Spending the blessed moments in I’tikaaf

Mosques across the country witnessed the soul renting supplications of believers who stayed in masjids overnight as part of the ‘Qiyamul lail’ prayers on Wednesday, the 27th eve of the holy month which is said to be the most probable night of advent of the holy Quran. Believers started with reading of the holy book followed by various supplications and later the ‘Qiyamul Lail’ prayers, wherein they fell into tears reminded of the punishments awaiting them in the next life for not obliging their Lord in this life. Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) did I’tikaaf during the first 10 days of Ramadhan, then in the middle 10 days, seeking Laylat al Qadr; then it became clear to him that it was in the last 10 days, after which he always spent them (the last 10 days) in I’tikaaf. Accordingly, Muslim brethren stay inside masjids seeking the ‘Night of Power’ on odd nights of the last 10 days of the holy month. Muslims consider Laylat al Qadr as the holiest night of the year and is commemorated as the night that the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), beginning with the exhortation, “Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),” in Surat al Alaq. However, the prophet did not mention exactly when the Night of Power would be, although most scholars believe it falls on one of the odd-numbered nights of the final 10 days of Ramadhan, such as the 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th or 27th days of Ramadhan. It is most widely believed that it falls on the 27th day of Ramadhan. In 2017, Laylat al Qadr was expected to begin after sunset on Wednesday, June 21, in the United States and the United Kingdom. The Surat al Qadr in the holy Quran mentions Laylat al Qadr as ‘We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power; And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?; The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, and says ‘Peace!... This until the rise of morn! The importance of this night is also mentioned in hadith, which are the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as remembered by his companions. ‘Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven’, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 1, Book 2:34. Kabeer Yousuf