Ramadhan, the Month of God (26)

Welcome to the 26th episode of “Ramadhan, the Month of God”.

“O Allah, let my efforts this day be worthy of appreciation, let my sins therein be forgiven, my works be accepted, and my faults remain hidden; O Sharpest of listeners!”

We have already marked the Blessed Nights of Qadr, with the 23^rd of Ramadhan being the peak of the period when God Almighty determine the destiny of all for the whole year. Our Sunni brothers observe “Laylat al-Qadr” on the 27^th eve of blessed Ramadhan. Anyway, since the last ten days of the month of fasting are climax to the showering of Divine Mercy, the renowned exegete of the holy Qur'an, Allamah Seyyed Mohammad Hussain Tabatabai, writes in his monumental work “Tafsir al-Mizan” on surah Qadr: It is called the Night of Qadr because all matters relating to mankind are determined for the whole year by God Almighty on this night. This is also confirmed in surah Dukhan which reads, 'Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night, and indeed We have been warning. Every definitive matter is resolved in it."

Now the question may arise as: If the matters of mankind are determined for the whole year on the Night of Qadr, what role do human will and choice play?

Here again, Allamah Tabatabai provides the answer: This does not contradict human will and freedom, and whatever God determines is in accordance with a person’s traits, inclinations, and capabilities. It means that every person’s destiny is determined on the basis of what he/she deserves. In other words, this confirms the God-given gifts of free will and choice.

As we mentioned in one of our earlier episodes, among the best observances of the Night of Qadr is to keep vigil from dusk (Azan of Maghreb) till the dawn (Azan of Fajr).

At the end of Surah Qadr, God Almighty says: "It is peace until rising of the dawn."  

According to exegetes of the holy Qur’an, Salaam or Peace in this ayah refers to the special favour and grace of Allah to His servants on the Night of Qadr, which involve safety and blessings and the closing of the doors of hell because the whisperings of Satan on this night are not really effective.

On the Night of Qadr, angels descend to the earth and greet every person who is in the state of worship, because on the Day of Judgement the angels will meet and greet the people of people with Salaams, saying: “Peace be to you! You are welcome! Enter it to remain [forever]”, as is evident by ayah 73 of Surah Zumar.

In short, it is a night of mercy and it is possible with repentance to attract the grace of God towards oneself, thus it is peaceful until the break of dawn.

One of the great gnostic scholars who passed away a few years ago was Ayatollah Aqa Mujtaba Tehrani. Referring to the special supplication of the 27^th of the month of Ramadhan, in part of which God is asked to grant us the virtue of the Night of Qadr, this famed scholar said, "With respect to this supplication, some people assume that the 27^th eve of Ramadhan is the Night of Qadr."

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS), has recommended a special prayer for the 27^th night, which those eager to recite are recommended to refer to the Books of Prayer for details.

Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), the 4^th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) has recommended a bath on this night. It is reported that he used to recite the following supplication on the 27^th Night of Ramadhan, which is as follows:

“O Allah, enable me to detach myself from this abode of illusion and to turn to the Abode of Permanence. Enable me to prepare myself for death before it is too late.”

Another supplication that is highly recommended for recitation on this night is as follows:

O You, who spread the twilight and had You wished You would have made it still. Then You made the sun a beacon for it. Then You retract it toward Yourself with a gentle retracting.  O Source of all generosity, bounteous-ness, supremacy and bounties, there is no god except You, Knower of the sensible and the Unseen, the All-Beneficent and the All-Merciful!

There is no god except You, O All-Holy, O All-Benign, O Securer, O All-Conserver, O All-Mighty, O All-Compeller, O All-Magnanimous! O Allah, O Creator, O Maker, O Former! O Allah, O Allah, O Allah! O You, to whom belong the Best Names, the loftiest descriptions, and all supremacy and all the bounties!

I beseech You to bless Muhammad and the Progeny of Muhammad, and to place my name this night among those of the felicitous, my spirit among those of the martyrs, my good works in the Illiyin (highest level of heaven), and let my offences be forgiven. Grant me a conviction that will animate my heart, a faith that will dispel all my doubts, and make me pleased with whatever You have apportioned for me. Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the burning Fire. Grant me this night Your remembrance, gratitude toward You, longing for You, penitence, and success in everything that You have granted success therein to Muhammad and the Progeny of Muhammad, may peace be to him and to them.”

AS/MG