Laylate ul-Qadr- Chapter 97 of Quran

(1) Indeed, We sent down during LAYL of the QADAR. (2) And what can make you know what is LAYL of the QADAR? (3) LAYL of the QADAR is KHAIRUN of thousand SHAHAR. (4) The MALAIK and ROOH descend therein by permission of their Rabb for every AMAR. (5) SALAMUN it is until the rising of the FAJAR.

In order to understand this Surah of Quran, we need to understand vocabulary of few Keywords of this surah. The following keyword vocabulary is from Quran itself:

LAYL (اللَّيْلِ)

This word is normally translated as night, but it is not meant in the meanings of night in all of its usages in Quran for instance refer ayah 10:27 the word is used in the meanings of periods of darkness and hardship. Similar meanings are used in ayah 3:113 as “…they Qaim yatloon the Ayat of Allah and during the hours/periods of Layl, and they do Sajda.” Is talking about that particular Ummat of the Ahle Kitaab who Qaim/establish and Yatoona/follow the ayaat of Allah during hours of layl, the darkness and hardship times and they do sajda/follow Allah’s commandments as per Kitaab. X-Reference – 3:113, 10:27, 97:all ayahs.

QADAR (الْقَدْرِ)

The word Qadeer is normally translated as All-Powerful but the word is used in Quran in much broader meanings and depth. For instance, in ayah 22:74 “They have not Qadaru Allah the Haqqa Qadrihi…” here the word is used in the meanings of valuation, ability, estimation, measure, appraisal or assessment. Similarly, in ayah 2:236 the word Qadarhu means as per his/her ability, measure, resources and means. The word Qaadir is also used in the meanings of ability or power for instance in the ayah 6:37 “…Indeed Allah is Qaadir to send down an Ayaat…” here the word used in the meanings of power, capability or ability. Similar meanings are used in the ayah 6:65 & 17:99. The word Taqdeer is normally mistranslated as fate, or decree or determination – but the meanings of the word Taqdeer is power, ability, capability etc. as in the ayah 41:12 and 6:96 with the phrase “…that is the Taqdeer of the Aziz the All-knower”. X-Reference – 2:236, 3:29, 6:37, 6:65, 6:96, 17:99, 22:74, 41:12.

KHAIR (خَيْرًا)

This word is normally translated as better or good or best- the word Khair basically means anything that one desires or is his/her most favorite. Khair has been used in Quran in many Ayahs in the meanings of money, property, state and wealth for instance in the ayahs 2:180 the word Khair is used to refer to a person’s estate, wealth, property, money etc., whereby the person is advised to write a will to take care of the relatives, parents and near and dear ones. Similarly, in the ayah 100:03 it is used in the meanings of the wealth. In the ayah 2:61, the word Khair is used as an opposite to Adna as in “…Would you exchange Khair for Adna?…” Therefore, it means better or superior in terms of food, rizq, honor, grace, Fazal or any pleasures of life. To give priority or virtue to another, to select or chose someone to give benefits or honor or grace. In the ayah 6:17 it is used in the opposite of Zarree meaning adversity or trouble. In many ayahs in Quran it is used as an opposite of the word Sharr as in ayah 2:216. Sharr basically means death destruction or wastage of human efforts, faculties and potential. As an opposite of the word Sharr means best/good, utilization of human efforts and faculties producing desired results as per the utilized efforts.  In the ayah 16:76, the word is used for any and all types of Good things, good sayings or good works etc. Therefore, the word Khair includes anything that is done or there for the benefit or wellbeing of an individual which is aligned with his/her most needed and desired aspects. When the word Khairat is used in ayah 3:114, as in “..they hasten towards Khairatan..”, it’s used in all-encompassing meanings of the word Khair. X-Reference – 2:61 , 2:180,  2:216, 3:110, 3:114 , 3:198, 4:46, 4:127-128, 6:17, 7:87, 100:03.

SHAHR (شَهْرُ)

This word is normally translated as month only, but in Quran the word is also used in the meanings of period, time periods, duration, eras, times, periods, intervals, phases, stages, or points of time. For instance, in the ayah 2:194, 2:185, 2:197, 2:217, 5:02, 34:12 in all of these ayahs, the word Shahar is used not in the meanings of the month or months, but more in the meanings of duration, times or periods of certain situation/processes etc. Where as in other places such as ayah 2:226, 2:234, 4:92, 46:15, etc. it’s used in the meanings of months – as in calendar months. X-Reference – 2:185 , 2:194 , 2:197 , 2:217 , 2:226 , 2:234 , 4:92 , 5:02 , 34:12 , 46:15.

