“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Night of Power). And what will explain to you what the Night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than one thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees. (All that night) there is Peace until the rise of Fajr (of dawn).”

[Surah Al-Qadr]

Allah (SWT) in Surah Al-Qadr and the Prophet (SAW) in many ahadith talk about the majesty of Laylat al-Qadr, the ‘Night of Power’. It is a night of great mercy, rewards and blessings from Allah (AWJ); a night where acts of worship and good deeds performed are worth more than 1000 months (over 83 years) of worship – a whole lifetime of ibadaat and a night of great forgiveness for our sins.

So as Muslims we seek out Laylat al-Qadr, striving to do as much prayer, recitation of Qur’an, dhikr, du’a, engaging in discussions of Islam and other actions pleasing to Allah (SWT) on this precious night. However, we should also spend some time reflecting on the reason for the great importance and weight that Allah has given to ‘Laylat al-Qadr’ and the significance of this night to our Deen.

The name ascribed to this night itself, “The Night of Power”, reflects its majesty and greatness in the Sight of Allah (SWT) and He informs us that the angels descend in abundance in this night with uncounted blessings and mercy. But what is it that gives this night such a great status, weight, and importance? It is because it is the night which Allah chose to reveal the Mighty Qur’an.

“Surely We revealed it (the Qur’an) on a blessed night, (because) We had to warn (people).”

[Surah Ad-Dukhan, 44:3]

The great status of Laylat al-Qadr is directly linked to the great status that Allah (SWT) bestows upon the Qur’an and the message that is contained within it. And the magnificence of this night is linked to the magnificence of a new way of life that was born for the world on that night that would take mankind from the darkness into light.

The Prophet (SAW) said: “Allah will elevate some nations through this Book and degrade others with it.” [Muslim]

Dear Muslims, to truly appreciate the Night of Power is to also appreciate the true worth of the Qur’an. We must give the Qur’an the status in our lives and this world that it deserves. For this Glorious Qur’an is not merely a spiritual book for recitation, or one that defines a handful of rules and regulations that we live by. No! Rather it is a book revealed by the Creator of mankind to His Messenger (SAW) to shape the whole of our lives and govern all of our affairs – political, economic, judicial, social and beyond – in a manner that brings the Mercy of Allah to humanity, and the light of His Deen to this world. To think of this Book otherwise or treat it as anything less than this is to underestimate the value of this gem that we have in our hands that would have moved mountains if revealed to them!

“Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a book We have sent down to you, so that you may deliver the people, with the will of their Lord, out of all sorts of darkness into the light, leading them to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.”

[Surah Ibrahim, 14:1]