Lailatul Qadr –The 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” at the Islamic Centre for Kuwait (ICK) on an invitation of an organiser on 15 Ramadan 1441 Hijri. 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. I like to thank my brothers who has organising at ICK – the Islamic Centre for Kuwait – They have trust and interest, we have heart-feeling today because we are supposed today to be attending Jumah – but because of the circumstances as you know this Pandemic which is all over the world confined us in our houses, May Allah Subhanahu wa Taala uplifted – the reason are our Masjids, the reasons are our gatherings – near future, very near future by Allah’s Will.”
Before I indulge myself into his talk
on this very special topic on and about Ramadan, I would like to introduce him.
Professor Dr. Ahmad ibn Saifuddin Turkestani is a professor in the College of
Media and Communication at the Imam Muhammad Saud Islamic University, Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia. He was also Former Head of Cultural Affairs Section at the
Saudi Embassy in the United Kingdom and worked as Director at the Institute of
Islamic Studies and Arabic Sciences in Washington under the Ministry of Higher
Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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, “Since in this month of Ramadan today is 15th Ramadan,
already half of the month has passed heading for second half – the second could
be the same days, may be 14 days. The days forthcoming is 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.”
Explaining why he said that, Dr.
Turkestani mentioned, “Because we are coming towards the end – towards
the last ten days and nights of the month of Ramadan – the last ten days are so
precious , so good and there is a great opportunity for us to catch certain
deeds; they are marked down in this ten days. So this is our talk today.
We are going to concentrate the last ten days of Ramadan and also what is going
to take place even afterwards – after the end of Ramadan shortly.”
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.
“So Lets make this Ramadan a
beginning to stay and pray at night – never miss a night prayer even if
it is two rakaats, or four rakaats – whatever is possible for you; wake up last
part of the night, its better; even half an hour before the Azan to Allah,”
said Dr. Ahmad Saifuddin and added, “By the way, meet Allah if you will closer
to him and strive to do that. Once you do it, you are waiting for some one to
see it who stands up in night for prayer and they make Istaqfar at Sahoor time,
which is before dawn, before Fajr.”
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.”
First Published in Ramadan 1441
Hijri
[To be
Continued[
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