Lailatul Qadr – Night of
Power in the
last ten nights of
Ramadan:
Talk by Professor Dr.
Ahmad ibn Saifuddin Turkestani
Dr. Mozammel Haque
Professor Dr. Ahmad bin Saifuddin
Turkestani gave a talk on “Catch These Special Deeds Before Ramadan” four years ago on 15 Ramadan 1441 Hijri at the
Islamic Centre for Kuwait (ICK) on an invitation of an organiser. Addressing
the gatherings and audience Professor Dr. Ahmad ibn Saifuddin said, “Brothers
and Sisters, I am inviting to a very special meeting - very special one at a
very special time – special day, i.e. Friday.” He thanked the organiser at ICK – the Islamic Centre for Kuwait – because
they had trust and interest.
Second Half of Ramadan: More
Precious and greater opportunities
Speaking about the first half of Ramadan which has already passed and
the forthcoming second half of the month, Dr. Ahmad ibn Saifuddin said that
half of the month have passed but the forthcoming days are no less than what “we
have passed; in fact, the second half is precious and greater opportunities for
the Muslims in the month of Ramadan,” said Dr Turkistani.
Though Dr Turkistani talked about the last ten days and nights – the Lailatul Qadr – a few years ago, still the significance and importance of Lailatul Qadr remains the same and will be the same in the coming days and years. That’s why, I thought I must mention what he said about Lailatul Qadr.
Lailatul Qadr
Speaking about the last ten days and nights of the month of Ramadan,
Professor Ahmad mentioned about Lailatul Qadr. He explained the importance and
significance of this night first. He said, “Let me say that these ten days
contain Lailatul Qadr – Lailatul Qadr is the Night, is the Night of the
Revelation of the Glorious Qur’an. It is the night that if anyone is accepted
in their worship and in their dua and coming forward towards Allah, it would
have, wishes of Allah, for 83 years, to be exact, 83 years and four months. The
1000 months – 1000 months imagine. And this is exactly the same – the Glorious
Qur’an, let me recite Suratul Qadr. To know the significance of this night.
Night of Honour & Prestige
Professor Ahmad continued: “This is the night of Honour & Prestige
and the saver, which was revealed the Glorious Qur’an in this night and Allah
says oma adraka lailatul Qadr Are you in this night? Lailatul
Qadr Alf-e-Sahr, not only you will worship in this night –this particular
time – amount of time – which can be found in one night during nine night or
ten nights in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. So if you are very
fortunate, if you catch this night before it is over, you will never know
whether you would be here in or none of us. Nobody is certain that they would
be here again next year or the year after – although we asked Allah Subhanahu
Wa Taala long life in the worship of HIM Allah Subhanahu Wa
Taala. But that’s catch the moment.”
After reciting the Suratul Qadr, Professor explained the greater
opportunity lies in that night the Night of Lailatul Qadr. He said, “Lets take
the opportunity – kairum min Alf-e Sahr better than 1000
months– Subhanallah – it is like you devoting your life 83 years and 4 months
in the worship of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala a accepting all the
good things – the great opportunities and for some reason it was hidden. We
don’t know exactly which night it is. Yes; some scholars, even Ibn Abbas (R.A.)
it is the night of 27; but you know with calendars and not knowing for certain
which night Ramadan is and there is in different months in different countries
and localities when Ramadan started; nonetheless we will say that it is for
certain in the ten nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan. Sure; so if we get
it ourselves this; this night from the beginning from the 20th day,
because as you know the night precedes day; so when we say 21st, it
means it is on the 20th night; means 20th day;
so 5 days from now. We can have that opportunity, Insha Allah. To catch this
night.”
How can we catch it? Taubah Repentance
Dr Ahmad ibn Saifuddin asked: “How can we catch it? That’s the question.
It is what you call it one billion Hasanat question. Yes, indeed. How can we
catch it?” and he quickly answered, “First we have to do certain things. I
advise myself and my brothers and sisters to do this. We need it to catch it
starting it from Taubah. Repentance is very essential. Before we get into
worship we need to cleanse our heart. We need to receive the barakah the mercy
and the blessings of this night and to be in a good situation to receive all
the good in it by coming forward towards away from everything that we have done
that in the past. We need to come forward to receive the blessings. And that
comes only through Taubah. Taubah from everything that we did in the past; to
be determined not to do it again. Not to get involve into wrong doings,
although we know the nature of human beings.”
