Shab Qadr - The night of power

Why is this night called Shab Qadr?

 

There are various reasons why it is called so.

 

First reason:  Qadr means greatness and dignity.  It has been used in this sense in the following verse of the Holy Quran:

 

And they (the Jews) did not appreciate Allah with the just estimation that is His true measure.  Surah An’aam (6:91)

 

‘Allama Abul Hasan ‘Ali bin Muhammad Khazin, (May Allah shower His mercy on him) the author of Tafseer Khazin says:

 

Translation: This night is called Shab Qadr because of its auspiciousness, majesty and grandeur over other nights.  (Lubab Ut Taweel, Surah Qadr-1)

 

We get to know from this that this night is one of greatness and majesty that is why it is called Shab Qadr.

 

Second reason: The way this night is one of auspiciousness and excellence, in the same way the good deeds done this night are also accepted and very excellent before Allah Most High.  Thus, the good deeds done this night are taken to the door of acceptance by the true believers.  It is called “Lailatul Qadr” on this basis as well.

 

As given in Tafseer Khazin:

 

Translation: It is called “Qadr” that in this night because of ready acceptance by Almighty Allah, the good deeds done by the worshippers have much excellence.  (Lubab Ut Taweel, Surah Qadr-1)

 

Third reason:  “Qadr” is also used in the sense of being constrained.  It is used in the Holy Quran in this sense:

 

The affluent should spend (according to) his means. And whoever is provided sustenance scarcely, let him spend (on her maintenance) out of the provision which Allah has given him.  Surah At Talaaq (65:7)

 

This does not mean that this night is a constrained night for the worshippers.  In fact, this night angels descend to meet the worshippers of Almighty Allah and because of their overwhelming presence the land is constrained.  Thus, the author of Tafseer Khazin writes:

 

Translation: This night is called “Qadr” because the land becomes constrained because of the coming of angels.  (Lubab Ut Taweel, Surah Qadr-1)

 

Fourth reason:  Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes yet another reason for called this night as “Qadr”:

 

Translation: This (night) is called “Qadr” because the treasured book through the majestic Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was revealed to the esteemed Ummah.  For this reason, “Lailatul Qadr” has been mentioned in the Surah 3 times.  (Fadhaail-e-Ramadhan, Pg. No. 107)

 

As mentioned in Tafseer Qurtubi, Surah Qadr-1.

 

To value Shab Qadr and respect it is binding on every Muslim.  One way being to truly realize the importance and greatness of Shab Qadr and the other way by busying oneself in worship, remembrance of Almighty Allah in this night, and by staying away from the forbidden things.

 

Those worshippers of Almighty Allah who value Shab Qadr will indeed be worthy of the outward and inward bounties of Almighty Allah and their good deeds will be worthy of acceptance by Allah Ta’ala.

 

Shab Qadr is a night of blessings. This is the night of the revelation of the Holy Quran, in which angels descend and the worshippers of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) who spend this night in prayer are given the reward of worship of more than 1000 months.

 

Shab Qadr – In the last 10 days of Ramadhan

 

We know that Shab Qadr is in the last 10 days of Ramadhan.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has instructed us to perform special worship in the last 10 nights of Ramadhan to search for Shab Qadr.  As given in this Hadith:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would perform ‘Itikaaf in the last 10 days of Ramadhan and would say:  You search for Shab Qadr in the last 10 days of Ramadhan.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 2020; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2833; Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 797)

 

Shab Qadr on the 27^th night of Ramadhan

 

It is clear from the words of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that Shab Qadr is in the last 10 days of Ramadhan.  The Companions were very close to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and are familiar and understand the intent of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  They are the ones who act perfectly on the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and there cannot be even the faintest of the suggestion that they missed a single Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The very same Companions declare that Shab Qadr is on the 27th night of Ramadhan.  Although once before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had not fixed a specific date for Shab Qadr, but after the narration of Hadhrat ‘Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her), Imam Tirmidhi narrates a Hadith:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ubai bin Ka'ab (May Allah be well pleased with him), he would say on oath and say that Shab Qadr is on the 27th night of Ramadhan and would say:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) described its signs to us and we enumerated them and memorized them.

 

Deduction from Surah Al Qadr

 

There is a narration on the authority of Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) that Shab Qadr is on the 27th night of Ramadhan.  Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) deduces from the words of Shab Qadr that there are 30 words in Sura Qadr.  Among them the pronoun Hiya (meaning that night i.e. Shab Qadr) is the 27th one, as given in Fath Ul Bari the great interpretation of Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) that Shab Qadr is the 27th night of Ramadhan.  A similar narration is related on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him) as well and he has deduced this from the fact there are 30 words in Sura Qadr and the pronoun Hiya (meaning that night i.e. Shab Qadr) is the 27th one.

 

In Surah Qadr, the words, “Lailatul Qadr” have been mentioned thrice.  There are 9 letters in Arabic in the said word and that 9 when multiplied by 3 is 27.  Thus, this number also suggests that Shab Qadr is on the 27th night, as ‘Allama Hafidh Ibn Hajar ‘Asqalani (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has written:

 

Translation: And some scholars have deduced (that Shab Qadr is on the 27th) in yet another way.  Thus, it is related that Lailatul Qadr has 9 letters (in Arabic script) and in this Surah (i.e. Surah Qadr), it has been mentioned thrice.  This way, it comes to 27.  (Fath Ul Bari; Mafateeh Ul Ghaib, Surah Qadr-03)