The Salaf and their Attitude to Laylat al Qadr

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Chapter 39: Virtues of the Last Ten Days of Ramadhaan
Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (d.795) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] says in his book Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif (Pg. 142-149)

Those who wants Laylat al-Qadr and wishes to seek it will not spend their time socializing; rather they will focus on giving their attention to their Master and paying attention on getting closer to Him. On this night, they run away from people and abandon themselves from them.

Allaah, the Most High, says:

1. Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)

2. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?

3. 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, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).

4. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees,

5. Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.

[Surah Qadr 97: 1-5]

The scholars differed on the wisdom on having Laylat al-Qadr and the descending of the Angels on this night:

Some said that that the Angels descend from the command of their Lord because His Slaves on earth have beautified themselves on this night, and they have busied themselves with acts of worship from fasting (during the day) and praying during the night, so that the Angels may witness this. So that they may witness the Masaajid being alight and that Allaah says to them, “You have refuted yourselves about the children of Aadam. You said; ‘Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, - while we glorify You with praises and thanks…’ so I said to you, ‘I know that which you do not know’ so go out to them on this night until you witness them praying and prostrating and bowing, so that you may know that I have chosen them above the ‘Aalameen.”

Imaam Malik [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “It has reached me that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] saw the life expectancy of people, as Allaah Willed, so he saw them becoming shorter in age throughout the ages until this Ummah would have the shortest life expectancy so Allaah give this Ummah Laylat al-Qadr which is better than one thousand months.”

It is narrated that Mujaahid [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] mentioned men from the children of Israaeel, that they wore their armor fighting in the path of Allaah for one thousand months so the Muslims got amazed by this so Allaah revealed, ‘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, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).’ [al-Qadr 97:3].”

An-Nakha’ee [May Allaah Mercy on him] said, “Good deeds on that night are equivalent to doing them for one thousand months.”

It is narrated in Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Whoever stands Laylat al-Qadr, with Eeman and hope then Allaah will forgive all his previous sins.”

In the Musnad of Ahmad it is reported on the authority of ‘Ubaadah bin al-Saamit that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “People don’t stand during the night seeking it except that their sins are forgiven, their previous and forthcoming sins once they meet it (i.e. Laylat al-Qadr).”

It also narrated in the Musnad of Ahmad and Nasaa’ee on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said about Ramadhaan, “In this month there is a night which is better than one thousand months, whoever is prevented from its goodness is indeed deprived.”

Juwaybir said that I asked ad-Dahaak [May Allaah have Mercy on him], “Those who are on their menses or those who are travelling or those who are sleeping on this night, do they get the reward of Laylat al-Qadr?” He replied, “Yes, whoever Allaah has accepted their deeds will receive their reward on the Laylat al-Qadr.”

My brothers, it is about having your deeds accepted and not just about striving on this night. What matters is the purity of your heart, not just the extent of worship with your limbs. How many people have stood during the night but their hearts did not? How many people have slept during the night but their hearts are still connected to the Dhikr or Allaah? The first one, he stands but his heart is still disobedient. However, the slave who seeks and strives to gain the goodness of this night by working hard  on doing good deeds, then you should know that doing the deeds that you have bee created for will be made easy for you.

So the one who has been created to be pleased then doing righteous deeds, the deeds that are needed for him to become happy, will be made easy for him. As for the one whom one who has been created to be wretched then doing evil deeds will be made easy for him to do.

4. Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes);

5. As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him,

6. And believes in Al-Husna.

7. We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness).

8. But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient.

9. And gives the lie to Al-Husna (see Verse No: 6 footnote);

10. We will make smooth for him the path for evil;

[Shams 92:4-10]