Ramalan Article - Special Virtues of the Night of Decree

Allaah The Almighty has attached a special value to theLaylat Al-Qadr,
and has given this night special characteristics which make it unique,
such as:
It is the night on which the Quran was sent down. Ibn
'Abbaassaid,"Allaah sent down the Quran at one time from Al-Lawh
Al-Mahfooth )the Preserved Tablet in the Seventh Heaven( to Bayt
Al-'Izzah )House of Pride( in the first Heaven, then it was revealed
to the Messenger of Allaahin stages according to events over
twenty-threeyears."]Ibn Katheer[
Allaah The Almighty described it as being better than a thousand
months, as He Says )what means(:}"The Night of Decree is better than a
thousand months."{]Quran 97:3[
Allaah The Almighty described it as being blessed, as He Says )what
means(:}"Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night."{]Quran 44:
3[
On this night, the angels and the Spirit ]Jibreel)Angel Gabriel([
descend,"i.e., many angels descend on this night because it is so
blessed, and the angels come down when the blessingsand mercy of
Allaah The Almighty come down, just as they come down when the Quran
is recited, and they surround the circles of Thikr )gatherings where
Allaah The Almighty is mentioned(, and they spread their wings for the
one who sincerely seeks knowledge, out of respect for him."]Ibn
Katheer[Jibreelis specifically mentioned as a sign of respect for him.
This night is described as peace, i.e., it is safe, for the devils
cannot do any evil or cause any harm onthis night, as Mujaahidsaid,"On
this night, many people are saved from punishment because of what they
do to worship Allaah, The Most Exalted."
Allaah The Almighty Says)what means(:}"On that night is made distinct
every precise matter."{]Quran 44:4[, the affairs of that year are
dispatched from the Preserved Tablet to the angels who record the
decrees: who will live, who will die, what provision people will be
given, what will happen until the end of that year,every matter of
ordainment is decreed, and it cannot be altered or changed. ]Ibn
Katheer[
Allaah The Almighty revealed a Chapter concerning this night which
will be recited until the Day of Resurrection, in which Allaah The
Almighty Says)what means(:}"Indeed, We sent the Qur'an downduring the
Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of
Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The
angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for
every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn."{]Quran 97:1-5[
The Prophet,, said:"Seek Laylat Al-Qadr in thelast ten days of Ramadan."]Muslim[
It is more likely to be oneof the odd-numbered nights, because of the
narration of 'Aa'ishahwho said that the Messenger of Allaah,, had
said:"Seek Laylat Al-Qadr in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten
nights."]Al-Bukhaari[
It is most likely to be on the night of the twenty-seventh, according
to thesaying of the Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam:"Laylat
Al-Qadr is the night of the twenty-seventh."]Ahmad and Abu Daawood[
This isthe preponderant view of most of the Companions and the
majority of scholars. Ubayy ibn Ka'bused toassert, without saying "In
shaa' Allaah)God willing(" that: "…it was the night of the
twenty-seventh. Zurr ibn Hubaysh,,said to Ubayy: 'I said, What makes
you say that, O Abu'l-Munthir )i.e. Ubay(?'Hesaid, 'By the signs of
which the Messenger of Allaah,told us: that the sun rises that morning
with no visible rays.'" ]Muslim[
The fact that it is more likely the night of the twenty-seventh does
not mean that this is always the case. It could be any of the other
odd-numbered nights of the last ten days ofRamadan. Some of the
scholars ruled that it is more likely that it moves and does not come
on a specific night each year.