"Preparing for Laylatul Qadr" our GOAL is to take full
benefit/make full use of the BOUNTIES and RAHMA
that Allah (SWT) bestows opens us in this night of
LAYLATUL QADR.
It is important that we first understand the significance
of LAYLATUL QADR in order that we know what sort of
'ingredients' are required for our preparation to reach
the Ultimate Goal which is earning the pleasure of
Allah (SWT).
What is Laylatul Qadr or Night of Power therefore?
You are all aware of its importance so I will just briefly
re-run through it.
In surah Al-Qadr Allah (SWT) clearly states:
"Surely We revealed it (the Holy Quran) on the grand night.
And what will make you comprehend what the grand night.
The grand night is better than a thousand months.
The angels and Gabriel descend in it by the permission of
their Lord for every affair, Peace! It is till the break of
the morning."
Holy Quran (97:1-5)
Allah (SWT) is inviting all the believers for a Divine feast;
the invitation which has been brought by the messengers.
Allah (SWT) is the host, his most favorite angels are
the servants and the believers are the guests.
The table is spread with Divine blessings containing all sorts
of rewards and favors. Though the eyes cannot see them nor
the ears hear them not the human hearts imagine them,
yet the bounties are all kept in readiness to be awarded to
the guests in accordance to his/her actions.
Laylatul Qadr is a blessed night because the Almighty brings
down during it goodness, bliss, and forgiveness for His servants.
It is a feast which has come with a message that shows one
the way to achieve happiness in both the worlds.
Laylatul Qadr is a feast for the spirit, a feast of worship and
prayers.
Ahadith indicate that the fate of every believer for the
coming year is decreed on this night. When our Prophet
Mohammad (saw) was asked how man could enjoy the favors
and good grace of proximity to, and mercy of, Allah (SWT)
he quoted Prophet Moosa / Musa / Moses (peace be upon him)
supplication:
"Oh My God, I seek proximity to You;
He (Allah) said: Proximity to Me is for him who stays awake
on Laylatul Qadr.Oh My God,
I am in need of Your Mercy;
He (Allah) said: My Mercy is for him who shows mercy to the
poor on Laylatul Qadr.Oh My God,
I am in need of the passport to cross the bridge;
He (Allah) said: that is for him who give alms on Laylatul Qadr.
Oh My God, I am in need of the trees in Paradise and their fruits;
He (Allah) said: that is for him who seeks forgiveness on
Laylatul Qadr.
Oh My God, I seek deliverance from fire;
He (Allah) said: that is for him who remembers Allah on
Laylatul Qadr.
Oh My God, I seek Your good pleasure;
He (Allah) said: that is for him who says a two Rakat prayer
on Laylatul Qadr."
On another occasion Prophet Moosa / Musa / Moses
(peace be upon him) said: "Oh My God, are You far away that
I shout at You, or are You near that I whisper to You?"
He (Allah) said: "O Musa, I am sitting together with you!"
What do we therefore have to remind ourselves about
Laylatul Qadr?
We have to remind ourselves about Laylatul Qadr that is:
A unique once in a year opportunity to do a life times
worth of activity.
A once in a year occasion for influencing our future destiny -
"QADR" - Taqdeer. Full of long lasting blessings.
The night of unsurpassed grandeur when the absolute Grand
God revealed the Grand Quran through the Grand Wahy -
Jibreel into the heart of the Grand Prophet Mohammad (saw).
The Ma'sumeen have explained to us that God in his infinite
wisdom had planned the system of the universe in such a
way that every persons destiny will be determined on a
yearly basis in the angelic spheres through the agency of the
Imam of the age. Who is the leader and focus of the whole
spiritual world this gives MANKIND a unique opportunity to
influence his own future (gain, loss, health, sickness, richness,
poverty, etc by performing certain acts, e.g. Dua, Salat,
Sadaqah, Jihad, acquiring knowledge, Holy Quran recitation etc.
The night when the whole multitude of angels and the
Great Spirit (Ruh) descend on earth, greeting and praying
for the believers and conveying messages to the Imam of age.
Do we than still need to PREPARE OURSELVES FOR
LAYLATUL QADR after knowing its significance?
Yes, Let us imagine for a moment that we are invited for a
special feast by the president of our country, who also tells
us in advance that he is going to reward us with magnificent
gifts as per the way we present and behave ourselves during
the feast - What would we do?
After the initial euphoria, we would leave no stone unturned
to present ourselves in the best possible manner. Preparations
of what to wear, how to get there, what will I speak with
the president. If I have to go through his secretary what will
I say to him, what sort of gifts will I take with me, what sort
of conversation I have with him, all this and more will be
thought about, rehearsed and re-rehearsed. Correct me
if I am wrong!
All this 'tension' in honor of an invitation from the President
of a country. Laylatul Qadr is an invitation form the President
of all Presidents, The Supreme One. Do we need to make
preparations for this night?
