The Forgiveness Granted on Laylatul Qadr

Contemplate, on the Mercy of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى, that ONE night of worship 

may ERASE a lifetime of sins: 

It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي اللّه عنـه, that Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) said:

‘Whoever stood in prayer on the night of Al-Qadr, in faith and hoping for a reward from Allaah, he will have ALL of his previous sins forgiven.’

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

O people! Fear Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) and take advantage of the seasons of goodness and Allaah’s (سُبحانه وتعالى) favors by building up what draws you nearer to your Lord, and beware of wasting and giving up these opportunities. If you do so, you will regret every moment you waste.

O brothers! If you do not profit in this great month, then when do you plan to profit? If one does not revert to his Lord in this month, when does he intend to revert? He who is still inactive in gaining the favors and goodness of this month, when does he think he will be righteous and successful?

My brothers! Take advantage of the opportunities in this month before it is too late! Keep your souls away from its destruction and ruin. Your great month has started to diminish. The count has begun on its precious nights and days. So make up for what you have missed and take advantage of what is left before it is too late. Hurry to Allaah, the Almighty! Repent for your sins, and know that actions are but by conclusion, so conclude your actions with good deeds. Two thirds of this great month have passed. What is left of it, is only one-third, but it is the last ten days of Ramadhan, [which are the most virtuous and precious days]. Avail yourselves of these days with honest intentions, doing all what is righteous and being benevolent.

Take advantage of these very last nights by praying to Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) with submission and humility and with hope for his favors and benevolence. While praying to Him in these nights, seek His refuge from His tortures and punishments. Verily, He is the All Generous and the All-Merciful. He is the One Who says:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ  

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم)) concerning Me, then answer them, I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.”

(Al-Baqarh 2:186)

Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) descends to the first heaven in the last third of every night to offer His generosity and forgiveness to His servants saying:

“Who is saying a prayer to Me? So I shall answer it. Who is asking for something from Me? So I shall give it to him. Who asks Me for forgiveness? So I shall forgive him.”

One of these last ten blessed nights is Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Decree) in which is decreed every matter of ordainment as well as everything to take place within the next year upon Allaah’s Will. In this night, the angels descend from the heavens, the bounties, the goodness, and the benefits increase. Whoever spends this night praying and worshipping Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) with pure intentions shall have all of his sins forgiven, yet whoever wastes and neglects it shall be truly deprived and shall only have himself to blame. Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) has made this night unknown to the people. They only know that it is one of the last ten nights of Ramadhan every year. This is to promote them to increase their worship throughout the whole ten days, so they may pray more, recite more of the Qur’aan and be kinder and more helpful to the people during that period. It is then a test, thereupon the striving and active Muslim is distinguished from the lazy one. Had the exact date of Lailatul Qadr been revealed, this test would have been of no tangible avail and the Muslim would not have striven to reach the utmost of nearness to Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى).

May Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) have mercy on you! Pursue this nearness with eagerness and sincerity! Ask Allaah in this night to let you gain more of goodness and bounties in this life and the Hereafter. Then ask Him to protect you from being among the losers. While you pray or recite the Qur’aan. Be sure to pray to Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى), to have mercy on you, and to provide for you when you come across a verse of mercy, and to protect you from his chastisement when you come across a verse of torture and punishment.