Worship
The Best Worship To Do On The Best Night
Gateway to all Ramadan related posts on MM
The following article was inspired by a short reminder given by Shaykh Yaser Birjas at an Iftar party.
When Muslims seek the Night of Power (Lailat Al-Qadr) during the last ten nights of Ramaḍān, they often find themselves wondering what the best act of worship is to perform on such a blessed night. Is it praying ṣalāh? Is it reciting the Qur’ān?
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While the acts of worship one can perform are many, one of the best we can do is to make du‘ā’. Du‘ā’, the Prophet (S) said, is the best form of worshiping Allah. Similarly, the Night of Power is the best night in the entire year.
So we have two of the bests amongst their classes. Imagine the power of combining them at the same time. You would be performing the best possible worship during the best possible time.
Greater than or equal to 1,000
The Night of Power is usually associated with being equal to a thousand months. But in the Qur’an in Surah Qadr, Allah (SWT) answers His question of what is the Night of Power is by stating it is better than, not equal to, a thousand months. The true amount to is left to our imagination.
With that considered, if one were to perform enough du‘ā’ during the Night of Power , the result would be something better than, not equal to, an entire lifetime of making du‘ā’ to Allah (SWT).
Imam Aḥmad’s Du‘ā’ List
It was said about Imam Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal that he would carry around a list of names for people who asked him to make du‘ā’ for, adding requests to his list as they came in. It’s amazing that even someone in his position and as busy as he was would fulfill the trusts given to him by the people.
This Night of Power , follow his footsteps and create your own list of du‘ā’ to make for both yourself and for all the people who have asked you to make du‘ā’ for. We all have people who’ve asked us to remember them in our du‘ā’. More often than not, though, we forget to make du‘ā’ for them like they requested. The Night of Power is our chance to make it up to all of them.
And don’t think fulfilling this is just to help others. The Prophet (S) told us if we make du‘ā’ for others, an Angel will make that same du‘ā’ for us. Imagine getting all of what you’re asking for others to have for yourself. The bigger your du‘ā’ list, the more you can get.
‘Ā’isha’s question
The most critical connection between du‘ā’ and the Night of Power comes from an instance when ‘Ā’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, asked the Prophet (S) what she should say if she found herself with the Night of Power . The Prophet (S) responded with the well-known du‘ā’, “Allahumma, innaka ‘Afūwwun, tuḥibbu al-‘afwa fa‘afu ‘annī,” which means, “O Allah! Indeed you are Pardoning, you love to pardon, so please pardon me,” which may already know about.
But try to envision what the scenario is here. ‘Ā’isha didn’t ask what she should do if she found the Night of Power. Instead, she asked what should she say. In other words, she knew that if there was one thing to focus on that blessed night, it should be du‘ā’ to Allah.
On top of that, the Prophet (S) responded with just the advice of making du‘ā’ (and in specific one asking for forgiveness of one’s sins). Here is ‘Ā’isha, the most beloved of his family who you would think he would give a huge list of monumental acts of worship to perform, yet even she is being told to make du‘ā’ the priority. If ‘Ā’isha was instructed to do so during the blessed Night of Power , what about us during that night?
A lifetime of Night of Powers
The Prophet (S) once told the Companions that whoever misses out on the benefit of the Night of Power will have lost something irreplaceable. As you’re searching the night and making du‘ā’ during every one of the last ten nights, do yourself a favor and make a smart du‘ā’.
Ask Allah (SWT) to enable you to worship during the last 10 nights of every Ramadan for the rest of your life, guaranteeing that you will always find the Night of Power.
When that du‘ā’ is accepted inshaAllah, not only will you have asked Allah (SWT) for more than a lifetime to grant you this ability, He will give you a lifetime of nights worth more than a lifetime in which you can keep asking to find again and again.
That’s a du‘ā’ worth making for a lifetime.
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MR
September 15, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Make dua for me!
Yusuf Saber
September 15, 2009 at 11:18 AM
MashaAllah. What a wise dua to make.
JazakAllah khair!
farhan
September 15, 2009 at 2:25 PM
I actually had a list of duas people asked me to make leading up to my hajj trip last year which I used to maintain in a google spreadsheet. This article reminded me of it. I still have the printouts so I’ll take that list with me to the masjid the remaining nights insha Allah.
jazaak Allah khair for the reminder
wasalaam
Sadaf
September 15, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Excellent analysis! I am in the middle of my 3rd Night of Power right now – on a break from salah. What a timely reminder! I particularly agree with making sure we make du’a for those who have requested this of us. Indeed their request is like a trust which we should strive to fulfill.