Undoubtedly, we must start our preparations way ahead of time,
after all going by human nature (Fitra), there is more than profit
that can be got from this feast of Laylatul Qadr unless out of sheer
carelessness we end up amongst those negligent and idle ones,
who do not achieve anything except tiredness, loss and eternal
doom, who will gain nothing except regret and cry out aloud
on the day of Reckoning:
"Ah! Woe is me! In that I neglected (my duty) towards Allah."
- Holy Quran (39:56)
What sorts of Pre-preparations are needed before the
advent of this grand Laylatul Qadr?
Jibreel was asked; "What has the Almighty Allah (SWT) done
on this night with the wishes of the believers among the nation
of Prophet Mohammad (saw)?" He answered,
"The Almighty Allah (SWT) has looked upon them on this night
and forgiven them, all of them, except the following:
"One who is addicted to drinking, One who severs his ties
with his kin, and One who is a trouble-maker."
We have been advised to beseech Allah (SWT) during the whole
year before the arrival of the Night of Power or Laylatul Qadr,
to keep us alive for this night:
To bestow upon us the Tawfiq to remain vigilant during this night
and pray for blessings and forgiveness.
To bless us that we are able to do the best of deeds on this night.
To comprehend fully the importance of this night which is superior
to one thousand months.
To pray that we can become one of the favorites of Allah (SWT)
and be blessed with His love, learning, nearness, union, pleasure,
together with health, happiness, and welfare.
To yearn and act so that Allah (SWT) be so pleased with us in such
a manner, that after this night He would never be displeased us
again.
To pray that our Aimma especially the Imam-ul-Asr (as) be pleased
with us intercede on our behalf.
How to prepare oneself for The Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr)?
(I) Preparing Mentally
Strive to keep Allah (SWT) at the fore of one's mind the whole
night long.
All the Ibadah (worship) done should be recited in the state of
being completely awake, aware, conscious, and with a live heart.
If one feels that one will not be able to concentrate then start
reciting from now
"We are from Allah and towards Him is our return." -
Holy Quran (2:156)
for it is considered as a tragedy if one can not in this night
receive the divine grace in supplications. "Their prayers ascend
upwards and reaches Allah (SWT), their words are accepted,
and Allah (SWT) loves to listen to their prayers the way a
mother likes her own child."
Is not it shameful that the prayers which ascend upwards
should be recited from the tip of the tongue, while the heart
and soul remain occupied in worldly affairs?
a certain Ibadah and so decided to forgo it. One should not
do listen to this 'waswas' instead, one should perform it
and more, for acceptance lies in the Hand of the Mercy of
Allah (SWT).
(II) Preparing Physically
For worshipping in this night a suitable place, dress, and
perfume should be arranged in advance (comfortable dress
which does not distract us).
Paying alms during this night - to the people who really
deserve financial support.
Follow the translation of the Duas in order to understand
what you are reciting for lutf is only got when one knows
what one is reciting.
(III) Preparing Spiritually
Increase ones eagerness for receiving the promised bounties and
blessings.
Select worships and deeds which are more in harmony with ones
mood.
When one stands for prayer, or any other Ibadah, to briefly spare
a moment to think about the wisdom of that action/its meaning
etc for e.g. Why am I standing towards Makkah? To realize that
when I stand on my two feet, it indicates my hope and fear
about the acceptance of my worship.
Resorting (Tawassul) to Ahlul Bayt (as) - With persistence,
supplicating in a polite and soft manner, with words and content
arousing their sympathies, should beseech them for bestowing
upon us the grace of being vigilant during this night.
Crying and Shedding Tears: that during these nights ones fear,
humility, tears, crying, anguish and lamentation be increased
as much as possible.
The Learned Scholar Hajj Mirza Javad Agha Maliki Tabrizi (ra)
in his book (Suluk-i Arifan) Spiritual Journey of the Mystics tell
us that One of the best method is that one should tie ones hands
around ones neck; should pour dirt upon ones head; should place
ones head against a wall; sometimes one should stand and
sometimes one should cry; should imagine oneself at the scene
of Judgment Day; and the way sinners are rebuked with harshness,
then one should imagine and be scared least Allah (the Glorious,
the Exalted) orders:
"Lay hold on him, then put a chain on him, then cast him into
the burning fire, then thrust him into a chain the length of which
is seventy cubits." - Holy Quran (69:30-32)
Then one should cry: "O' Thou are the most compassionate, and
Thou Who are the shelter of unsheltered ones!" "Where is Your
vast blessing? Where is Your infinite forgiveness? Where are
Your love and benevolence?" Ask for forgiveness of past sins in
the most appealing manner with a promise to try never to return
to the sins again - a TAWBA in every sense of the word Present
ones requests before the Almighty Allah (SWT) with full hope
that they will be answered.
Prophet Mohammad (saw) when asked what one should invoke
Allah (SWT) during these nights, said: "Ask for your safety
(here and in the hereafter)".
