[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Night of Power (3/3)

Tajuddin B. Shuaib

"The Night of Power is better than a thousand months."
This indicates that acts of worship such as prayer, charity, and recitation done on this night are better in reward than the same act done on other nights. The rewards (thawaab) are being multiplied several-fold.
Imam Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) was shown the long life span of people of previous nations, so the Prophet bemoaned the shortness of the life span of the Ummah, fearing that they might not be able to save many good deeds for the Hereafter. Therefore, Allah gave him the Night of Power to compensate for their lack of longevity. Hence, the devoted believer has a chance of adding 80 something years of worship to his life on the Night of Power. You see, for instance, if you worship Allah on this night every year for 65 years, by multiplying 65 by 80, you would have lived for 5,200 years, or achieved the reward of a person who lived that long.
You can see why the devotions were highly encouraged by the Prophet. Indeed, you can achieve the honor of the Night of Power if you so wish by spending the odd nights of the last ten days in acts of worship.
"Therein, come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Al-Qadr, 97:4)
This is far from the earlier cry of the angels who, when Allah told them,
"...I will create a vicegerent on earth," they said, "Will you place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?..." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30)
You see, when the angels first looked at our spirit with its traits of mischief, vanity and desires, and the rages of anger, they, the embodiment of all that is good, did not like us at all. That explains their response in the above verse. So is the case with parents, when they first conceptualize the shape of the off-spring, semen and congealed blood; they do not like it.
They will even wash their hands, clothes and everything that this substance touches, a gruesome thing. They may even think about aborting the baby in the beginning.
But after the baby is being fashioned in the most beautiful shape and they feel the movement of life, they change from dislike to caring love.
That is seemingly what happened to the angels. When they saw in us this beautiful spirit of knowing the Creator, and worshipping Allah Alone, they changed from dislike to complete love, and cannot wait for another Night of Power to come down so they can pray for us. Allah states:
"...And they implore forgiveness for those who believe..." (Al-Qur’an, Surah Ghafir, 40:7)
He used the form (tanazzal) "They come", to indicate that the angels descend on the Night of Power, group after group; some coming down to earth while others ascend into the heaven. This heavenly, angelic organized traffic of good will continues until the break of dawn.
As for the reasons why they come, there are several explanations including:
(1) They descend to witness how we worship and obey Allah, and
(2) To show their deep love for the believers. This is why they seek permission from Allah to come and meet us. This is a once-a-year opportunity they do not like to miss.
(3) Allah promised the believers that in the Hereafter, angels will approach on them with greetings:
"...And the angels shall enter into them from every gate (with the salutation): Peace be unto you for that you persevered in patience..." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Ar-Rad’, 13:23-24)
Now, if you preoccupy yourself with worship of Allah, the angels will descend on you with salutations.
(4) Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) singles out this night with honors on the earth so the angels can come down and increase their rewards, and as a means to encourage the human race to worship.
(5) Realization that the angels are around is encouragement for the servants to devote more time to good deeds as a man will work harder when a foreman is present.
"...And the Spirit..." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Al-Qadr, 97: 4)
There are several explanations for the meaning of the Spirit:
(1) The Spirit is comprised of groups of special angels who are seen only on the Night of Power;
(2) It is referring to Al-Qur’an, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) stated: "And thus have We, by Our command sent inspiration (spirit) to thee..." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Ash-Shuraa, 42:52),
(3) This is a reference to Angel Jibreel, as this is a special honor to Jibreel who has been mentioned twice Surah 42 first with another angel, and separately as the spirit of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) as the Qur'an says:
"Verily this is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. With it came down the spirit of faith and truth." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Ash-Shu’ara’, 26:192-193)
Thus the correct explanation of the spirit, Ruuh, is Jibreel in this verse to indicate the angels on one side and Jibreel on the other, while they were descending.
"...By Allah's permission..."
This indicates the angels extend a request to come to meet the believers; and to underscore the fact that angels are infallible; that they do not make a move without explicit permission from their Lord. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states:
"They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His command." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Al-Anbya’ 21:27)
"(The angels say) We descend not but by command of thy Lord..." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Maryam, 19:64)
"(Their) Lord." It indicates honor for the angels. It is as if Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is saying "They are for Me and I am for them". Similarly, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said regarding us:
"Verily your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days..."
(Al-Qur'an, Surah Yunus, 10:3)
And regarding Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) Allah said:
"Behold, your Lord said to the angels..." (Al-Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30)
It has been reported that when Prophet David was terminally ill, he asked Allah to be for his son Solomon, as He was for him. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) replied, saying:
"Tell Solomon to be for Me as you are for Me.”
"...On every errand..."
This indicates the angels and the Spirit descend for different purposes: some come down for prostration, some for bowing, and others for supplications for the believers and salutations. Or they come down carrying with them the proclamations of the coming year.
"Peace…!" (Al-Qur'an, Surah Al-Qadr, 97:5)
There are several explanations to this verse:
(1) The whole Night of Power, from sunset to the break of dawn, will be spent by the angels in salutation.
(2) The purpose is to describe the night with peace because of the salutation from the angels. That is very important, because when seven angels visited Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) and saluted him, he was very happy, and when Nimrod threw him in the fire, it turned ice-cold when the angels saluted him.
(3) This is a wish of safety and peace from all evil and harmful things, or the angels will only bring on this night, good things!
"...Until the rise of morn." (Al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Qadr, 97:5)
All the honor, blessings and peace of the Night of Power will continue in every second of the night until Fajr. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is the Best Knower.