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Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Decree)
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 17-04-2023

Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Decree)

 

 

It is the blessed night at which the angels and the spirit come down. It is the night at which the Quran was sent down to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from God through angel Gabriel.

The earth has never witnessed such a blessed night in terms of greatness, status and indications. The whole universe rejoices at it and whosoever performs acts of worship at this night, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah's reward, will have his/her past sins forgiven. In addition, worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months.

During that night, Allah`s mercies and blessings come down on His believing servants who are offering different acts of worship to come closer to Him.

Al-Khalil Bin Ahmad said: "Laylatul Qadr: It is the night of restriction based on the verse, which reads: (and the man whose resources are restricted). It was called as such because the earth becomes so restricted/narrow by the huge numbers of angels coming down to it. However, their coming down brings goodness and blessings to the people of the earth. Allah Says {What means}: "Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by God’s permission, on every errand:" {Al-Qadr, 4}.

Abu Dawoud reported from Abu Hurayrah who said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "And verily, the angels who are on the earth during that night are more numerous than the number of pebbles."

Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said  concerning the words “Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments”: There is written down from the Mother of the Book on Laylat al-Qadr what is to happen during the coming year of provision, death, life, or rain. Allah Says {What means}: "We sent it down during a Blessed Night: for We (ever) wish to warn (against Evil)."

Many Quran commentators said: "For its noble status and honor, the night of decree encompasses all these meanings."

The real preference for this night, is the descent of the Holy Quran, because Allah, The Most Exalted, Says {What means}: "We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:" In an authentic narration by Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) as related by Ibn Hajar from Sahrih Al-Bukhari that it is either: "The whole Quran was sent down during the Laylatul Qadr from 'Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet) to Baitul Izzah in the lower heaven, the night in which the Quran started coming down on the heart of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Or, it is the night in which Allah ordered the angelic scribes to write the Quran on 'Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz.

There is no iota of doubt that the Quran is the source of all goodness, guidance and light, and it guides to that, which is most right. This is why Allah Said about this blessed night (What means): "And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?"  This means that none can explain what Laylatul Qard is except Allah, The Knower of the unseen.

Is Laylatul Qadr fixed or does it change?

Ibn Hajar Al-Haithami (May Allah have mercy on him) said: "A group of scholars said that Laylatul Qadr doesn`t necessarily occur in a certain night of the last ten nights of Ramadan. Rather, it changes since in a year or in years, it is an odd night (i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th) while in a year or in years, it is an even night (i.e. 22nd, 24th and so on). It was reported that Ibn Qulaba said: "Lailatul Qadr changes in the last ten nights of Ramadan and many of the Salaf (righteous predecessors), such as Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Abu Thawr, Muzni and others, have opted for this view."

However, Al-Shafie`I said that Lailatul Qadr is a fixed night that doesn`t change. He based this view on the following Hadith: Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit: "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) went out to inform the people about the (date of the) night of decree (Al-Qadr) but there happened a quarrel between two Muslim men. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "I came out to inform you about (the date of) the night of Al-Qadr, but as so and so and so and so quarreled, its knowledge was taken away (I forgot it) and maybe it was better for you. Now look for it in the 7th, the 9th and the 5th (of the last 10 nights of the month of Ramadan)."

The sign of Laylat al-Qadr: 

Ahmad, Al-Baihaqhi and others reported from 'Ubada bin As-Samit that the Messenger of Allah said: "The sign of the night of Al-Qadr is that it is bright and shining, as if there is in it a bright still moon without any cold or wind. The weather during this night is neither hot nor cold. In addition, there is no shooting of the stars until the morning. Its sign is that the sun in the morning after this night, rises up without beams exactly like the full moon and Satan does not come out with the sun on this morning."

May Allah make us witness Lailatul Qadr to offer acts of worship and may He accept our fast, night prayers and righteous good deeds.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on selling gold or silver in installments or for a differed price?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is prohibited (haram) to sell gold or silver in installments or for a deferred price; rather, immediate hand-to-hand exchange (Taqabud) is mandatory, otherwise, it is considered usury (Riba). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Gold for gold, silver for silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, dates for dates, and salt for salt—like for like, hand to hand. Whoever increases or asks for an increase has engaged in Riba; the receiver and the giver are the same in this regard.' (Narrated by Muslim). Furthermore, when exchanging new gold for used gold, they must be of equal weight, or it falls into Riba.
 
The permissible solution (al-makhraj) is for the merchant to purchase the used gold for cash first, and then sell the new gold for cash in a separate transaction. However, the price must be paid during the sitting of the contract (Majlis al-Aqd) for both deals. Alternatively, the jeweler may take the used gold with the intent of remodeling or repairing it, and then charge a fee for the craftsmanship or repair work. And Allah the Exalted knows best."

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible to pay the Zakah (obligatory charity) for settling the debt of a deceased relative?

It is impermissible to pay the Zakah for settling the debt of the deceased since Zakah is paid to eligible recipients who are alive. As for the debts of the deceased, they are to be settled from the estate before dividing it amongst the heirs, but if the deceased didn`t leave an estate, then it is desirable for his/her heirs to settle those debts if they can afford them. And Allah Knows Best.

I vowed to give a specific charity if a certain matter came to pass — what is the ruling on giving that charity before the matter is realised?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Fulfilling a vow (nadhr) is obligatory, in accordance with the word of Allah the Almighty: "And let them fulfil their vows." [Al-Ḥajj/ 29] And the saying of our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him; and whoever vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him." (Reported by al-Bukhārī.)
The Shāfiʿī scholars distinguished between a financial vow (nadhr mālī) and a bodily vow (nadhr badanī). They permitted the fulfilment of a financial vow to be brought forward — before the stipulated condition is met — but did not permit the same for a bodily vow, which may only be fulfilled after the condition has actually been realised.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "It is permissible to bring forward the fulfilment of a financial vow before the condition stipulated in it is met — such as saying: 'If I am healed, I vow to free a slave' or 'to give such-and-such in charity' — just as it is permissible to pay zakāh in advance. This is unlike a bodily vow, such as fasting." [Asnā al-Maṭālib, vol. 4/P.246]
Imām al-Bājūrī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Like expiation other than fasting, a financial vow — such as saying: 'If Allah heals my sick one, I vow to free a slave for the sake of Allah,' or 'If Allah heals my sick one, I vow to free a slave on the Friday following the recovery' — it is permissible to bring it forward before the recovery in the first case, and before the Friday following the recovery in the second case." [Ḥāshiyat al-Bājūrī ʿalā Sharḥ Ibn Qāsim, Vol.2/P.596] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

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