Jazak Allahu khair.
Someone
September 15, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Sister Sadaf, may Allah T have mercy on you. You have guts to say this in public :)
Sadaf
September 16, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I meant taking a break between praying qiyaam nawafil units during the night, to eat/drink something and simultaneously, check out MuslimMatters on the computer.
But sheesh. Thanks for letting me know how my comment could have been taken! It took me a minute to get what you meant. Jazak Allahu khair.
MM comments section is always full of surprises for me! :) Its never boring around here.
Amatullah
September 16, 2009 at 11:43 AM
LOL Sadaf.
Amatullah
September 15, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Jazaak Allahu khayran, very beneficial.
Px
September 15, 2009 at 9:21 PM
On Laylatul Qadr
Nice Lecture by Ust. Abu Eesa Niamtullah:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAQEIxks1-k
Also don’t forget the best way to spend it:
Obviously for us issues like whether to do it in masjid or at home takes precedence over the essence of such an ‘ibadah, which is seeking forgiveness through khushoo’ etc etc…(this wasn’t directed at this post).
Jzak Allahu khair for the post.
Amatullah
September 15, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Brother/Sister, can you please change your avatar? It’s a bit much :) jazakum Allahu khayran.
Px
September 16, 2009 at 1:31 AM
I hope it’s not offensive. It’s only Sammo Hung!
(oh and I’m a brother).
Amad
September 16, 2009 at 5:55 AM
Still pls change it
jak
Px
September 16, 2009 at 6:10 AM
He’s not exposing his ‘awrah is he? Plus it adds a comic touch to my sarcastic and/or negative comments.
Don’t tell me your gonna ban me?
Amad
September 16, 2009 at 10:12 AM
i think, humor aside, if people find something distasteful AND it doesn’t hurt the person to change it, then they should.
Px
September 16, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Can’t do better than this new avatar, I hope it’s not offensive as well. (it should show up). Thought police FTW.
Here’s a little trivia: Who’s the scholar in the avatar? :)
Yasir Qadhi
September 16, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Abu al-Hasan Ali Nadwi, rahimahu Allah.
Ibn AbuAisha
September 17, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Assalamu Alaikum Shaykhana,
Wow! I couldn’t tell from the tiny picture who the ‘Aalim was. At first glance, I thought it was Abdul Karim Parekh (famous Da’ee but not as renowned a scholar as Shaykh Ali Nadwi). Despite being Desi (Nigerian-Desi ; ) ) I am quite oblivious of ‘Ulama from the Indo-Pak subconinent. Badly need to become more cognizant of ‘Ulama from our countries, I realized this in my Da’wah discussions during my trip to the motherland…wonder if there are books that discuss biographies of such ‘Ulama.
Px
September 17, 2009 at 3:12 AM
Salam,
Maulana Abdul Karim Parekh (ra) was a close associate of Hazrat Maulana Abul Hassan Ali Nadwi (ra).
As for biographies, if you can read urdu, check out Abul Hassan Nadwi’s “Puranay Charagh”. It’s a biographical work on scholars and friends of the shaykh he knew, or had a chance of seeing closely. :)
BrownS
September 16, 2009 at 5:14 AM
Jazakallahu khairan Br. Saqib, this was indeed a thought-provoking post, especially the reminder about being more organized with other people’s du’a.
I have a question though, how is this reconciled this with the hadith “Whoever stands (in prayer) during Laylat-ul-qadr will have their past sins forgiven”? I was under the impression qiyaam was at a higher priority ..
Or might this refer to du’a in nafl salah like in sujood or before taslim?
UmmOsman
September 16, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Assalmao elikuim
Good question brother.
Inshallah someone knowledgeable can answer this.
Wasalam
UmmOsman
Yasir Qadhi
September 16, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Qiyam is the highest form of worship because it combines all other forms: physical actions, with dhikr, and recitation of the Quran, and khushoo, and of course duaa.
Of course, no one can be continually in prayer for the entire night, hence one intersperses Qiyam with other acts of worship, and duaa is one of the greatest ways to rejuvenate iman on this and every night.
BrownS
September 16, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Jazakallahu khair shaykh! I appreciate your taking the time to reply.
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Umorarshadi Islamimai
September 16, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Pray and dance with my mind to the east…Allah Be Blessed I will praise Allah 24 hours a day and never be wanting…Praise Allah! Praise Allah forever and forever Amen!
Umorarshadi Islamimai
September 16, 2009 at 8:36 PM
We must pray day and night the forces of Satan are at work…pray for the destruction of Satan…Allah be praised.
(religionofpeace.com) must be stopped!
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