The Signs of Laylatul Qadr

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu,

Subhaanallah walhamdulillah wa laa ilaaha illaallaahu.

All of us, of course, are looking forward to meeting with a special night. A night with a special power, the power of Allah SWT. Since I was small, when I was in madrasah, my teachers always talked about laylatul qadr. What is the laylatul Qadr?

There is a tradition in Indonesia, especially in my hometown, Padang, every 27th of Ramadan we have a candle light night (pasang lilin). This is done by children. What they do is lit up the candles all over their front yard, fences, gates, tree branches, and any kinds of rocks on the ground. I still remember when we finished shalat tarawih in the masjid, we came straight home to lit up the candles. In the front of our house looked so bright and beuatiful. But i did not understand why we did that. My mom told me that tonight is supposed to be the laylatul qadr, so we are greeting the night (malaikahs/angels) for coming down to us. By doing that, what I understand that to prepare us that get ready to welcome the laylatul qadr, and to remind us to do something good, qiyaamul lail, shalat, zikir, etc. I was still small at that time, around 9 years old or ten, so i did not have a chance to know and understand what to do and what to expect. I'm not sure if this tradition is still going on. Insha Allah I'll ask my sisters who have the children or my friends there.


Let's watch out for this to come. We pray to Allah All Mighty Most Merciful to bless us this Ramadan by witnessing Laylatul-Qadr


To understand how the laylatul qadr comes, The signs of laylatul qadr, here are some Hadiiths related to it:


1. Ubaadah bin Saamit (Ra) reports that he asked the Prophet SAW about "Laylatul Qadr". He replied: "It is in Ramadhan, during the last ten days, on the unevenly numbered nights, either the 21st 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th or the last night of Ramadhan. Whosoever stands in "Ibaadah" on this night, with sincere faith and with genuine hopes of gaining reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. Among the signs of this night is that it is a serene, quiet, shining night, neither hot, nor cold but temperate as if a moon is shining clear, and no meteors are shot at the "Shayateen" on that night; it lasts until the break of the dawn. Another sign is that at morn, the Sun rises without any radiant beams of light, appearing rather like the moon in it's fullness. On that day, Allah prohibits the "Shayateen" from rising up with the Sun."


2. The Prophet Muhammad SAW, described the morning after Lailatul-Qadr, so that the Muslim may know which day it is. From Ubayy, radhiya Allahu 'anhu, who said: that he, the Prophet Muhammad SAW, said: "On the morning following Lailatul-Qadr the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up."[Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmithi and Ibn Majah]

3. Abu Hurairah, Ra, said : "We were discussing Lailatul-Qadr in the presence of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, so he said : 'Which of you remembers [the night] when the moon arose and was like half a plate?... [Muslim]

4. Ibn 'Abbaas, radhiya Allahu 'anhuma, said: The Prophet Muhammad SAW said: "Lailatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its morning being feeble and red." [at-Tayaalisee, Ibn Khuzaimah and al-Bazzaar with a Hasan Isnad]


4. Aaisha (Ra) reports: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (SAW), should I find myself the "Laylatul Qadr", hat shall I pray. The Prophet (Muhammad SAW replied: say, Allaahumma innaka afuwwun tohibbu al'afwa fa'fu anna "O Allah, Thou art the One who grants pardon for sins. Thou lovest to pardon, so O pardon me."

Part of what has been mentioned in this Hadith has already been dealt with. Some signs are here mentioned about the actual night. These signs are clear and need no further elucidation. Apart from these, there are other signs too, as mentioned in the Ahadith or in the experiences of those who had the good fortune to experience "Laylatul Qadr." The sign that is, however; most specific in the Hadith is the rising of the sun, 'without any radiant beams of light.' Other signs are not always there. One Sahaabi, Ab'da bin Abi Lubaaba (Radhi Allaho anho) says: "On the evening of the 27th , I tasted the water of the sea and it was sweet." Ayub bin Khalid said: 'I once had to bathe myself with sea water, and on tasting it, found, it sweet. This was on the 23rd night." Some of the "Mashaaikh" (religious divines) wrote that, on the evening of "Laylatul Qadr", everything prostrates itself before Allah, so much so that trees fall flat on the ground, then return to their normal position; these are however spiritual phenomena not visible to the ordinary person.

Let's hope we shall find the laylatul Qadr this year Amiin Ya Rabbil 'Alamiin.
'Allaahumma Innaka 'Afuwwun, Fa'fu 'Anni"

Mineola, 12 september, 2008
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