By Alya Nadiah
As Muslims we all know that the month of Ramadan is the most holy of all the months. This is the month where Muslims have the opportunity to draw closer to Allah and ask for forgiveness for even the little sin we have committed.
Now we are already approaching Syawal, which means we are already in the last ten nights of Ramadan, known for the night of Laylatul Qadar. So, any kind of activities carried out on this night, such as reciting the Al-Quran, zikr, alms, and more, is equivalent to doing it for a thousand months.
Laytatul Qadar can be found in the last ten days of Ramadan and is the most blessed night of the year. So, how can we miss out on this night?
But what are the benefits of Laylatul Qadar?
œSurely, we have revealed to you the Grand Night, and what will make you comprehend what the Grand Night is. The Grand Night is better than a thousand months. The Angels and the Spirit descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair. Peace! It is till the break of the morning.“ The Holy Quran (97:5)
It is known to be the night that the revelation of the Quran was sent down to Prophet Muhammad SAW as guidance for all humankind. During this night, our destiny is written for the coming year, and who knows what is written for us in the future and whether we will be blessed with another Ramadan again. Therefore, it is important to make the most of such blessed opportunity and reap as much reward we can for our Hereafter.
The prophet once said, “and it is a month, the first (part) of which is mercy, the middle (part) of which is forgiveness, and the last (part) of which is freedom from the fire.” – Ibn Khuzaimah
Here are some tips to share with the IIUM community regarding the night of Laylatul Qadar:
- Make time for Allah – Take a break from work and put aside all the workloads and focus on worshiping Allah alone. We should thank Him and be grateful for everything He has given us a lot up until now. Make some time in the middle of the night and stay awake to perform extra ibadah. Happiness is not about having what we want, but be grateful and happy with what we have.
- Do iktikaf – Stay up in the mosque with the intention of performing various acts of ibadah such as zikr, performing extra prayer, reciting the Al-Quran. Prophet Muhammad used to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in the mosque.
- Do Charity – Muslims are encouraged to do good deeds towards other Muslims such as giving charity in any form. From giving donations to giving food for the homeless and giving out clothes for the needy. All kinds of good acts will be counted as long as it comes with a sincere intention. One tip is to donate RM1 every night on the last ten days of Ramadan. If it falls on Laytatul Qadar the reward is as if you donate for 83 years, every day.
- Recite the Al-Quran and reflect on its meaning – Read the Quran every time there is free time. Use this opportunity to also improve your reading. Do not waste time doing things that will not benefit us in the world and the Hereafter. You can choose one surah you prefer and read the translation and tafseer from trusted websites to further understand the surah.
- Go for terawih prayer with family – We can only perform terawih prayer during the month of Ramadan. Take this opportunity to draw our self closer to Allah SWT and listen to the talk after prayer. It is also an opportunity to get closer and spend more time with our family.
Wishing everyone good luck in performing the ibadah. May all of us have the opportunity to meet with the Laylatul Qadar. Happy Aidil Fitri. ***
