Tafsir of Surah Qadr: Ibn kathir on Laylatul Qadr

Tafsir of Surah Al-Qadr (Chapter 97)

-From the classical Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir R.A.

"We have sent it [the Qur'an] down on the Night of Al-Qadr.

And how will you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is?

The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months,

In it the angels and the Spirit come down by their Lord's leave, with all His decrees.

Peace it is, until the rising of the dawn."

[Surah Al-Qadr, the 97th Chapter of the Qur'an]

The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr:

1. The night of the Revelation of the Quran:

Allah informs us that He sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Al-Qadr, and it is a blessed night about which Allah says:

"We sent it down in a blessed night ... "[Al-Qur'an 44:3]

This is the Night of Al-Qadr and it occurs during the month of Ramadhan. This is as Allah says:

"The month of Ramadhan in which the Qur'an was revealed ... " [Al-Qur'an 2:185]

Ibn Abbas and others have said:

"Allah sent the Qur'an down all at one time from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) to the House of Might (Baytul-Izzah), which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, based upon the incidents that occurred over a period of twenty-three years."

2. A night better than a thousand months:

Then Allah magnified the status of the Night of Al-Qadr, which He chose for the revelation of the Mighty Qur'an, by His saying:

"And how will you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is?

"The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months ... "

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said:

"When Ramadhan would come, the Messenger of Allah would say, 'Verily the month of Ramadhan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived.' "

3. A night of Forgiveness of all Sins:

Aside from the fact that worship during the Night of Al-Qadr is equivalent to worship performed for a period of one thousand months, it is also confirmed in the two sahih collections, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:

"Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and expecting reward (from Allah), he will be forgiven for his previous sins."

4. The Descent of the Angels during the Night of Al-Qadr:

Allah says:

"In it the angels and the Spirit come down by their Lord's leave, with all His decrees."

Meaning the angels descend in abundance during the Night of Al-Qadr due to its abundant blessings. The angels descend with the descending of blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur'an is recited, they surround the circles of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and they lower their wings with true respect for the student of knowledge.

In reference to the Spirit, it is said that here it means the angel Jibril. Therefore, the wording of the ayah is a method of adding the name of the distinct object separate from the general group (in this case the angels).

5. The night of Decree:

Concerning Allah's statement:

" ... with all His decrees."

Mujahid said:

"It is security in which the Devil cannot do any evil or any harm."

Qatadah and others have said:

"The matters are determined during it, and the times of death and provisions are measured out (i.e., decided) during it."

Allah says:

"In that night every affair is wisely decided." [Al-Qur'an 44:4]

6. The night of Peace:

Then Allah says:

"Peace it is, until the rising of the dawn."

Ash-Sha'bi said concerning this:

"The angels giving the greetings of peace during the Night of Al-Qadr to the people in the masjid until the coming of fajr (dawn)."

Qatadah and Ibn Zayd both said:

"This means all of it is good and there is no evil in it until the coming of fajr (dawn)."

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Specifying the Night of Qadr and its Signs

[Summary of this section: The Night of Al-Qadr occurs during an odd night in the last ten nights of Ramadan.-AHD]

This is supported by what Imam Ahmad recorded that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:

"The Night of Al-Qadr occurs during the last ten (nights). Whoever stands for them (in prayer) seeking their reward, then indeed Allah will forgive his previous sins and his latter sins. It is an odd night: the ninth or the seventh, or the fifth, or the third or the last night (of Ramadhan)."

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, also said:

"Verily, the sign of the Night of Al-Qadr is that it is pure and glowing as if there were a bright, tranquil, calm moon during it. It is not cold, nor is it hot, and no shooting star is permitted until morning. Its sign is that the sun appears on the morning following it smooth having no rays on it, just like the moon on a full moon night. Shaytan is not allowed to come out with it (the sun) on that day." [This chain of narration is good. In its text there is some oddities and in some of its wordings there are things that are objectionable]

Abu Dawud mentioned a section in his Sunan that he titled, "Chapter: Clarification that the Night of Al-Qadr occurs during every Ramadhan." Then he recorded that when question about the Night of Al-Qadr, the Messenger of Allah said:

"It occurs during every Ramadhan." [The men of this chain of narration are all reliable, but Abu Dawud said that Shu'bah and Sufyan both narrated from Ishaq and they both considered it to be a statement of the Companion Ibn 'Umar, and thus not the statement of the Prophet]

It has been reported that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said:

"The Messenger of Allah performed i'tikafduring the first ten nights of Ramadhan and we performed i'tikaf with him. Then Jibril came to him and said, 'That which you are seeking is front of you,' so the Prophet performed i'tikaf during the middle ten days of Ramadhan and we also performed i'tikafwith him. Then Jibril came to him and said; 'That which you are seeking is ahead of you,' so the Prophet stood up and gave a sermon on the morning of the twentieth of Ramadhan and he said:

'Whoever performed i'tikaf with me, let him come back (for i'tikaf again), for verily I saw the Night of Al-Qadr, and I was caused to forget it, and indeed it is during the last ten (nights). It is during an odd night and I saw myself as if I were prostrating in mud and water.'

