Surah Al-Qadr is one of the short surahs in the Holy Quran, and it contains great virtues related to the Night of Decree. This surah is one of the Meccan surahs and consists of five verses that instill hope and encouragement in the hearts of Muslims to worship and obey.
The surah reminds us of the importance of good deeds and supplication to Allah in the Night of Decree, which is better than a thousand months. Reading this surah and reflecting on its meanings enhances spirituality and brings blessings and great reward from Allah. This is what we will discuss in this article.
History and reasons for the revelation of Surah Al-Qadr
The history of the revelation of Surah Al-Qadr dates back to the Meccan period of the Prophet’s mission, when it was revealed before the migration to Medina. Although there is no specific information about the date of its revelation, it is considered to be one of the Meccan surahs based on the majority.
As for the reason for the revelation of Surah Al-Qadr, there are several hadiths that speak about it in the interpretations and narrations. The most prominent of these narrations are:
- Narration of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
According to a narration that is agreed upon, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that she asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the Night of Decree, and he replied that it is in the last ten nights of Ramadan. After that, Surah Al-Qadr was revealed to clarify the virtue of that great night.
- Narration of Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them)
According to a narration of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them), Surah Al-Qadr was revealed as a victory for the Muslims, as they were suffering from persecution and problems in Mecca, and that Surah gave them hope and encouragement to continue the call.
- Narration of Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him)
According to a narration of Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), Surah Al-Qadr was revealed after the Day of Arafah in the Farewell Hajj, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) crossed the volcano of fire and Allah conveyed to him what would happen to the nation.
Despite the differences in the narrations about the reason for the revelation of Surah Al-Qadr, they all point to the importance of that night and its virtue in Islam. Surah Al-Qadr is considered to be one of the surahs that urge Muslims to strive in worship and draw closer to Allah during the Night of Decree, which is better than a thousand months.
Read also about: The Prophetic Biography
Virtues of Surah Al-Qadr
Surah Al-Qadr is one of the short surahs in the Holy Quran, and despite its small size, it carries great virtues and gives us an important insight into the Night of Decree. Here are some of the attested virtues of Surah Al-Qadr:
1- Virtue of the Night of Decree
Surah Al-Qadr refers to the Night of Decree, which is better than a thousand months, and emphasizes its importance and great value in Islam. Allah says in the Quran: “We have sent it down on the Night of Decree” (Al-Qadr: 1). Therefore, Muslims should make special efforts to worship Allah and supplicate to Him on that blessed night.
2- Reward for reciting Surah Al-Qadr
Reciting Surah Al-Qadr is rewarded with great reward. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ narrated that whoever recites Surah Al-Qadr one hundred times in one night, their sins will be forgiven and they will be accompanied by the prophets in Paradise.
3- Reminder of good deeds
Surah Al-Qadr reminds us of the importance of good deeds and obedience to Allah. In the third verse of the surah, Allah says: “Angels and the Spirit descend on it by permission of their Lord with every decree” (Al-Qadr: 3). This indicates that the angels descend on that night with the commands of Allah, and this enhances the importance of good deeds and drawing closer to Allah.
4- Virtue of glorifying Allah and seeking forgiveness
In the fourth verse of Surah Al-Qadr, Allah calls upon His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to glorify Allah and seek forgiveness. This means that the Night of Decree is a suitable time for supplication, repentance to Allah, and seeking forgiveness from sins and transgressions.
Read also about: Surah Al-Nasr
Tafsir of Surah Al-Qadr
Surah Al-Qadr is a Meccan surah, from the mufassal, with 5 verses, and its order in the Mushaf is 97, in the 30th part. Surah Al-Qadr talks about the Night of Decree, which is a night of great importance, in which the Quran was revealed, and it is better than a thousand months.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (1) وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (2) لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَهۡرٖ (3) تَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمۡرٖ (4) سَلَٰمٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطۡلَعِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ (5)
Verse 1: {إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ}
This verse tells us that the Quran was revealed in the Night of Decree, which is a night of great importance, in which the Quran was revealed, and it is better than a thousand months.
Interpretation of this verse: Allah Almighty revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Night of Decree, which is a night of one of the nights of the holy month of Ramadan. Many prophetic hadiths have been reported that specify the Night of Decree in the last ten days of Ramadan, but they have not specified a specific day for it.
Verse 2: {وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ}
This verse emphasizes the greatness of the Night of Decree, and that it is a night that only Allah Almighty knows its value.
Interpretation of this verse: The Night of Decree is a great night with great blessings and dignity, which only Allah Almighty knows its value. It is the night in which the Quran was revealed, and it is better than a thousand months, and it is a night of forgiveness of sins and raising ranks.
Verse 3: {لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ}
This verse clarifies the virtue of the Night of Decree, and that righteous deeds in it are better than righteous deeds in a thousand months that do not contain the Night of Decree.
Interpretation of this verse: Righteous deeds in the Night of Decree are multiplied many times, so whoever spends her night in prayer, believing and expecting, her previous sins are forgiven, and she is written the reward for praying for a thousand months, which is equivalent to 83 years and 4 months.
Verse 4: {تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ}
This verse tells us that the angels and the spirit – who is Gabriel – descend in the Night of Decree, by the command of their Lord, to accomplish matters and determine destinies.
Interpretation of this verse: The angels and the spirit descend in the Night of Decree, to accomplish matters and determine destinies, and to implement the divine commands, and to receive supplications and worship from the servants of Allah.
Verse 5: {سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ}
This verse tells us that the Night of Decree is a night of peace and security, the devil does not enter it, and no harm descends in it.
Interpretation of this verse: The Night of Decree is a blessed night, the devil does not enter it, and no harm descends in it, but it is a night of peace and security, in which blessings and bounties descend.
Read also about: Translation of the Quran
Through Wahion Youha Academy for Islamic Studies, you can now enroll in its own classes to start memorizing the Holy Quran and learning the rules of Tajweed with a greater understanding of the importance of Quranic sciences and their importance in the formation of a healthy Muslim personality.