muslim sermon
IN the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
The Holy Qur’an Qur’an, An-Nahl, 16:89 says, “One day We shall raise from all Peoples a witness Against them, from amongst themselves: And We shall bring thee As a witness against these (Thy people): and We have sent down To thee the Book explaining All things, a Guide, a Mercy, And Glad Tidings to Muslims.”
One unique aspect of the ninth lunar month of Ramadan is that the Holy Qur’an was first revealed during this time, in the last ten days of the month. After an interval or break (Fatra), extending over some months or perhaps over a year, the Holy Qur’an continued to be sent down over a span of twenty-three years as Guidance and Judgment for mankind.
This night, when the great message for all people and all ages was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammed (SAW) in the Cave Hira near Mecca in 610 A.D., during seclusion through Angel Gabriel, is called the Night of Majesty, or Power, or Honor (Lailatul-Qadr) (Q. 97:1).
The night is very special in many respects, as it heralds the era of enlightenment, an era of truth for all ages, confirming the messages of previous Prophets and their scriptures, initiating the Seal of the Prophets as Messenger of Allah at the age of forty, and dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance.
This is demonstrated in the first message revealed on the Night of Majesty. As knowledge is power, from which all other forms of power derive their potency, the first revelation was for man to “Read, Recite, Rehearse or Proclaim in the Name of Thy Lord…” (Q. 96:1–5).
Thus, knowledge is crucial in Islam as the basis for knowing the truth and following the truthful path. It stands in contrast to the dark ages of ignorance and the animality in man, and it develops his intellectual, moral, and spiritual being. It is this knowledge that makes the children of Adam kings over other creatures, including the Angels and the Jinns (Q. 2:33–34).
As sacred and mysterious as the Night of Power may be, the shrouding of its particular date in Ramadan adds to its uniqueness, at least in a spiritual sense. Yet, the Holy Prophet Muhammed (SAW) indicated that the hidden nature of the night may be for our own good.
Therefore, we should search for it in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. The traditions as contained in Sahih al-Bukhari state that the Prophet was made to forget the specific date due to a quarrel between two Muslims while he was relating the story of the Night of Power. As narrated by Aisha, wife of the Prophet, Rasulullahi (SAW) would strive harder in worship during the last ten days, praying throughout the night and keeping his family awake in search of the Night of Majesty.
Indeed, the Holy Qur’an, the incorruptible Divine Revelation, describes the Night of Power as better than a thousand months (Qur’an 97:3). This must be taken in an indefinite sense, denoting a very long period of time. It does not refer merely to our limited concept of time, but to “Timeless Time,” a spiritual continuum.
One moment of enlightenment under God’s Light (Nuur) is better than thousands of months or years of animal life, and such a moment transforms the night of darkness into a period of spiritual glory.
After all, the Qur’an revealed on the Night of Qadr illuminates our minds as individuals, directs us to the cause of Allah, teaches us about our duties to Allah and to our fellow human beings, brings hope, peace, and harmony to our communities through a sound moral value system, encourages patriotism toward our country, separates truth from falsehood, and serves as Light against darkness.
Thus, in a spiritual sense, we cannot quantify the extent of our reward for every act of worship (Ibadah) observed during the night. It transcends time, for God’s power is limitless and all-encompassing.
Moreover, it is a night that symbolizes the Message of Allah (SAW) to the whole world, not to any particular nation, as was the case with previous Prophets. As narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophet (SAW) said in Sahih al-Bukhari: “whoever fast in the month of Ramadan with sincere faith (Iman) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the Night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward form Allah, then, all his previous sins will be forgiven”.
The night may also be observed through I‘tikaf (i.e., to confine oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations, leaving worldly engagements during the last ten days of Ramadan). This may be practiced in any mosque, but preferably in central mosques that have the necessary facilities and where Jumu‘ah services are held, so as to join the Friday congregation.
Though believers are permitted to approach their wives during the nights of Ramadan, since they are garments to one another, they are restrained during the period of retreat in the mosque (I‘tikaf), as a limit set by Allah so that we may attain righteousness. Such abstinence is especially necessary during seclusion in the mosque in order to awaken and strengthen our spiritual well-being.
The Holy Qur’an 2:187 says, “…but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits (set by) God; approach not nigh thereto. Thus, doth God make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-restraint.”
However, we are to seek the forgiveness of Allah during this time, as practiced by the Prophet. In an authentic Hadith, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: “O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?” He said: “Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi). The transliteration of this Du‘a is “Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fafu annee.”
But we are restrained from meeting with our wives during the period of seclusion (I‘tikaf) in the mosques. Qur’an 2:187 says, “…but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are limits (set by) God; approach not nigh thereto. Thus, doth God make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-restraint.”
May Allah grant us the willpower and faith to have trust in Him. Ameen.