"The roof of the masjid was made of dried palm-tree leaves and we did not see anything (i.e. clouds) in the sky but then a patch of wind-driven clouds came and it rained. So the Prophet lead us in prayer until we saw the traces of mud and water on the forehead of the Messenger of Allah, which confirmed his dream."

In one narration it adds that this occurred on the morning of the twenty-first night (meaning the next morning). They both (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) recorded it in the their collections. 
Ash-Shafi'i said:
"This tradition is the most authentic of what has been reported."
It has also been said that it is on the twenty-third night due to a tradition narrated from 'Abdullah ibn 'Unays in Sahih Muslim.


It has also been reported that it is on the twenty-fifth night due to what Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah said:

"Seek it in the last ten (nights) of Ramadhan. In the ninth it still remains in the seventh it still remains, in the fifth it still remains."

Many have explained this statement to refer to the odd nights, and this is the apparent and most popular explanation. It has also been said that it occurs on the twenty-seventh night because of what Muslim recorded in his Sahih from Ubayy ibn Ka'ab that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, mentioned that it was on the twenty-seventh night.

Imam Ahmad recorded from Zirr that he asked Ubayy ibn Ka'ab:

"O Abu'l-Mundhir! Verily, your brother Ibn Masud says whoever stands for prayer (at night) the entire year, will catch the Night ofAl-Qadr." He (Ubayy) said: "May Allah have mercy upon him. Indeed he knows that it is the twenty-seventh night." Then he swore by Allah. Zirr then said, "How do you know that?" Ubayy replied, "By a sign or an indication that he (the Prophet) informed us of. It rises that next day having no rays on it - meaning the sun."

It has been said that it is the night of the twenty-ninth. The Messenger of Allah was questioned about the Night of Al-Qadr and he replied:

"Seek it in Ramadhan in the last ten nights. For verily, it is during the odd nights, the twenty-first, or the twenty-third, or the twenty-fifth, or the twenty-seventh, or the twenty-ninth, or during the last night."

The Messenger of Allah also said about the Night of Al-Qadr:

"Verily, it is during the twenty-seventh or the twenty-ninth night. And verily, the angels who are on the earth during that night are more numerous than the number of pebbles."

Abu Qilabah that he said:

"The Night of Al-Qadr moves around (i.e., from year to year) throughout the last ten nights."

And Allah knows best.

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Supplication During the Night of Decree

It is recommended to supplicate often during all times, especially during the month of Ramadhan, in the last ten nights, and during the odd nights of it even more so. 

It is recommended that one say the following supplication a lot:

"O Allah! Verily, you are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me."

This is due to what Imam Ahmad recorded from 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said:

"O Messenger of Allah! If I find the Night of Al-Qadr what should I say?"

He replied:

"Say: O Allah! Verily You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me."

This is the end of this brief explanation of Surah Al-Qadr, and all praise and blessing are due to Allah.

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Source (with added sub-headings by AHD)- SUNNAHONLINE 

THE NIGHT PRECEDING ‘EID-UL-FITR & sunnahs of Eid day

THE NIGHT PRECEDING ‘EID-UL-FITR

by Shaykh Fayaz Tilly

Even though this night has been named Lailatul Jaiza, it is unfortunate that us Muslims do not take advantage of such an oppurtunity to gain reward and blessings. Rather, at times we get so engaged in renting cars, shopping for nice clothes, applying henna etc., that we become negligent of the commands of Allah (swt).

Prophetic traditions have stated that Allah (swt) rewards His fasting slaves on this very night, by accepting one's du‘as. Thus a person's every wish and prayer will be granted. Therefore one should perform nafl, recite Qur'an and perform zikr on this night.

The Holy Prophet (saw) is also reported to have said: "Whoever stands up (in worship) in the night preceding the two eids expecting reward form Allah, his heart will not die when other hearts will die," (Ibn Majah).

In order to benefit and gain blessings from this night one should strive to perform a great number of good deeds on this sacred occasion.