MALAIK (لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ)

The concept of Malaik is one of the 5 fundamentals of Emaan as per Emaan on Malaik. It’s therefore important to understand what does it mean by the term Malaik as per Quran. It does not mean Angel’s with wings as widely understood and translated since how can you have Emaan on something, without knowledge. The word Malaik shares the same characteristics as from the “Maaalik” means the one who has the power, the authority. Therefore, the word Malaik means the powers, processes and forces of nature on the basis of which Allah’s whole universe is kept running. Malaik has share the characteristics from the word “Alak” which means messengers or communicators for instance in ayah 22:75 “Allah chooses from the Malaik messengers and from the people”. Thus, Malaik are those forces of nature that carry out all the tasks of the universe, including communicating or as messengers, in order to keep the universe in order and in balance; in order to keep the universe and everything running as per the specific roles and responsibilities of the Malaik as assigned to them by Allah. Refer Ayah 16:49-50, “And to Allah everything does Sajda whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the Malaik, and they are not arrogant. They fear their Rabb above them, and they do what they are commanded”. After Allah, the Malaik has done Sajda only to Adam, i.e., us as mankind as Khalifa on earth, on the basis of being taught Names by Allah- knowledge- refer Ayah 2:30-34.  X-Reference – 2: 30-34 , 15:30 , 16:49-50 , 22:75 , 25:22 , 33:43 , 35:01 , 38:73 , 41:31 , 66:4 , 74:31 , 89:22 , 97:04.

ROOH (رُوحِ )

The word Rooh is normally translated as spirit or soul. In the ayah 32:09 when Allah is talking about the creation of mankind, the last step as distinct from the others (animals etc.) is that Allah breathed Allah’s Rooh into the human, i.e., each and every one of us, has Allah’s rooh as a part of our creation. The word Rooh is also used to refer to the process of revelations and the Hidayah itself for instance in the ayahs 17:85-86 “And they ask you, about the Rooh, Say, ‘The Rooh is the affair of my Rabb. And mankind has not been given of knowledge except a little. And if We willed, We could surely do away with that which We revealed to you….’”. X-Reference  17:85-86, 32:09 .

AMAR (أَمْرً)

The basic meanings of the word are sign, indication, guidance, consultation, suggestion etc. Therefore, in the ayah 26:35 and 7:110, the word Ta’maroon is used in the meanings of what do you advise, suggest. The word Ya’tamiroon is used in the meanings of consultations, conferring upon and suggestions in the ayah 28:20. The word is used in the meanings of planning, intending or determination to do something.  Amar is also used in the meanings of abundance or increase in something as well as in the meanings of matter, case, situation, or affair, or a thing, (with plural as al amoor), commandments, order, enjoin, or command something for instance in the ayah 17:16, it is used in the meanings of command.  Therefore, Ameer is the one who commands. Amar is also used in the Quran as a Commands/stage/step/process during the creation of the universe & everything in it by Allah – for instance in the ayah 7:54 the phrase is Al-khalaqu wa Al-Amarru showing Amar as a distinct Commands or step or stage in the creation process. Another use of the word in the same meaning of a creation process is mentioned in the ayah 2:117 in the meanings of when Allah decides on Al-Amar, Allah says to it Kun Fa Yakun. Amar is also used in Quran in the meanings of the laws of nature for instance in the ayah 22:65 “…the ships which run through the sea by Allah’s Amar”. Similarly, in ayah 7:54 “…and the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by Allah’s Amar.” X-Reference – 2:117 , 7:54 , 7:110 , 9:48 , 17:16 , 18:21 , 18:71 , 22:65 , 24:62-63 , 26:35 , 27:91 , 28:20 , 33:36 , 39:11-12 , 42:15 , 65:06 , 66:06.

SALAM (سَلَامٌ)

