Lailatul Qadr

Lailatul Qadr History

Lailatul Qadr, also known as Night of Power or the Night of Decree, commemorates the night when Allah revealed the first verses of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, it holds a great spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide. Devotees spend this special night in prayer, seeking forgiveness, giving charity, and reciting the Quran, which is believed to bring about enormous blessings, rewards, and the purification of one's soul.

Originating from the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, Lailatul Qadr has since extended its geographical reach, and is now observed by Muslims across the world, including South Africa. The varied Islamic practices amongst South Africans reflect the diverse origins of its Muslim community, whose roots can be traced back to Southeast Asian, Indian, and African Muslims. On this sacred night, it is customary for South African Muslims to engage in additional prayers, known as Tarawih, having iftar(morning feast), and participate in communal religious activities.

In South Africa, Mosques become vibrant centres of spiritual activity, adorned with lights and filled with the melodious recitation of the Quran. It is common to have full night-long prayer sessions, including community iftars and sehri - predawn meal. Lailatul Qadr is observed during the last ten days of Ramadan, as is the case globally, as the exact date is not specified in the Quran. It's widely believed to fall on the odd nights, primarily the 27th. Whether in urban areas like Cape Town and Johannesburg or rural communities, the significance of this night radiates through various Islamic practices in South Africa.

Facts about Lailatul Qadr

• An entire chapter of the Quran, called Al-Qadr is devoted to explaining the merits of worshipping on Lailatul Qadr.
• According to Islamic tradition, the following are signs of The Night of Power every year: A peaceful night with moderate temperatures, no shooting stars, and a moon that shines without rays. The sun, when it rises, will appear as a disk with no beams of light coming out of it.
• In South Africa, Musjids and Islamic centres become especially busy during the last ten days of Ramadan, as Muslims gather for I'tikaf (seclusion) and nightly Taraweeh prayers. These gatherings peak on the 27th night of Ramadan, believed to be Lailatul Qadr.
• In line with the Islamic belief in the immense rewards reaped from good deeds done on Lailatul Qadr, South African Muslims often increase their efforts in good deeds and charity, demonstrating their compassion and solidarity with the less fortunate.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for Lailatul Qadr

Top things to do in South Africa for Lailatul Qadr

• For Lailatul Qadr, Muslims typically congregate in mosques to pray and worship all night together. Imams often give sermons that teach listeners about the best prayers they can make that night.
• On this night, many Muslims give money away in charity, after more than 20 days of fasting. The rewards of charity are multiplied on Lailatul Qadr. This can be evidenced by the Prophet Muhammad's teachings: Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times - Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, 1887
• Attend Night Prayers at Local Mosques: Muslims will spend the majority of this night in prayer at local mosques.
• Read a book to learn more about Lailatul Qadr in South Africa:
  The Night of Decree - by Dr Ali Mohammed Salah.
  Laylatul-Qadr: Its Virtues and Signs - by Salih Al Fawzan.
  Ramadan, Fasting, and Laylat al-Qadr - by Abu Ibrahim Majdi Muhammad Ash-Shahawi.