ON THE DAY OF ‘EID-UL-FITR

To perform the following on the day of ‘Eid are Sunnah:

1. To wake up early.
2. To use Miswak.
3. To take a shower.
4. To put on one's best clothes.
5. To use ‘Itr (Scent).
6. To eat something sweet, preferably dates before the ‘Eid prayer.
7. To recite Takbir-ut-Tashriq (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha Illallahu, Wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahilhamd) in a soft voice while going to the ‘Eid prayer.
8. To proceed to the ‘Eid prayer one way and to return home from another way.

On asking forgiveness - 'Riyadus Saliheen'

On asking forgiveness - From 'Riyadus Saliheen'

by Imam Abu Zakaria Mohiuddin Yahya An-Nawawi (RA):

 Translation by Ustadha Aisha Bewley

From the Holy Quran-

Allah says, "Ask forgiveness for your wrongdoing, and for the men and women who believe," (47:20; 47:19)

 and the Almighty says, "Ask Allah's forgiveness. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (4:105; 4:106)

 He says, "Then glorify your Lord's praise and ask His forgiveness. He is the Ever-Returning." (110:3-4; 110:3)

and the Almighty says, "Those who are God-fearing will have Gardens with their Lord with rivers flowing under them" to His words, "those who seek forgiveness before dawn." (3:15-17)

Allah says, "Anyone who does evil or wrongs himself and then asks Allah¹s forgiveness will find Allah Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (4:109; 4:110)

and He says, "Allah would not punish them while you were among them. Allah would not punish them as long as they sought forgiveness." (8:33)

 The Almighty says, "Those who, when they act indecently or wrong themselves, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their bad actions – and who can forgive bad actions except Allah – and do not knowingly persist in what they were doing." (3:135)

From the Hadith-

1869. Al-Agharr al-Muzani reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A cloudiness comes over my heart and I ask for Allah's forgiveness a hundred times a day." [Muslim]

 1870. Abu Hurayra said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'By Allah, I ask Allah's forgiveness and turn to Him more than seventy times a day.'" [al-Bukhari]

 1871. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "By the One in whose hand my soul is, if you did not do wrong, Allah Almighty would remove you and bring a people who do wrong and then ask Allah Almighty for forgiveness and He would forgive them." [Muslim]

1872. Ibn 'Umar said, "We used to count out for the Messengerof Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in one assembly a hundred times, "Lord forgive me and turn to Me, You are the Returning, the Merciful." [Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi]

  1873. Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If someone clings to asking for forgiveness, Allah will appoint him a way out of every constriction, and relief from every care and will provide for him from where he does not reckon."[Abu Dawud]

1874. Ibn Mas'ud reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who says, 'I ask forgiveness of Allah, other than whom there is no god, the Living, the All-Sustaining and I turn to him,' will be forgiven his wrong actions, even if he fled from the press of battle." [Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi]

1875. Shaddad ibn Aws stated that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The best way to ask forgiveness is for a slave to say, 'O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your slave. I comply with Your covenant and Your promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with you from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me. Only You can forgive sins.' Anyone who says this during the day having confidence in it and dies on that day before evening will be among the people of the Garden. Anyone who says it during the night having confidence in it and dies before morning will be among the people of the Garden." [al-Bukhari]

 1876. Thawban said, "When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to finish his prayer, he asked forgiveness three times and said, 'O Allah, You are Peace and peace is from You. You are blessed, O Possessor of majesty and nobility.'" Al-Awza'i, one of the transmitters of the hadith, was asked, "How was the asking forgiveness?" He said, "You say, 'I ask Allah's forgiveness. I ask Allah's forgiveness.'". [Muslim]

1877. 'A'isha said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to often say before his death, 'Glory be to Allah and by His praise. I ask Allah's forgiveness and I turn in repentance to Him." [Agreed upon]

 1878. Anas said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Allah Almighty says, "O son of Adam! I will forgive you as long as you call on Me and have hope in Me, no matter what you do. Son of Adam, I do not care if your wrong actions reach to the clouds of heaven and then you ask Me for forgiveness, I will forgive you. Son of Adam, if you were to come with sins equivalent in weight to the whole earth and then meet Me having not associated anything with Me, I would come to you with the same amount of forgiveness.'" [at-Tirmidhi]

 1879. Ibn 'Umar stated that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "O company of women! Give sadaqa and ask forgiveness often. I have seen that you comprise the majority of the people of the Fire." One of the women said, "Why are we are the majority of the people of the Fire?" He said, "You curse a lot and you are ungrateful to your husbands. Despite the fact that I see you are deficient both in intellect and the deen, intelligent men are destroyed by you." She said, "What is our deficiency in intelligence and the deen?" He said, "The testimony of two women is only worth the testimony of one man and there are days when a woman does not pray." [Muslim]