Some of its signs are as follows: The night will be open, bright and extremely clear. It is neither too hot nor too cold, the weather is quite normal at this night and the moon is clearly visible. The devils are not struck with stars the whole night.

There is another sign that is the rising of the sun without rays on the following morning, and the sun looks like the moon of the 14th night. Allah عزوجل has prevented the devil to come out with the sunrise of that morning (apart from that one day, whenever the sun rises in the morning the devil also comes out).

(Musnad Imam AEmad, pp. 414, vol. 8, Hadiš 22829)

Ocean Water Becomes Sweet

Dear Islamic brothers! Laila-tul-Qadr falls on one of the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. Sometimes it falls even on the 30th night. There may be thousands of reasons for keeping this night a secret, and most certainly one of the reasons is that Muslims will try to spend every night worshiping Allah عزوجلin search of Laila-tul-Qadr.

Many signs of Laila-tul-Qadr have been mentioned in Hadiš but it is not easy for everyone to see these signs. In fact, only men of insight can see them. Sometimes, Allah عزوجل shows these signs to His chosen people. One of the signs of Laila-tul-Qadr is that the salty ocean water turns sweet and (another sign is that) everything in the universe except humans and jinn submits to the Glory of Allah عزوجل by prostrating, but not everyone sees it.

Parable

Sayyiduna ‘Ubaid Ibn Imran’ رضی اللہ عنہ said, ‘One night, while I was making Wuzu at the Red Sea I tasted the water which was sweeter than even honey. I was extremely surprised. When I told Sayyiduna ‘Ušman Ghani رضی اللہ عنہ about it, he رضی اللہ عنہ said, ‘O ‘Ubaid رضی اللہ عنہ it would be Laila-tul-Qadr.’ He رضی اللہ عنہ further said, ‘Whoever spends this night remembering Allah عزوجل it is as if he worshiped for more than a thousand months, and Allah عزوجل will forgive all of his sins.’

(Tazkira-tul-Wa’iAin, pp. 626)

Parable

The slave of Sayyiduna ‘Ušman Ibn Abil ‘As رضی اللہ عنہ once said to him, ‘O master رضی اللہ عنہ ! I’ve been a sailor for a long time. I’ve noticed a strange thing in the ocean water.’ ‘What is it?’ He رضی اللہ عنہ asked. The slave replied, ‘O master رضی اللہ عنہ ! Every year, there is a night in which the ocean water turns sweet.’ He رضی اللہ عنہ said to his slave, ‘Be careful this year. Do tell me when the water turns sweet.’ On the 27th night of Ramadan, the slave said to Sayyiduna ‘Ušman Ibn Abil ‘As رضی اللہ عنہ , ‘O master! The water has turned sweet tonight.

(Ruh-ul-Bayan, pp. 481, vol. 10)

Why don’t signs appear to us?

Dear Islamic brothers! Several signs of Laila-tul-Qadr have been mentioned. A question may arise in one’s mind as to why common people are unable to observe any of the signs of Laila-tul-Qadr despite the fact that it falls every year. To answer the question, the honourable scholars رحمۃ اللہ علیہ have said, ‘Not everyone is able enough to discern these hidden things because they are related to Kashf (spiritual vision) and Karamah (saintly miracle). Only people with the gift of Basirat (spiritual insight) can see them. How can the person who commits innumerable sins every day see these sacred signs?’

Look for it during odd nights

Dear Islamic brothers! Allah عزوجل has decided to keep Laila-tul-Qadr a secret, so we don’t know for sure as to which night Laila-tul-Qadr is. Mother of the believers Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah Siddiqah رضی اللہ عنھا has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has said, ‘Look for Laila-tul-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan (i.e. the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and the 29th).’

(Sahih Bukhari, pp. 662, vol. 1, Hadiš 2020)

Look for it during last seven nights

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar رضی اللہ عنہ said that Laila-tul-Qadr was revealed to some of the honourable companions رضی اللہ عنھم of the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in dream in the last seven nights. The Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said, ‘I see your dreams have united in the last seven nights, so the one who desires it should look for it in the last seven nights.’

(Sahih Bukhari, pp. 660, vol. 1, Hadiš 2015)

Why was Laila-tul-Qadr kept secret?

Dear Islamic brothers! It is a blessed Sunnah of Allah عزوجل has kept some very important things secret. Allah عزوجل has hidden His pleasure in pious deeds, His wrath in sins, and His Auliya رحمھم اللہ تعالیٰ among His servants.’

