What Is The Proof For The Annual Decree On The Night Of Power (Laylatul-Qadr)?

What Is The Proof For The Annual Decree On The Night Of Power (Laylatul-Qadr)?


Mohamad Mostafa Nassar

Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

What is the proof for the Annual Decree on the Night of Power (Laylatul-Qadr)?

Allaah, the Most High said:

 â€œIn it every matter of ordainments is decreed, as a command from Me.

Indeed, I continually sent messengers.” (Soorah ad-Dukhaan, 44: 4-5)

And Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “On the Night of Qadr, the deaths or births, the provision, the rain, and even the pilgrims of the coming year, such that it is said so and so will perform Hajj, are written from the Umm ul-Kitaab (al-Lawh ul-Mahfooz).”

Al-Hasan, Sa‘eed bin Jubayr, Muqaatil and Aboo ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sulamee

Ibn Katheer explained: In it is decreed every matter decided,” means that on Laylatul-Qadr the decrees are transferred from the Protected Tablet to the angelic scribes who write down the decrees of the coming year including people’s life spans, provisions and what will happen until the end of the year.

This was narrated by Ibn ‘Umar, Mujaahid, Aboo Maalik, ad-Dahhaak and others

among the salaf. â€œDecided (hakeem),” means that the decrees are confirmed, and cannot be changed or altered. â€œAs a command from Me,” meaning that everything that happens and is decided by Allaah and the revelation which He reveals all take place by His command, His permission and with His knowledge. â€œIndeed, I am constantly sending,” means “I am continually sending messengers to humankind.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, vol. 8, p. 671)

This explanation of Ibn ‘Abbaas is mentioned in ad-Dur al-Manthoor, vol. 6, p. 25 and Fat’h al-Qadeer, vol. 4, p. 572.

Aboo Sa‘eed al-Hasan ibn Yasaar al-Basree (642-728CE), an eminent Successor (taabi‘ee), a great scholar, a prolific narrator of hadeeths, a commentator on the Qur’aan, a jurist, preacher and ascetic, was the most outstanding personality of his time.

Fearless in his criticism of wrong governmental practices, he had hot exchanges with the notorious Umayyad governor, al-Hajjaj ibn Yoosuf, who could not cause him any harm. He was born and raised in Madeenah and died in Basrah. (Al-A‘laam, vol. 2, p. 226 and Shorter Encyclopedia of Islaam, p.136.) and others all made similar statements.