Tafseer of Surah Al – Qadrreference tafseer ibne kathir

By Engr. Sumera Khalid

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Explanation of Surah al-Qadr by Ibn Kathir

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Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree.The night of Al-Qadr occurs in the month of Ramadhaan, as Allah says:

"The month of Ramadhaan in which the Qur'aan was sent down" (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:185).

Ibn `Abbaas, amongst others, explains that the complete Qur'aan was sent down from Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet) in the night of Al-Qadr to Bait Al-`Izzah (the House of Glory) in the lowest

heaven, from whence it was revealed piecemeal to the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam according to events which took place

during his life over a period of twenty-three years. Then, Allah says, in order to make clear the greatness of the matter of

the night of Al-Qadr, which He has chosen for sending down of the Noble Qur'aan:

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And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?

It is narrated on the authority of Mujaahid that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa salam mentioned

a man from Bani Israa'eel who carried his sword in the Way of Allah for a thousand months;

the Muslims were amazed at this until Allah revealed:

Verse # 1 t0 3 (Narrated by Ibn Abi Haatim) Ibn Jareer narrates, on the authority of Mujaahid that

there was a man from Bani Israa'eel who used to spend the night in prayer then in the morning he would fight the enemy in the Way of

Allah during the day, until the evening and he did this for a thousand months and so Allah revealed the Soorah:

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The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. standing in prayer on that night is better than the actions of that

man. Sufyaan ath-Thawree reports, on the authority of Mujaahid (also),

that the night of Al-Qadr being better than a thousand months means that the good deeds performed on it, fasting on it and standing in

prayer on it are better than a thousand months' good deeds, prayers and fasting. (Narrated by Ibn Jareer)

Ibn Abi Haatim relates, on the authority of Mujaahid that it means: The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months without the

night of Al-Qadr. This was also said by Qataadah ibn Da'aamah and Ash-Shaafi'i and others, including Ibn Jareer, and it is the correct interpretation and it is like the

saying of the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam: "To spend the night in the Way of Allah is better than a thousand

nights not spent in worship."(Narrated by Ahmad)

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It is reported from Abu Hurairah that he said: "When the month of Ramadhaan came, the Messenger of Allah

sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

"The month of Ramadhaan has come, a blessed month in which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast; in it the gates of Paradise are

opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. In it is a night better than a thousand months, whoever loses the benefit

of it has lost something irreplaceable.“

(Narrated by Imaam Ahmad. This was also narrated by An- Nasaa'i).It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah,

that Allah's Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

"Whoever stood in prayer on the night of Al-Qadr, in faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, he will have all of his previous sins forgiven."

(Narrated by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim). 6

The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.

" Therein descend the angels and the Spirit “That is, innumerable angels descend with uncounted blessings and

mercy, as they descend when the Qur'aan is recited and they surround those sitting in circles in remembrance of Allah and they

lower their wings in the presence of the sincere seeker of knowledge in honour of him.

As for the Spirit, it has been said that what is meant by it is the angel Jibreel `alayhis salaam and that he is mentioned thus to

distinguish him from the other angels.

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" With all decrees "

Sa'eed ibn Mansoor narrates, on the authority of Mujaahid, that it means

the night is safe from the machinations of the devils, that they cannot commit evil or harm on it.

Qataadah and others said it means that the Divine Decrees are issued at that night, the appointed time of

everything is fixed and the blessings are apportioned, as in the words of Allah:

" Therein [that night] is decreed every matter of ordainments "(Surah ad-Dukhaan 44:4)

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Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.

" Peace! Until the appearance of dawn " Sa'eed ibn Mansoor narrates, on the authority of Ash-Sha'bi, that it means the angels send their salutations of peace upon those who

are occupied in prayer in the mosques until the dawn.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

"It is the night of twenty-seventh or the twenty-ninth and verily, the angels on that night are innumerable."

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Al-A`amash says, on the authority of Abu Lailaa that the verse means that

the whole night is goodness, therein is no evil - until the appearance of the dawn.

This is supported by a narration on the authority of `Ubaadah ibn As-Saamit that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

"The night of Al-Qadr is to be found in the last ten (nights of Ramadhaan), whoever stood in prayer during these nights, wishing for the reward of them will have his sins forgiven by Allah, both the

earlier and the later; and it is the night of witr. (an uneven number). Nine, seven, five, three or the last night of it."

(Narrated by Imaam Ahmad).

AHDITHS RELATED TO SHABB E QADR

It is narrated on the authority of Ibn `Abbaas radhiallahu `anhu that Allah's Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

"It is a night of magnanimity and joy, neither very hot, nor very cold; and the sun of the morning following it is weak

and red-coloured.“(Narrated by Abu Dawood At-Tayaalisi).

It is reported on the authority of Jaabir ibn `Abdillaah, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

"Verily, I saw the night of Al-Qadr and then I was made to forget it, but it is (to be looked for) in the last ten nights, the night is clear and fine, neither hot nor cold as if there were a full moon and on

this night, the devils do not go forth until the light of dawn."(Narrated by Ibn Abi Haatim)

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Abu Mus'ab Ahmad ibn Abi Bakr az-Zuhri (d.42H) said that Maalik informed him that

the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam was shown the generations of old from mankind and it was as if the lifespans

of his community were shorter, and so it was not possible to accomplish the same amount of deeds as those communities of

old, who lived longer lives and so Allah gave him the night of Al-Qadr which is better than a thousand months.

According to Maalik, this necessarily means that this community (of Muslims) has been specially favoured with the night of Al-

Qadr. One of the Shaafi'i scholars said that it is the view of the majority

of scholars of fiqh, and Allah knows best.

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It is narrated that Abu Zarr radhiallahu `anhu asked the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam:

"Oh, Messenger of Allah! Tell me about the night of Al-Qadr, is it in Ramadhaan, or another month?

"He sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam replied: "No, it is in Ramadhaan."

(Narrated by Imaam Ahmad).

He sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam also said: "It is until they Day of Resurrection." And, "Look for it in the last seven days of Ramadhaan and do not ask me any more

about it." (Narrated by An-Nasaa'i)

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Muslim reports that

the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam instructed `Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) to

supplicate Allah saying:

"Oh, Allah! You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness and so forgive me."

(Allahumma innaka `Afuwwun, tuhibbul `afwa, fa`fu `annee)

At-Tirmizi, An-Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah narrated the same

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According to Maalik, one should look for the night of Al-Qadr throught the last ten days of Ramadhaan and one

should try not to identify which is the night of Al-Qadr, but should intensify one's devotions throughout.

And the most preferred action is to increase one's supplications during the whole month of Ramadhaan, more

in the last ten days, more still on the odd days, and especially in the aforementioned words to `Aa'ishah by

Allah's Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam.

It is narrated that Ka`b said:"Verily, whoever fasted the month of Ramadhaan resolving

not to disobey Allah when he breaks his fast, will enter Paradise without reckoning or questioning."

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This is the end of the tafseer of Surah Al-Qadr,

all praise is due to Allah (SWT), and from Him proceeds all Grace