Therefore, we shouldn’t miss any good deed even though it looks minor because we don’t know which good deed would please Allah عزوجل Many blessed A Hadiš contain such incidents. For example, on the Day of Judgement, a fallen woman (a prostitute) will be forgiven simply for having given water to a thirsty dog to drink, in the world. Likewise, as His displeasure is hidden in sins, we should avoid each and every sin though it apparently looks minor because even a single sin can bring about the displeasure and wrath of Allah عزوجل

Similarly, He عزوجل has hidden His Auliya among His servants, so we should treat every pious Muslim with respect because we don’t know as to who a Wali of Allah عزوجل is. If we treat pious people with respect, give up suspicion and consider every Muslim better than us, our society will get reformed, and we will succeed in the afterlife, ان شائ اللہ تعالی .

Madani pearls

Imam Fakhruddin Razi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ has stated in his famous exegesis ‘Tafsir-e-Kabir’, There are several reasons why Allah عزوجل has concealed the exact date of Laila-tul-Qadr:

1. He عزوجل has concealed many things such as His pleasure in obedience so that people would perform every form of worship, His wrath in sins so that people would avoid every single sin, His Auliya amongst His servants so that people would respect every single person, the fulfillment of supplications in making supplications so that people would make supplications abundantly, the Ism-e-A’zam amongst His names so that people would respect every name and the Salat-e-Wusta a amongst the Salah so that people would offer all the Salah.

Likewise, the acceptance of repentance has been kept secret so that people always repent of their sins and the time of death has also been kept secret so that people always fear it. Similarly, Laila-tul-Qadr has been kept secret so that people respect all the nights of Ramadan.

2. It is as if Allah عزوجل says to His servants, ‘I know your daring about sins; if I had declared a particular night as Laila-tul-Qadr, and if you had committed sins knowingly even at this sacred night due to your lust, it would be more severe than committing sins unknowingly.’

According to a narration, once the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم entered the Masjid where he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم saw a man sleep (inside). He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said, ‘O ‘Ali کرم اللہ تعالیٰ وجہہ الکریم! Wake him up so that he can perform Wuzu.’ Having awoken the man, Sayyiduna ‘Ali کرم اللہ تعالیٰ وجہہ الکریم said, ‘Ya Rasulallah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم usually, you prefer to perform righteous deeds, why did you not wake him up yourself?’ He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم replied, ‘I did not do so because his refusing you is not a Kufr; I did it to reduce his crime.’

It is an example of the mercy of the Beloved Rasul صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم . Considering this (Hadiš), imagine the mercy of Allah عزوجل۔ It is as if Allah عزوجل says, ‘If you had worshipped in Laila-tul-Qadr after being aware of it, you would gain more reward than a thousand months’ worship but if you had sinned in it you would have been punished for a thousand months, and protection from punishment is better than earning reward.’

3. It is as if Allah عزوجل says, ‘I kept this night secret so that people would struggle hard to acquire it and earn reward for their struggles.’

Since people are unaware as to which night Laila-tul-Qadr is, they will try to worship Allah عزوجل every night of Ramadan in search of Laila-tul-Qadr. Referring to these people Alla عزوجل admonished the angels, ‘You used to say that these humans will fight and shed blood, but (look) these are their efforts and struggles in a night that could be Laila-tul-Qadr (they are not even certain of it) so what would have they done if I had told them the exact night…? (In other words, they would worship even more abundantly).’

This is the secret to the answer Allah عزوجل gave to the angels when He عزوجل said to them:

اِنِّیۡ جَاعِلٌ فِی الۡاَرْضِ خَلِیۡفَۃً

I am going to place a caliph in the earth.

(Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Surah Baqarah, verse 30)

The angels said:

قَالُوۡۤا اَتَجْعَلُ فِیۡہَا مَنۡ یُّفْسِدُ فِیۡہَا وَیَسْفِکُ الدِّمَآءَ ۚ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِکَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَکَ

They said, ‘Will You place such who will spread violence and shed blood in it? And we glorify You commending You and sanctify You.’

(Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Surah Baqarah, verse 30)

Then He عزوجل said:

قَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوۡنَ

He عزوجل said, ‘I know what you know not.’

(Translation of Quran)] (Part 1, Surah Baqarah, verse 30)

Thus, the secret behind this statement has been revealed.

(Tafsir Kabir, pp. 229, vol. 11)

Any night of year may be ‘Laila-tul-Qadr’

Laila-tul-Qadr has been kept secret for numerous reasons so that the pious people of Allah عزوجل spend the whole year looking for it and constantly striving to earn the reward of worships.

There is a wide divergence of opinion amongst the honourable scholars رحمھم اللہ تعالیٰ regarding the exact date of Laila-tul-Qadr. Some scholars رحمھم اللہ تعالیٰ say that Laila-tul-Qadr moves throughout the year. For example, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud رضی اللہ عنہ said, ‘Only the man who searches carefully throughout the year for Laila-tul-Qadr will be able to find it.’