Muslim is the one who Aslam. The word Islam, aslam or salam is used in five broad meanings (1) to get pure and clean from all sorts of impurities, insufficiencies and faults; something that is devoid of any impurities, strains or contaminations- as used in ayah 2:71; (2) to be at peace, save and protected from all sorts of dangers, troubles and incidents in terms of remaining healthy and protected as in the ayah 4:90-91. Allah is described in ayah 59:23 as Salaamu, which is a combination of both these meanings (3) It also means ladder as in the ayahs 6:35 & 52:38; that is the source and tool to reach a Height, or anything on the basis of which a person can reach with safety, security and confidence to the height of health, perfection, purity and success (4) The word also means to remain with others in harmony, peace, care and contentment, to ensure peace, law and order for everyone and to live with peace with everyone through mutual cooperation and care. (5) Also used in meanings of submitting and obeying in complete submission and obedience, i.e., to obey, follow, and submit to the laws of Allah in perfect submission and obedience. If we combined all these meanings to define the word Islam, it’s that code of conduct- a way of life, which is given in Quran as per the laws of Deen, a complete submission and obedience of which fills the gap for an individual’s insufficiencies, correct own flaws, to make the person a perfect and pure being whereby an individual’s faculties and abilities are utilized to their maximum, protecting the person through all the troubles, lawlessness, destruction as well as pushing individual towards new heights ensuring long term success, peace, prosperity, security not just for the individual but for all members of the society.  X-Reference 2:71, 4:90-91, 6:71, 8:61, 10:25, 16:87, 19:47, 52:23, 52:38.

THE CONCEPT BEHIND THIS SURAH/ CHAPTER NO. 97 OF QURAN

If we keep in mind all the above-mentioned keywords, we would realize what this Surah is really talking about, which is not that one night is better than thousands of months and we have to find that night and do worship all night. Islam is not about rituals at all- refer 2:177 “it’s not about turning your face east or west…”

(1) Indeed, We sent down during LAYL of the QADAR. Aĺlah is telling us that the Hidayah, the guidance, the Quran has been reveled in the time period of extreme difficulties, hardship and darkness of humanity. Indeed, Allah have revealed in the Laylatul (period of darkness and hardship) the Qadar (power/decree/ability to fight with this darkness), referring to the Hidayah, the Quran as the Qadar, the power, the decree, the ability to fight this darkness.  

(2) And what can make you know what is LAYL of the QADAR?  i.e., what is this dark period and hardship times of humanity and the power of hidayah, that the Qadar that was send down in? This is a metaphoric question, the answer of which is going to be communicated by Allah in the subsequent ayahs.

(3) LAYL of the QADAR is KHAIRUN of thousand SHAHAR. Lailatu the Qadar, is Khairun of a thousand Shahar (time periods and durations of time/era)- it means the power of Hidayah that was revealed in that darkness, difficulties and hardship period of humanity, has khair of a thousand of Shahar- not used here in the meaning of months but time periods, for years to come. Here the word Khair includes anything that exists or is done for the benefit or wellbeing of an individual as well as the whole community, aligned with his/her/community’s most needed and desired aspects.

(4) The MALAIK and ROOH descend therein by permission of their Rabb for every AMAR.  This ayah explains the whole process of revelations, which as we all know was done through the Malaik, specifically Jibrael and Michael. This ayah is also referring to all the matters that are looked after by Allah through Allah’s Malaik in order to create, run and provide sustainability and nourishment to whole universe including every single living and non-living things.

(5) SALAMUN it is until the rising of the FAJAR. The word Fajar is used here in the meanings of brightness and light. The word Salamun is used in its all five broad meanings (1) to get pure and clean from all sorts of impurities, insufficiencies and faults; (2) to be at peace, save and protected from all sorts of dangers, troubles and incidents in terms of remaining healthy and protected; (3) to reach with safety, security and confidence to the height of health, perfection, purity and success (4) to remain with others in harmony, peace, care and contentment, to ensure peace, law and order for everyone and to live with peace with everyone through mutual cooperation and care. (5) submitting and obeying in complete submission and obedience, i.e., to obey, follow, and submit to the laws of Allah in perfect submission and obedience. If we combined all these meanings to define the word Islam, it’s that code of conduct- a way of life, which is given in Quran as per the laws of Deen, a complete submission and obedience of which fills the gap for an individual’s insufficiencies, correct own flaws, to make the person a perfect and pure being whereby an individual’s faculties and abilities are utilized to their maximum, protecting the person through all the troubles, lawlessness, destruction as well as pushing individual towards new heights ensuring long term success, peace, prosperity, security not just for the individual but for all members of the society. Thus, this ayah is telling us that Salamun is this Hidayah, the Quran, until this darkness and hardship period of humanity is eliminated and the Deen- Islam brightens the humanity.

THE OVERVIEW OF THIS SURAH

The whole surah is not talking about one particular night, but the whole duration of darkness and hardship of humanity, during which the revelations started and brought everyone from darkness to light. This Hidayah, the Kitaab, the Quran was brought down to the humanity by Allah’s Malaik and has been made Fard/obligatory upon us. It’s our bare minimum duty as Muslims to understand, follow and practically apply this guidance in our lives until the emergence of the Fajar, the brightness, the Noor and the peace of Deen- e- Islam spreads everywhere.