Paradise in Our Homes

Episode 26

= Lailat Al-Qadr =

In the Name of Allah[1], the All-Merciful, the Ever Merciful.  Peace and Prayers of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad (SAWS)[2].

 We proceed with one of the last episodes of “Paradise in Our Homes.”  Today is special because it is the Night of the 27^th of Ramadan, which most religious scholars consider as the Night of Determination (Lailat Al-Qadr).   It is true that Lailat Al-Qadr is supposed to be one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, but the 27^th is the most probable one.  Today we will devote this episode to this event, and that is why it is different from the preceding ones.  As you can see, even the setting is different, as it is being shot in England, unlike the rest of the episodes that were shot in Egypt. 

Today we will talk about this special Night and about what we wish for our families.  Actually, on this Night --Lailat Al-Qadr-- I have three requests from families: from parents and children; from husbands and wives; and from brothers and sisters.

I would like first to start with a special meaning of this Night.  It is known that Allah (SWT)[3] chooses and elects whomever He wishes.  Out of humanity, He (SWT) chose Prophets; and out of Prophets, He selected the ones with willpower.  He (SWT) also chose Musa (Moses) (AS)[4] and Maryam (Mary) (AS), who was told so by the Angels, in what can be translated as, “And  as the Angels said, ‘O Maryam, (Mary) surely Allah has elected you and purified you and has elected you over the women of the worlds […]”(TMQ, 3:42)[5].  And out of all the Prophets, He (SWT) chose Muhammad (SAWS).  (For, as Muhammad (SAWS) says, that he is the Master of humankind; and his name "Al-Moustafa" means “the elected one”).  Out of the Angels, He (SWT) elected Jibril (Gabriel) (AS).  Out of all places, He (SWT) chose ‘Arafa.  Out of the months, He (SWT) designated the month of Ramadan.  Out of the days, He (SWT) chose the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja.  Out of all the nights of the year, He (SWT) chose the night of Lailat Al-Qadr. 

Do you think that you and your family will be chosen and elected to witness Lailat Al-Qadr ?  Allah (SWT) elects people only due to a “good” quality in them.  Why can't we start tonight by gathering our families and reviving the “good” qualities in them?  Do you want to be part of the chosen for this special Night?  Allah (SWT) will look into your hearts and find the “good” in them.  Let’s make this quality of “good” part of all of those who are watching the program tonight.  Why not gather your family; go to them; begin with yourself and forgive any wrong that has been done to you?   Why don’t you, ladies, forgive any wrong done by your husband; and say that you want to start anew; and be nice to him and say let’s pray together?  Why don’t you, husbands, do the same?  This Night needs a special kind of “self”; a “self” ready to be chosen.

Why was it called Lailat Al-Qadr?   The first reason is that the word “Qadr “means a great eminence.  It was called so because of its high status.  It is an unusual Night.  Therefore, observe the Surah[6] in which Allah says what can be translated as “Surely We sent it down on the Night of Determination; And what makes you realize what the Night of Determination is?” (TMQ, 97:1-2).  If you knew the reward of this Night and how much blessings Allah (SWT) would bestow upon you in it, you would have gathered your family; you would all stay up, pray together, and forgive each other.  Who is ready?  The Night is still long.

It was also called Lailat Al-Qadr for another reason.  The second reason is that during this Night the fates and provisions of people are determined: either as happy or wretched.  It is true that everything has been determined since the beginning of eternity and written down in the Preserved Tablet, but it is said that during this Night the Angels are informed of the destinies (aqdar) of the worshippers for the following year.  It is a blessed Night.  So, everything will be decreed on this Night.  For example, it will be determined whether or not your family will be happy.  Would you like your family to be happy for the next year?  It is a night when fates are determined and it is a night of high standing.  That is why the Surah was called Suraht Al-Qadr.

There is a special Surah in the Qur’an for this Night. 

The Surah states what can be translated as, “Surely We sent it down on the Night of Determination; And what makes you realize what the Night of Determination is? The Night of Determination is more charitable (i.e., better) than a thousand months. The Angels and the Spirit keep coming down therein, by the permission of their Lord, with (Literally: from) every Command. Peace it is, till the rising of the dawn” (TMQ, 97:1-5).  In the Surah, it is said that the Angels “keep coming down” and this means that there are hordes of Angels descending; similar to pouring rain.  The “Spirit” also descends.  The “Spirit” means Jibril (AS) “Gabriel”.  The last time Jibril (AS) descended was the night of the death of the Prophet (SAWS).  Jibril (AS) used to descend for all Prophets and descended for Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) throughout the 23 years.  Since the death of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), Jibril (AS) would descend only once a year: on the Night of Determination in order to take care of the Qur’an and observe whether or not people are reading the Qur’an.  Would you like your home to be full of Angels?

The end of the Surah is beautiful.  It says what can be translated as “Peace it is, till the rising of the dawn” (TMQ, 97:5).  It is a Night of peace.  Peace from Allah (SWT), and peace from the Angels.  It is a Night on which Allah (SWT) wants peace among people.

As I told you earlier, I have three requests of you.  The first one is to have a Night of Peace.  Please forget the past.  Please let’s have peace in our homes.  The Surah says what can be translated as “Peace it is, till the rising of the dawn” (TMQ, 97:5).  Some people think Lailat Al-Qadr lasts for half an hour or five minutes, like a flash that you either catch or miss.  No, it is not a moment.  It is from maghrib (sunset) prayer until fajr (dawn) prayer.  All your supplications, prayers, Qur’an, and peace with your family will have you immersed in the peace of this Night.

What is the reward of Lailat Al-Qadr?   “The Night of Determination is more charitable (i.e., better) than a thousand months.” (TMQ, 97:3).  There are four things that you can get: (1) Your worship on this Night is better than a thousand months; (2) Your Dua’a (supplication) is accepted; (3) You are released from Hellfire; (4) You will have forgiveness of all your past sins; [and a fifth point about which I will talk later].

First, your worship on this Night would be as if you have been worshipping for a thousand months.  A thousand months means 84 years, which is the average human lifespan.  That is, it is a Night with better value than your whole life.  Please wake up and get ready; it is the equivalent to 84 years of worship.  It is as if a person’s scale of good and bad was fluctuating, until the Night of Determination when Allah (SWT) chose that person on that Night.  Suddenly the side of the good deeds would weigh down, as if there are heaps of good deeds placed there.  On the Day of Judgment that person would wonder when all that good was done.  Hurry up and have peace with the people around you!

 Second, whoever performs qiyam (voluntary night prayer) on this Night for the sake of Allah (SWT), all his/her sins will be forgiven.  Third, your Dua’a on this night is accepted.  Fourth, you are released from Hellfire.

What do I want from you?  I want you to first, have peace in your families.  The second thing is to worship Allah (SWT) together, not alone.  The Prophet (SAWS) used to wake his people up for the qiyam in the last ten days of Ramadan.  Imagine that your house will be visited by the Angels.  Imagine that one of the houses that Jibril (AS) visits could be your house; even if you don’t know how to read the Qur’an well.  Imagine that the state of your house would change; there would be peace; almost like magic.  Worshipping Allah (SWT) together will change your homes.  Don’t be ashamed.  Gather the whole family and make Dua’a.  Which Dua’a should we repeat? “O Allah, you are Effacer of sins; you like effacement of sins; efface our sins!”  This is the same Dua’a that the Prophet (SAWS) recommended for Lady Aisha (RA)[7], because this is the Night of the effacement of sins.   

The fifth point --which I left until the end-- is that this is the Night of effacement of sins.  Forgiveness is different from effacement of sins.  Forgiveness means that you have committed a sin but it has been forgiven.  As for effacement, it is as if you never committed that sin in the first place; as if you have a clean record.  If on the Day of Judgment, Allah (SWT) reminds you of your sins and says I hid them in your lifetime and have forgiven them, then, this is called forgiveness.  But effacement means that it is as if you did not commit any sins at all.  Everything will be effaced; everyone, even your own self and the Angels, will forget about these sins.

I tell you this so that I can ask you for the third request.  Please forgive and efface the mistakes of others.  Please do that to one another.  If you want Allah (SWT) to wipe out your sins, then do that to other people.  For example, the Prophet (SAWS) says that on the Day of Judgment, two men will blame each other under the ‘Arsh (Allah’s throne).  One of them would call on Allah (SWT) to get him his stolen rights from another.  Allah (SWT) will order the unjust man to give the other his rights, but the latter would say that he has no more good deeds.  The wronged man would propose that the wrongdoer takes over some of his bad deeds instead.  Allah (SWT) will advise the man that there is a better option, and would ask him to observe a huge palace. The man would wonder for who this palace is.  Allah (SWT) will tell him that he can own it if he forgives and effaces the mistakes of his brother.  The man would say that he has forgiven his brother and Allah (SWT) will ask him to take his brother’s hand so that they both can go to Paradise.  Remember this hadith; make a phone call; forgive your husband, wife, son, or father.

I want three things from you: (1) effacement and forgiveness of each another’s mistakes; (2) making peace with one another; (3) worshiping Allah (SWT) together.

Why would we do this?  First, we will forgive because Allah (SWT) effaces sins on this Night.  Second, we will make peace, because it is a Night of peace from Allah (SWT) to his subjects until dawn.  We will make peace with one another, so that Allah (SWT) grants us peace.  Third, this is a Night in which dua’a is accepted, and the qiyam can cause forgiveness, so we will worship Allah (SWT) together.

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