Rasulullah salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (ﷺ) said: “The lifespan of my Ummah is between 60 and 70 (years), and not many of them surpass those (ages).” [At-Tirmidhi 3550 | Graded Hasan by Darussalam]

Our lifespan is limited, and so are our potential and opportunities to do good deeds. In comparison to the previous Ummahs — whose lifespan was of great length, who lived hundreds of years, with some even reaching a thousand years — our average lifespan is only between 60 and 70 years.

Thus, one of the greatest gifts of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for this Ummah is the blessed, special night in the month of Ramadan, and that is Laylatul-Qadr. It is a night where, with just a few good deeds, a Muslim gains astronomical hasanah in his scale of good deeds, as if he has worshipped Allah for more than a thousand months! For more than 83 years! Well actually, even better than that, because Allah says in the Qur’an:

لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَہۡرٍ۬

“Laylatul-Qadr is *better* than a thousand months.”

[Surah Al-Qadr 97: 3] 

Imagine if Allah enables us to attain Laylatul-Qadr every year for 10 years — the hasanah that we gained from our ‘ibaadah would be equivalent to more than 830 years! This is how the Ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ catches up with the previous Ummahs in khayr (goodness).

Not only is Laylatul-Qadr a night of immense blessings from Allah, it is also a special night to attain His complete forgiveness. Rasulullah ﷺ said:

“Whoever stands for prayers on Laylatul-Qadr out of sincere iman, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 2014]

And the best, most important du’a to supplicate on Laylatul-Qadr is: 

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّ

Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni

O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me.

[Sunan Ibn Majah 3850 | Graded Sahih by Darussalam]

Take a moment to ponder on this du’a. On the night where our supplications are most accepted, where we can ask absolutely anything from Allah, Rasulullah ﷺ wanted us to prioritise Allah’s Forgiveness. So while it is important that we busy ourselves with good deeds, we should not neglect seeking Allah’s Forgiveness, increasing in istighfar, and making sincere tawbah, especially in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

So with all of these amazing blessings, please do not let Laylatul-Qadr pass by without us taking advantage of it. Rasulullah ﷺ had warned us regarding this, saying:

“Verily, this month (i.e. Ramadan) has presented itself to you. There is a night within it that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it has been deprived of all good. None is deprived of its good, but that he is truly deprived.” [Sunan Ibn Majah 1644 | Graded Sahih by Al-Albani]

Meaning, whoever is hindered from doing good deeds on Laylatul-Qadr, he has been deprived of all types of goodness — and this is truly one of the greatest calamities in life.

🌸 The Angels send their salaam on Laylatul-Qadr

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in the Qur’an:

تَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيہَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّہِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمۡرٍ۬ (٤) سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطۡلَعِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ (٥)

“Therein (in Laylatul-Qadr) descend the angels and the Ruh (i.e. the angel Jibril) by Allah's Permission with all Decrees. (All that night), there is {salaam | peace} until the appearance of dawn.”

[Surah Al-Qadr 97: 4-5]

One scholarly tafsir of the last ayah is that after the angels descend on Laylatul-Qadr, they will be busy searching for believers who are worshipping Allah to send their salaam. Isn’t that beautiful? It is out of the immense Rahmah of Allah that He allows the noble angels to actively seek His worshippers that night, so that the angels could pray to Him subhanahu wa ta'ala for our peace and goodness.

Salaam, o those who pray Qiyamul-Layl;

Salaam, o those who are reading the Qur’an;

Salaam, o those who are making supplications to Allah;

Salaam, o those who are making tawbah to Allah;

Salaam, o those who give charity for the sake of Allah;

Salaam, o those who shed their eyes in fear and love for Allah;

Salaam, o worshippers of Allah!

My respected brothers and sisters in Islam, know that Ramadan and Laylatul-Qadr are for all of us — both for the pious and the sinners. Don’t let our sins and bad habits make us feel undeserving and unworthy of these blessings and opportunities. Come back to Allah in what few days and nights we have left in Ramadan, and then strive to remain constant on this journey until we meet Allah ta’ala in our best state.

May Allah enable us to increase our ‘ibaadah in these last few days and nights of Ramadan and accept them all from us. May Allah grant us a complete forgiveness so that we may re-emerge from Ramadan purified from sins. And may Allah strengthen our hearts so that we remain committed on His Path until we meet a good end.

آمـــــــــين

Ever hoping for His Forgiveness and Rahmah,

Aida Msr 🌸