The Night of Decree (Lailatul Qadr) has untold benefits for the Muslims. It is mentioned twice in the Majestic Quran – once as a distinct Chapter – Surah Qadr (97) and in Surah Dokhan (44) in the opening verses. Despite the general awareness of Lailatul Qadr, Muslims have fallen short in appreciating its specific importance. It is the specific aspect of Lailatul Qadr, which involves the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his immaculate progeny (a.s.), that lends significance to the general aspects. There are an overwhelming number of reports that underscore the intimate link between Lailatul Qadr and the infallible personas (a.s.). For brevity we reproduce only a few:
1. Surah Qadr superior to the other chapters of the Holy Quran
2. Special status of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)
3. Special status of Fatima Zahra (s.a.)
4. Angels honour Aale Muhammad (a.s.)
5. Even the enemies were aware of the significance of Lailatul Qadr
Back to Top1. Surah Qadr superior to the other chapters of the Holy Quran
- Mufazzal Ibn Umar reports, “Surah-e-Qadr was mentioned in the presence of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.). He (a.s.) said, ‘How manifest is its excellence over the other chapters (of the Quran)!’ I inquired, ‘How is its excellence manifest?’ He (a.s.) responded, ‘The mastership (wilayah) of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) is revealed in it.’ I asked, ‘In Lailatul Qadr? In which we are hopeful about in the month of Ramadan?’ He (a.s.) asserted, ‘Yes in the (same) night, in which the (affairs of the) skies and the earth are decreed and mastership of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) is decreed.’
- Ma’ani al-Akhbaar p. 316
- Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) asked the narrator – ‘…how many months make a year?
He replied – 12 months.
Imam (a.s.) – How many of them are prohibited (for battle)?
He replied – 4 months.
Imam (a.s.) asked – Is the month of Ramadan included in them?
He replied – No.
He (a.s.) informed – In the month of Ramadan, there is a night superior to a thousand months. We are the Ahle Bait, none can be compared to us.”
(That is, the position of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) is higher than all just like the month of Ramadan because of Lailatul Qadr is superior even to the prohibited months.)
- Ma’ani al-Akhbaar p. 179
Back to Top2. Special status of Ameerul Momineen
Buraidah narrates: ‘I was seated with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and Ali (a.s.) was with him (s.a.w.a.) when he (s.a.w.a.) said: ‘O Ali, have I not witnessed you with me on seven occasions? The fifth occasion is Lailatul Qadr, especially its blessings; these are not for anyone other than us.’
- Basaaer al-Darajaat vol. 1 p. 221
- Behar al-Anwar vol. 94 p. 24
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) informed about the verse –
بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ سَلامٌ
i.e. all affairs are directed to Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and Ali (a.s.)
- Tafseer Furaat al-Kufi p. 581 under the exegesis of Surah Qadr
Back to Top3. Special status of Fatima Zahra (s.a.)
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) informs regarding the verse –
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
“Night is Fatima (s.a.) and Qadr is the decree of Allah. So, one who recognizes Fatima with due recognition has attained Lailatul Qadr. Surely, Fatima (s.a.) has been named thus because the creation are separated from her recognition. As for Allah’s saying ‘The Night of Power is better than a thousand months’ it means (Fatima) is better than a thousand believers and she is the mother of believers. The angels and the Ruh al-Qudus descend in it – the angels here refer to the believers, those who possess the knowledge of the progeny of Muhammad (a.s.) and Ruh al-Qodos refers to Fatima (s.a.)…”
- Tafseer Furaat al-Kufi p. 581 under the exegesis of Surah Qadr
Back to Top4. Angels honour Aale Muhammad (a.s.)
Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) informed: O Aba al-Huzail, the Lailatul Qadr is not concealed from us. Surely the angels circumambulate us (tawaaf) during this Night.
- Basaaer al-Darajaat vol. 1 p. 221
Back to Top5. Even the enemies were aware of the significance of Lailatul Qadr
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) informed: Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) used to frequently say whenever we met with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), Al-Taymi (Abu Bakr) and his companion (Umar) were with him while he (s.a.w.a.) recited: Surely We have send it down in the Night of Decree humbly and tearfully. They both asked – ‘How you have been so extremely affected by this Chapter?’
He (s.a.w.a.) said to them: I was affected what my eyes saw, what my heart stored and what his (meaning Ali (a.s.)) heart will experience after me.
They both said: What have you seen and what will his heart experience?
He (s.a.w.a.) recited the verse ‘The angels and the Ruh al-Qudus descend in it with the permission of their Lord with all affairs till the appearance of the morn’ –
He (s.a.w.a.) asked: Does anything remain after the Words of the Blessed, the High, ‘with all affairs?’
The two of them replied: No.
He (s.a.w.a.) inquired: Do the two of you know on whom the descent takes place?
They both answered: No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah.
He (s.a.w.a.) questioned: Will there be Lailatul Qadr after me?
They both affirmed: Yes.
He (s.a.w.a.) questioned: Will the command descend therein?
They both reaffirmed: Yes.
He (s.a.w.a.) asked: On whom?
They both expressed ignorance: We do not know.
He (s.a.w.a.) took me (Ali (a.s.)) by my head, and said: If you did not know, this is the one after me.
Whenever it was Lailatul Qadr after the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), the two of them could distinguish it from the awe they witnessed due to the intensity of the occasion.
- Basaaer al-Darajaat vol. 1 p. 224
- Behar al-Anwar vol. 94 p. 21
Evidently, Lailatul Qadr is deeply connected to the progeny of Muhammad (a.s.) and serves as irrevocable proof of their leadership and succession of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). It is the most important basis to prove the existence of an Imam at all times on whom all the affairs of the heavens and the world descend.