Favouring the foregoing saying, Imam-ul-‘Arifin, Sayyiduna Shaykh Muhiyyuddin Ibn ‘Arabi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ said, ‘Once I found Laila-tul-Qadr on the 15th night of Sha’ban (Shab-e- Bara-at) and in another year, I found it on the 19th night of Sha’ban. I have also seen it on the 13th and the 18th nights of Ramadan. Further, in different years I have seen it on each of the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. He رحمۃ اللہ علیہ further stated that though Laila-tul-Qadr mostly falls in Ramadan, in my experience, it falls on different nights of the year; so it isn’t the same night every year.

Two sayings of Imam Azam رحمۃ اللہ علیہ

Here are two sayings of Imam Azam Abu Hanifah رحمۃ اللہ علیہ in this regard:

1. Laila-tul-Qadr is in Ramadan but there is no specific night for it, whereas Sayyiduna Imam Abu Yusuf and Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad رحمۃ اللہ علیہ say that Laila-tul-Qadr is in the last 15 nights of Ramadan.

2. A famous saying of Sayyiduna Imam Abu Hanifah رحمۃ اللہ علیہ is that Laila-tul-Qadr falls at different nights of the year, sometimes it is in Ramadan and sometimes in the other months. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud and Sayyiduna ‘Ikramah رحمۃ اللہ علیہ also favoured this opinion.

(Umda-tul-Qari, pp. 253, vol. 8, Hadiš 2015)

Sayyiduna Imam Shafi’i رحمۃ اللہ علیہ has said that Laila-tul-Qadr is one of the last ten nights of Ramadan and it is the same night (every year), it will never change up to the Day of Judgement

(‘Umda-tul-Qari, pp. 253, vol. 8, Hadiš 2015)

Laila-tul-Qadr changes

Sayyiduna Imam Malik رحمۃ اللہ علیہ has said that Laila-tul-Qadr falls in one of the odd nights of the last ten days in Ramadan but it is not the same night (every year), it changes every year within these odd nights. Sometimes it’s the 21st night, sometimes it’s the 23rd, 25th, 27th and sometimes the 29th night.

(Tafsir Sawi, pp. 2400, vol. 6)

Abul Hasan Iraqi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ and Laila-tul-Qadr

Some scholars have quoted Sayyiduna Shaykh Abul Hasan Iraqi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ as saying: ‘I have found Laila-tul-Qadr every year ever since I have reached puberty. Then, expressing his personal experience about Laila-tul-Qadr, he said, ‘Whenever the first fast fell on Sunday or Wednesday, Laila-tul-Qadr was the 29th night. If the first fast was on a Monday it was the 21st night. If the first fast was on a Tuesday or Friday it was the 27th night. If the first fast was on a Thursday it was the 25th night and if the first fast was on a Saturday it was the 23rd night.’

(Nuzha-tul-Majalis, pp. 223, vol. 1)

The 27th night, Laila-tul-Qadr

Despite the differences of opinion amongst the respected jurists, Quranic exegetists, Mu addišin and the majority of scholars رحمھم اللہ تعالیٰ opine that Laila-tul-Qadr is the 27th night of Ramadan every year.

Sayyiduna Ubay Bin Ka’b رضی اللہ عنہ holds the opinion that the 27th night of Ramadan is Laila-tul-Qadr

(Tafsir Sawi, pp. 2400, vol. 6)

Ghauš-e-A’zam Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani رحمۃ اللہ علیہ and Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar رضی اللہ عنہ also had the same opinion.

Sayyiduna Shah ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Muhaddiš Dihlvi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ is also one of the scholars that favoured the opinion that Laila-tul-Qadr is the 27th night of Ramadan. He رحمۃ اللہ علیہ has given two proofs in favour of his opinion. Firstly, there are 9 letters in the Arabic word لیلۃ القدر ( Laila-tul-Qadr) and this word appeared 3 times in Surah Qadr. If 9 is multiplied by 3 the total is 27, which hints that Laila-tul-Qadr is the 27th night. Secondly, there are 30 words in this Surah and the 27th word is ھی (the Arabic pronoun for ‘It’) which refers to Laila-tul-Qadr. In other words, this is a hint from Allah عزوجل for the righteous that Laila-tul-Qadr is the 27th night.

(Tafsir-e-‘Azizi, pp. 437, vol. 4)

Dear Islamic brothers! By keeping Laila-tul-Qadr a secret Allah عزوجل has persuaded His servants to worship every single night. If He عزوجل had specified a particular night as Laila-tul-Qadr and revealed it to us, we would probably remain heedless in other nights of the year and carry out special worships only in this one night. As it has been kept secret, every wise man is supposed to search for this sacred night throughout the year and perform good deeds at every night of the year. If someone sincerely searches for it Allah عزوجل does not let his efforts go to waste. He عزوجل will definitely grant him the blessings of this night.