.” 

In an interview with Hazrat Tayyeba Nasrine Aliah, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius profoundly reflects upon ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’, bringing into light its doctrinal roots and its practical manifestations, both in history and in our own times.  

According to Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba), the transformation of the inner self is critical for gaining spiritual growth and progress in the path of God. With sincere efforts to seek nearness to God and accede to His pleasure through fasting and invocations in the month of Ramadan, a person can change his destiny and fortunes in a good way. 

The Holy Prophet (sa) was a personification of ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’, bringing light, wisdom and mercy for the world at a time of utter spiritual darkness. A dawn of new hope in the form of revelatory teachings opened up a path for humanity to tread with the advent of the Holy Prophet (sa) and the emergence of Islam as the religion in an era when all religious teachings were distorted and corrupted by forces of evil. 

In every era, the cycle of rise and fall of religious communities take place due to the presence of evil forces under Satan seeking to subvert the divine order, and it triggers the Sunnat Allah of a chosen messenger of God appearing with revelations of His teachings to give glad tidings for those who obey and follow Divine guidance, and to warn people about Evil in their midst, and to remind everyone about accountability on that ever-approaching Day. Hence, at one level, the Elects of God who appear are the ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’; for they bring in ‘light upon light’- of spiritual teachings and practical wisdom for the benefit of humankind.

In this context, Hazrat Saheb (aba) further acknowledges that in this era, Allah (swt) has raised him as a special representative to the people with numerous spiritual titles: ‘Muhyiuddin’, ‘Mujaddid’, ‘Khalifatullah’, as manifestations of the Divine mandate and seal of recognition. It is a great opportunity for the people, especially the Muslim Ummah, to spiritually benefit by recognizing this Divine Plan and scheme for this era. Towards the end of the Interview- Part One, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) shares a beautiful ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’ mystical experience of light upon light that he personally experienced during this Ramadan, Subhaan Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar!

 

Watch and Listen to the Interview here: