The Night of Honour
If you ask me about flowers I will say rose is the queen of flowers, and if you ask me about man then I will say that our holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be on him), is the greatest of all men of all times, again, if you ask me about the Holy Qur-an then I will say it is the greatest of all Books and, in the language of a world renowned translator and commentator, "there is no Book in this world in whose service so much talent, so much labour, and so much money and time have been expended as has been the case with the Qur-an." And if you ask me about nights then I will of course say Laila-tul-Qadar, the night of power/Honour is the greatest and noblest of all nights.
There are three very important holy nights which are specially observed by the Muslims all over the world with due solemnity with a view to seeking. Benign Allah's forgiveness and for salvation. The nights are: Laila-tul-Miraj, Laila-tul-Barat, and Laila-tul-Qadar. As has been indicated above, Laila-tul-Qadar has, however, a unique position. "Laila-tul-Qadar" means Night of Honour. There is a separate Sura entitled "Sura Qadar" in which Almighty Allah has Himself declared in clear terms the greatness, nobility and importance of this very important Night.
In this context we may therefore, refer to all the 5 Ayats of Sura Qadar of the Holy Quran as indicated below:
1. We have indeed revealed this (Message)
in the Night of Honour.
2. And what will explain to thee what the Night of Honour is?
3. The Nigh of Honour is better than
A thousand months 6218
4. Therein come down
The angels and the Spirit
By Allah's Permission,
On every errand:
5. Peace!......... This
Until the rise of Morn
With regard to thousand nights we may refer to note 6218 Ayat 3 of the aforesaid Sura and see the commentation of a renowned translator of the Holy Qur-an as indicated below:
6218... "A thousand" must be taken in an indefinite sense as denoting a very long period of time. Cf. notes 3632 and 3634 to xxxll-4,5 and note 5678 to Lxx4. This does not refer to our ideas of time, but "to timeless Time". One moment of enlightenment under God's Light is better than thousands of months or years of animal life, and such a moment converts the night of darkness into a period of spiritual glory.
It may be stated here in this connection that there is a reference of Laila-tul Miraj in the Holy Qur-an which relates to our holy Prophet's (SM) matchless journey and momentous meeting with lord Creator and as regards Laila-tul Barat it may be said that we observe it in accordance with the Prophet's (SM) instructions. But so far Laila-tul Qadar is concerned, Benign Allah has revealed a separate Sura (Sura Qadar-97) and specially eulogized its greatness, nobility and grandeur.
So, in this holy month of Ramadan, we must take fullest advantage of this Sura through "Zikrillah" which means remembrance of Allah and, special prayers and recitation of the Holy Quar-an for long hours during the night of power/Honour for Almighty Allah's forgiveness and also for our salvation. Let us observe this sacred Night in a befitting manner.
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