Post by Caliph on Dec 22, 2014 14:22:54 GMT
Question: Which night is considered to be the Night of Qadr?
Answer:
There is no question that the Night of Qadr takes place during the month of RamaÃÁn; the reason behind this certainty is that the verses of the Quran all express this understanding. For example, one verse states: “The Quran was revealed during the month of RamaÃÁn.”[1] Another verse states: “It was revealed during the night of Qadr.”[2]
Yet there is some question as to which night during the nights RamaÃÁn this took place. Many different dates have been discussed in the books of Quranic commentary. For example, all of the following dates have been listed: the 1st night, the 17th, the 19th, the 21st, the 23rd, the 27th, and the 29th. Yet the most accepted of these dates according to traditions is that this night is situated in the last third of the month and it is either the 21st or the 23rd night.
In some traditions, it is mentioned that the Prophet (Ò) would confine himself to the mosque during the last ten days and he would busy himself with worship. In another tradition from Imam ÑÁdiq (Ýa), it has been mentioned that: The night of Qadr is the 21st or 23rd night. At this point, the narrator insisted and asked the Imam (Ýa): What if I am unable to worship on both nights; which night should I choose? The Imam (Ýa) replied: How easy are these two nights for what you seek.[3] In many other traditions from the Ahl al-Bayt, the 23rd night has been emphasized. This is while the traditions of the Ahl al-Sunnah have emphasized the 27th night.
In a tradition from Imam ÑÁdiq (Ýa), it has been narrated that: The designation is on the 19th, the consolidation is on the 21st, and the decree (is signed) on the 23rd.[4] This tradition is very interesting in that it combines all of the other traditions into a unified understanding of the issue.[5] Some people are of the opinion that the night of Qadr has been left unknown amongst the days of the year or the days of the month of RamaÃÁn in order that the people spend their time in worship during all of the possible nights.[6]
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[1] Surah Baqarah, verse 185.
[2] Surah Qadr, verse 1.
[3] NÙr al-thaqalayn, vol. 5, p. 625, hadith 58.
[4] «أَلتَّقْدِیْرُ فِى لَیْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ تِسْعَةُ عَشَرَ، وَ الاِبْرامُ فِى لَیْلَةِ اِحْدى وَ عِشْرِیْنَ وَ الاِمْضاءُ فِى لَیْلَةِ ثَلاثُ وَ عِشْرِیْنَ»
[5] NÙr al-thaqalayn, vol. 5, p. 626, hadith 62.
[6] Taken from the text: TafsÐr NemÙneh, Ayatullah MakÁrim ShÐrÁzÐ, DÁr al-Kutub al-IslÁmÐyah, 36th Edition, vol. 27, p. 211-213.
Answer:
There is no question that the Night of Qadr takes place during the month of RamaÃÁn; the reason behind this certainty is that the verses of the Quran all express this understanding. For example, one verse states: “The Quran was revealed during the month of RamaÃÁn.”[1] Another verse states: “It was revealed during the night of Qadr.”[2]
Yet there is some question as to which night during the nights RamaÃÁn this took place. Many different dates have been discussed in the books of Quranic commentary. For example, all of the following dates have been listed: the 1st night, the 17th, the 19th, the 21st, the 23rd, the 27th, and the 29th. Yet the most accepted of these dates according to traditions is that this night is situated in the last third of the month and it is either the 21st or the 23rd night.
In some traditions, it is mentioned that the Prophet (Ò) would confine himself to the mosque during the last ten days and he would busy himself with worship. In another tradition from Imam ÑÁdiq (Ýa), it has been mentioned that: The night of Qadr is the 21st or 23rd night. At this point, the narrator insisted and asked the Imam (Ýa): What if I am unable to worship on both nights; which night should I choose? The Imam (Ýa) replied: How easy are these two nights for what you seek.[3] In many other traditions from the Ahl al-Bayt, the 23rd night has been emphasized. This is while the traditions of the Ahl al-Sunnah have emphasized the 27th night.
In a tradition from Imam ÑÁdiq (Ýa), it has been narrated that: The designation is on the 19th, the consolidation is on the 21st, and the decree (is signed) on the 23rd.[4] This tradition is very interesting in that it combines all of the other traditions into a unified understanding of the issue.[5] Some people are of the opinion that the night of Qadr has been left unknown amongst the days of the year or the days of the month of RamaÃÁn in order that the people spend their time in worship during all of the possible nights.[6]
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[1] Surah Baqarah, verse 185.
[2] Surah Qadr, verse 1.
[3] NÙr al-thaqalayn, vol. 5, p. 625, hadith 58.
[4] «أَلتَّقْدِیْرُ فِى لَیْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ تِسْعَةُ عَشَرَ، وَ الاِبْرامُ فِى لَیْلَةِ اِحْدى وَ عِشْرِیْنَ وَ الاِمْضاءُ فِى لَیْلَةِ ثَلاثُ وَ عِشْرِیْنَ»
[5] NÙr al-thaqalayn, vol. 5, p. 626, hadith 62.
[6] Taken from the text: TafsÐr NemÙneh, Ayatullah MakÁrim ShÐrÁzÐ, DÁr al-Kutub al-IslÁmÐyah, 36th Edition, vol. 27, p. 211-213.
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