Musa become Messenger and Lailatul Qadr
Salaam all
Below is a summary of last week’s Study Circle. MashaAllah, a very energised atmosphere and lots of good discussion.
We talked about Musa* becoming a Messenger and asking Allah to make Harun* his helper and a Prophet. Then we talked about getting the most from the last 10 days / nights of Ramadhan.
Some very moving feedback from the children about Gaza and other things.
InshaAllah, see you next week for the last Circle this Ramadhan at the usual time of 5pm.
Stay well and please keep me in your du’as.
Jzk.
Naveed
Musa becomes a Prophet and Messenger
Allah's Conversation With Musa*
When Musa* went up to the fire on the mountain he was looking for light/warmth and guidance to Egypt but he encountered a miracle. He was addressed by Allah from a bush.
"Moses, I am Allah, the Lord of all the worlds." [TMQ 28:30]
"Moses! I am your Lord. Take off your sandals. You are in the holy valley of Tuwa. I have chosen you, so listen well to what is revealed. I am Allah. There is no god but Me, so worship Me and establish prayer to remember Me." [TMQ 20:11-14]
Allah established 3 things first:
- Importance of Tawhid (Belief in Allah)
- Importance of Praying to remember Allah
- The Hour is close (Judgement Day)
"What is that in your right hand, Moses?" He said, "It is my staff. I lean on it and beat down leaves for my sheep with it and have other uses for it." [TMQ 20:17-18]
Throw down your staff." Then when he saw it slithering like a snake he turned and fled and did not turn back again... [TMQ 27:10]
Musa* saw his familiar staff turned into a snake, he was seized with fear.
…"Have no fear, Moses. In My Presence the Messengers have no fear." [TMQ 27:10]
He said, "Take hold of it and have no fear. We will return it to its original form." [TMQ 20:21]
Put your hand inside your shirt front. It will emerge pure white yet quite unharmed… [TMQ 28:32]
…And hug your arms to your sides to still your fear. These are two proofs from your Lord for Pharaoh and his ruling circle. They are a deviant people. [TMQ28:32]
Prophet Musa* Asks Allah for Help – Prophet Harun* and other matters
Allah instructed Musa that his chosen mission (which he has to accept) is to Speak to Pharaoh! The one who Musa* was trying his best to avoid by sneaking into Egypt he must now confront. Prophet Musa* told Allah frankly that he was hesitant and asked for His guidance on the following matters:
- his inability to express himself fluently, fearing not being able to address Pharaoh properly
- the need for courage and assistance from Allah to make this task easy
- he might be killed by an Egyptian seeking vengeance
- making his brother Harun* (Aaron) his helper so they can glorify Allah more
- the need to be part of a group (Jammah) so we are not chased by the wolves
"My brother Harun. Strengthen my back by him and let him share in my task, so that we can glorify You much and remember You much."[TMQ 20:30-34]
He (Allah] said, "We will reinforce you with your brother and by Our Signs will give you both authority, so that they will not be able to lay a hand on you. You and those who follow you will be the victors." [TMQ 28:35]
He said, "My Lord, I killed one of them and I am afraid they will kill me; and my brother Aaron is more eloquent than me so send him with me to support me and back me up. I am afraid they will call me a liar." [TMQ 28:33-34]
(Moses said,) "For You are watching us." He (Allah) said, "Your request has been granted, Moses." [TMQ 20:35-36]
Main Topic - Night of Power: Lailatul-Qadr
This is an extract from the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir on Surah al-Qadr [97].
* "Verily, We have sent it down in the Night of Al-Qadr.
* And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is
* The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.
* Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord's permission with every matter.
* There is peace until the appearance of dawn."
The Virtues of the Night of Al-Qadr (the Decree)
Allah informs that He sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Al-Qadr, and it is a blessed night about which Allah says: "We sent it down on a blessed night." [TMQ 44:3]
This is the Night of Al-Qadr and it occurs during the month of Ramadan. This is as Allah says: "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an." [TMQ 2:185]
Ibn `Abbas and others have said, "Allah sent the Qur'an down all at one time from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) to the House of Might (Baytul-`Izzah), which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allah based upon the incidents that occurred over a period of twenty-three years."
Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah: "When Ramadan would come, the Messenger of Allah would say: ‘Verily, the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived.'"
"Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and expecting reward (from Allah), he will be forgiven for his previous sins."
The Descent of the Angels and the Decree for Every Good during the Night of Al-Qadr
Allah says: "Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord's permission with every matter."
This means the angels descend in abundance during the Night of Al-Qadr due to its abundant blessings. The angels descend with the descending of blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur'an is recited, they surround the circles of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and they lower their wings with true respect for the student of knowledge.
In reference to Ar-Ruh, it is said that here it means the angel Jibril. Therefore, the wording of the Ayah is a method of adding the name of the distinct object (in this case Jibril) separate from the general group (in this case the angels).
The angels giving the greetings of peace during the Night of Al-Qadr to the people in the Masjids until the coming of Fajr (dawn)."
Specifying the Night of Decree and its Signs
This is supported by what Imam Ahmad recorded from `Ubadah bin As-Samit that the Messenger of Allah* said: "The Night of Al-Qadr occurs during the last ten (nights). Whoever stands for them (in prayer) seeking their reward, then indeed Allah will forgive his previous sins and his latter sins. It is an odd night: the ninth, or the seventh, or the fifth, or the third or the last night (of Ramadan)."
