Surah al-Qadr is the 97th chapter of the Glorious
Qur’an. The name of the Surah refers to the revelation of the Glorious Qur’an
on the night of Honor and it describes the importance of the night and its
Blessings.
As per a narration, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) dreamed that Bani Umayyad were climbing his pulpit. It disturbed him hence this Surah
was revealed to comfort him. The Ayah, “The Night of Honor is better than a
thousand months; which refers to the length of time Bani Umayyads ruled.
In yet another tradition, it is narrated that he (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “One of the
members of the Israelites had spent one thousand months having his fighting
dress on and being always prepared for the holy war on the path of Allah.” His
companions wished if that type of honor was for them.
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “He who recites this
Surah will be rewarded like the one who has fasted the whole month of Ramadan
and has kept vigil the whole night on the Night of Qadr.” Obviously, the reward is for those who
comprehend its meanings and tries to act upon its message in his life!
The Glorious Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan as
stated in Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 185 which says, “The month of Ramadan
is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed.” The first Ayah says, “Surely,
We sent it (the Qur’an) down on the Night of Honor.” The use of the
word “We” shows the importance of this Heavenly Book of which Allah has
attributed its descent to Himself. The descent of the Glorious Qur’an on the
Night of Honor, the very night in which the fates of men are decided, shows the
importance of this great Divine Book. According to the scholars, there are
two kinds of revelations; the whole Qur’an came down at once, in one night to
the heart of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), or to Bait-ul-Ma’mur, or from
the ‘Preserved Tablet’ to the lowest heaven of this world. In Arabic it is “In’zal”
The second kind of revelation is when the Glorious Qur’an came down in portions
gradually in 23 years. It is “Tanzil”
The greatness of the Night of Honor is referred in the next
Ayah, “And what makes you know what the Night of Honor is?” “The
Night of Honor is better than a thousand months.” It is more than 80 years
which is the length of a long-blessed life. The next Ayah, “The
angels and the Spirit descend therein by their Lord leave for every affair.”
The word “Tanazzala”, which is originally “Tatanazzala” which is a future tense
verb with a sense of continuity and permanence. It means every year this
process shall continue. As for the meaning of “Ruh”, some say it means Gabriel
but according to the Infallible Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.), “Gabriel is one
of the Angels and Ruh (Spirit) is greater than angels. Has Allah, the
Exalted, not said, “The Angels and the Spirit descend” (Tafsir Burhan 4/481).
As for the meaning of “Kulli Amr or for every affair” it means the angels
descend to proportionate and assign the fates and to bring any goodness or
blessings on that night. The last Ayah, “Peace! It is, till the rising of the
dawn.” It is a night wherein the Glorious Qur’an was revealed, and worship and vigilance
equals one thousand months. It is a night of light, grace, mercy, blessings,
goodness, spiritual safety and felicity. When asked as to which night was the
Night of Honor, the Infallible Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) replied, “How do
we not know it whereas the angels go around us therein.” This Ayah also
confirms the existence of the Imam(a.s.) till the Day of Resurrection where the angels
and the Spirit descend every year! The question is where the angels and the
Spirit descend?
Sources: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) – Tafsir-e-Namouna
by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi
The Glorious Qur’an (English translation) by
S.A. Mir Ahmed Ali & Ayatollah Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi
No comments:
Post a Comment