The Wisdom of Hiding Laylatu l-Qadr

22 April by Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil Ar-Rabbani

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Shukr to Allāh ﷻ, we attained this month of Ramaḍān. It is passing well with Barakah and goodness. Allāh ﷻ has gifted this month to us, to the Ummah. It has all kinds of beauties in it. And the Night of Power/ Laylatu l-Qadr is usually in the month of Ramaḍān. It can be any day of the year; that is a different matter. But usually, it is in the month of Ramaḍān. From the 1st till the end, there is a high chance. There is no designation that it is only on the 27th. Our Holy Prophet ṣalla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says to look for it after the 20th. It happens mostly then. It can be on any date, odd or even. But there is a higher chance of an odd date, says our Holy Prophet ṣalla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

A Saḥābah asked him ﷺ, “Can you tell me the day of Laylatu l-Qadr?” He insisted that our Holy Prophet ṣalla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam tells him. So he ﷺ said, “If people know it, it will be too easy for them. They will leave prayer on other times. They will pray only on that night by leaving the rest of the prayers.” That is why our Holy Prophet ṣalla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam didn’t tell. And of course, it changes every year. Nonetheless, our Holy Prophet ﷺ could tell. But there is a wisdom, because it is better than a thousand months. A thousand months correspond to 80 years. And that is more than the average age of a person. Many people pass away before reaching that age. And if you count the youth and childhood years, it makes 90 years of worship for a person. Therefore, one can do more good deeds in one night than throughout his life. And that is easy for people. While trying to do good deeds, people may be deprived of goodness then. This is its wisdom.

Also it is for worshipping every day and every night. Turkish people have a good saying: “Know every night as al-Qadr and every person as Al Khiḍr.” Show importance to every night. When you perform worship, show importance to it as it is a holy night. As that night is a great goodness for people, they should treat every night as if it is that night. But of course, people have come to such state now that they say, “Let’s worship until the morning just on the 27th.” And they ask how to worship on Laylatu l-Qadr. It is unknown when Laylatu l-Qadr is. Therefore, perform your worship every night. You will spend all year as if it is Laylatu l-Qadr with its Barakah.

And know everyone as Al Khiḍr. Sometimes you may not like some people, but don’t disregard them. When you don’t expect it, they may bring you goodness without you knowing it. A person you don’t pay attention to may be Al Khiḍr. And that is a great goodness. Al Khiḍr ‘alayhi s-salām is a Prophet. But of course, there is no prophecy for him in this time. But it is a great luck to meet Al Khiḍr ‘alayhi s-salām, to get his Du‘ā’. It is a great thing to see him. Therefore, many people sometimes don’t know someone and don’t show importance to him. Sometimes they even swear at that very important person who is notable and respectable. And then they feel ashamed when they find out the truth. Therefore, It is from the Islamic manners to show importance to everyone. It is a means for getting along well with everyone. 

This night has a lot of Barakah. As we said, it is like worshipping for 80 years. It is better than 80 years, says Allāh ‘Azza wa Jalla. Because Sayyidinā Yūsha’ ‘alayhi s-salām, as our Holy Prophet ﷺ said, had fought and made Jihād for 80 years. 80 years are not easy. All his life was spent in Jihād. And to make Jihād is a great virtue. When our Holy Prophet ﷺ heard this, Allāh ‘Azza wa Jalla said, “I grant you the goodness of that 80 years in one night.” Allāh ‘Azza wa Jalla gifted it to our Holy Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, it is a great favor to us from Allāh ‘Azza wa Jalla. 

As we said, it is good for us to know every night as Laylatu l-Qadr and to continue in the same manner by praying and worshipping. And what we do is not difficult. When you go to bed, perform ablution and pray two Rakāt. Then wake up for Tahajjud half an hour or 15 minutes before Fajr prayer, and pray two Rakāt, it will be counted as Tahajjud. It will be counted as if you’ve been awake all night.  Pray at least two Rakāt. You can pray more, pray Tasabīḥ or Najāt prayer. You can do everything. But always pray two Rakāt. Not everyone can do these things all the time. Make sure you get up before Fajr prayer and pray Tahajjud. You will have revived that night. It will be counted as Laylatu l-Qadr for you inshā’Allāh. May Allāh ﷻ grant it to all of us inshā’Allāh. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq. Al-Fatiha.

Sohbah by Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Adil Ar-Rabbani (q)

22nd April 2022| 21st Ramadan 1443

Sheikh Nazim Dergah, Lefke