“As soon as we remember we come back
just as Ibrahim peace be upon him. He comes back time after time towards Allah.
We need to renew our intention every time in order to come closer and closer to
Allah and to stay away from all bad things. We may fall in that human beings
commit wrong things. But the most Allah loves those who repent every
time. In the Hadith: Those who make mistakes and repent Allah loves them
because they come to Allah if they commit mistakes; they do wrongs they come
back to Allah. That is a key brothers and sisters. That is the key to repent to
Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala; repent sincerely from the bottom of your
heart and ready for ten nights and beyond. It is just only the start. Let’s
renew. Allah has given the opportunity – to live to this moment and to come
Insha Allah – to the end of Ramadan. If that is the case then we are very
fortunate,” said Professor Ahmad Saifuddin.
Dr. Ahmad Saifuddin reminded that many
people wanted to come back and wanted to do good deeds. He said, “How many
people are under the ground wishing to come back and to do something good but
are not able to do it. So we need to do that. So Taubah is very very important
and very significant; if you have done something wrong against anyone; like
taking their rights; like taking their money, their wealth, violating their
honour; you are thinking you want to come back; you want to think is it
possible; we tried to rectify situations. You have done something wrong you
correct it now – Taubah is the way. Allah loves those who can; Allah loves
those who repent.”
Involve into More Ibadah:
How do you do it
Professor Ahmad Saifuddin then mentioned about Ibadah and Night Prayer
and Reading Qur’an. He said, “Secondly, starting from the first night, the 21st night
which precedes the 20th day of Ramadan to get involve into more
Ibadah. How do you do it? Well just like in the Hadith, When Ayesha (Radhi
Anha) said: ‘When it is the ten days Prophet peace be upon him wake up and stay
up all night; also in their house, they stay away from intimacy. This is not a
time for intimacy; time for Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala for
your own benefit. It is a time we need to devote for Allah Subhanahu Wa
Taala in order to be trained; in order to love this and what is better
than to stand before Allah – Salah – standing before Allah; recite the Glorious
Qur’an; doing Taraweeh, doing Tahajjud; although it’s the same – Tahajjud is
the same word for Qiyam. Qiyam is for the first part of the night, second part
of the night or the last part of the night. People have come to Taraweeh the
early part of the night. Someone told Ibn Umar the importance of standing up at
night; Abdullah ibn Umar after knowing the significance of the Qiyam al-Lail,
he never left Qiyam-al-Lail at any night of the year. You can do it at any
night – no exception.”
“But try to make it like starting
point for you every night as much as you can. Read two Rakaats, then you get
tired. No take it easy. Take step by step; train yourself and you will love it.
I know from the stories of righteous people. It is possible for them to do
Qiyam even on travel; when they were travelling on train, or at airport.” He
mentioned.
To be closer to Allah
Professor Turkestani said, So we get involved in this night in prayer,
in recitation of the Qur’an, in dua, in being kind to people around us within
the family, to the neighbours, to outside to the world, just to say good word,
be nice, be kind, be generous, just like Prophet peace be upon him, so generous
all time; even he was more generous in the month of Ramadan. So these are the
good deeds; Sometimes we may say well we have done our prayer; what? Be
versified; try to make different kinds of worship. I can read a book on Sirah;
I can read a book on the interpretation of the Qur’an. That’s part of worship.
That’s part of the righteous deeds. It has not to be recitation of the Glorious
Qur’an all times.”
My recommendations:
Make Qur’an Your Friend
Professor Ahmad emphasized, “Though my recommendations for myself and
for you is to be as close as much to the Glorious Qur’an; be with the Qur’an at
all times; make Qur’an your friend, very close friend- where you enjoy to be
always being together; its take time, be attachment. Again like Salah, you feel
much attached to the Glorious Qur’an. So we need to do that and nothing better
than to recite the Qur’an in prayers. So in prayers you are joining two things
– praying and you are reciting the Glorious Qur’an at the same time. I
recommend reading the Glorious Qur’an in the remaining few days of Ramadan and
make it your best companion all the time.”
[To be Continued[
.
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