It has been reported that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, "The Messenger of Allah* performed I`tikaf during the first ten nights of Ramadan and we performed I`tikaf with him. Then Jibril came to him and said, ‘That which you are seeking is in front of you.' So the Prophet* performed I`tikaf during the middle ten days of Ramadan and we also performed I`tikaf with him. Then Jibril came to him and said; ‘That which you are seeking is ahead of you.' So the Prophet* stood up and gave a sermon on the morning of the twentieth of Ramadan and he said: "Whoever performed I`tikaf with me, let him come back (for I`tikaf again), for verily I saw the Night of Al-Qadr, and I was caused to forget it, and indeed it is during the last ten (nights). It is during an odd night and I saw myself as if I were prostrating in mud and water." The roof of the Masjid was made of dried palm-tree leaves and we did not see anything (i.e., clouds) in the sky. But then a patch of wind-driven clouds came and it rained. So the Prophet* lead us in prayer until we saw the traces of mud and water on the forehead of the Messenger of Allah*, which confirmed his dream."
There are numerous hadith about which exact day it is but no consensus – some scholars saying that it may actually rotate year on year through the last odd nights in Ramadhan.
Allah concealed that night from His Servants out of mercy so that they would increase their acts of worship and gain the great reward by performing Qiyam during these blessed nights, thinking that each night is Laylat-ul-Qadr.
Supplication during the Night of Decree
It is recommended to supplicate often during all times, especially during the month of Ramadan, in the last ten nights, and during the odd nights of it even more so. Imam Ahmad recorded from `A'ishah, that she said, "O Messenger of Allah! If I find the Night of Al-Qadr what should I say?" He replied: "Say: ‘O Allah! Verily, You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.'" [ Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee ]
The Maths
Lailatul-Qadr (better than) = 1000 months x 29.5 Islamic days = 29,500
In Islamic years = 29,500 / (12 x 29.5) = 83 and 4 months
If you worship Allah on this night every year for 60 years after attaining your puberty, then you would have 5000 years to your credit (60,000 months).Qur
It is likened to as if you had lived for over 5,000 years, and achieved the rewards of a person who had lived that long and much more.
Getting the most from the last ten days of Ramadhan
1. Read the Qur'an:
Not just reciting, and listening to but also contemplating upon the verses of Qur’an. Many sahabae preferred to understand the verses and what’s behind the revelation to get closer to the Qur’an.
2. Increase in Nawafil Prayers:
"Fall prostrate and draw near to Allah!" [TMQ Al-Alaq 96:19]
The Prophet* said: "The closest that a person is to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a great deal of du'a then." He* is commanding us to make a lot of du'a while in sujud. We need to do more. For he* said to: "...make lots of du'a." Remember, the Prophet* loved us and he knew that we have a lot of needs from Allah. This is why he taught us the way to get those needs fulfilled. Therefore, if you have needs, then you cannot leave sujud. Any sajdah without khushu' and without du'a is a big khasara . When the Prophet* instructed us to do a lot of sujud, it means to perform a lot of salah . "With each sajdah for Allah, He will raise you a level with it. And cancel a sin with it." So, the more you increase in your sujud, the closer you are to being a winner.
Examples for increasing nawafil salah:
- Salat Dhuha: 2, 4, 6 or 8 rak'at, prayed after the sun has risen and before the time for Dhuhr.
- 4 rak'at before and 4 after Dhuhr
- 4 rak'at before ‘Asr
- Tahhiyatul masjid: Greet the masjid with two rak'at
- Salat at-Tawbah: Make wudhu' and offer two sincere rak'at of repentance.
- Praying Taraweeh in Jamaah at the masjid
- Qiyam al-Layl: Pray at least 2 rak'at
- Performing Tahajjud in the last third of the night
3. Makes lots of Dhikr:
Do a lot of dhikr. The Prophet* commanded us to oft recite Tasbeeh ("Subhan-Allah"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillah") and Takbeer ("Allahu Akbar") during this time.
4. Seeking Forgiveness (Istighfar):
"But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful." [28:67]
The Prophet* is reported to have said that when a person seeks forgiveness for all believers, Allah will write for him a hasanat for every one of those believers.
5. Charity:
Spending for the sake of Allah! Spend from what you love and Allah will love you.
6. Preserve the Ties of Kinship:
Preserve the ties of kinship for: "No one who severs the ties of kinship will enter Paradise." [Muslim]
7. Making a personal Sacrifice
Sacrificing something close to us for the sake of Allah.
“And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers” [51:55]
8. Performing Itikaf
Observe `Itikaf during the last ten days and exerting efforts in worship. Being secluded from people and engaging oneself in obeying Allah, mentioning Him, forgetting anything that might distract him, and focusing on pleasing Allah by worship.
9. Making du’a
Think of all that you need to ask Allah for and ask Him now. If you haven’t before, this is the time to connect with Him and feel closer to Him. And when you do during these last ten nights and days of this Ramadan, you would want to do this again and again – even after the month is over.
And finally, when you are in a state of prayers and worship, please open your heart for others as well and please do remember your brothers and sisters in your prayers. Remember what the Prophet said:
Please keep the Ummah in your du'aas, may Allah unite us in strength to be victorious. Please keep the oppressed in your du'aas, those who have become a victim to tyranny and war, may Allah break the shackles of tyranny and spread peace and tranquility over all the lands, which have been occupied and invaded.
“The supplication that gets the quickest answer is the one made by one Muslim for another in his absence.”
May Allah Subhana wa ta'ala look over all of you, surround you in His immense Rahma and envelope you in His protection always. May He increase you all in health, wealth and Imaan and grant you the best of the duniya wa fil akhirah - ameen.
May we all make the most of the last ten nights and days of Ramadan.
Useful website:
Qur'an Explorer: http://www.quranexplorer.com/
A big thanks to all those that regularly attend the Circles.
Thanks you for your patience in reading and sharing these summaries.
Jzk
Naveed
