SPIRIT OF ISLAM MAY 2O18

37 Spirit of Islam Issue 65 May 2018  In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful We sent it [Quran] down on the Night of Destiny. And what will make you comprehend what the Night of Destiny is? The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months; on that night, the angels and the Spirit come down by the permission of their Lord with His decrees for all matters; it is all peace till the break of dawn. (QURAN 97: 1-5) T HE ‘Night of Destiny’ falls towards the end of the month of Ramazan. The Prophet’s wife Aisha, asked Prophet Muhammad what she should do if she finds the Night. Prophet Muhammad said she should pray: O God! Certainly You are the One who grants forgiveness for sins. You love to forgive, so forgive me. (Al Bukhari) The act of seeking forgiveness is so significant because by doing so, a believer realizes the smallness of his being and the greatness of God. He realizes that God alone has the power to forgive, and none else.  Common belief is that the Night of Destiny can be found in the final phase of Ramazan. This is wishful thinking! Similar to scientific discoveries, finding is the result of a long and arduous process of seeking. To belittle scientific discoveries, some say these are serendipitous occurrences. But such accidents happen only to scientists! ‘Finding’ is an outcome of long preparation and search. A scientist spends years studying the subject and researching it, and after a long, gruelling effort, he makes that one discovery! Similarly, in order to find the Night of Destiny one must prepare the mind. This involves years of effort and dua (supplication), at the end of which a believer is able to realize his insignificance and the supreme greatness of God.  The prayer that Prophet Muhammad advised Aisha represents the gist of life. Muslims think that staying awake an entire night would ensure finding the Night of Destiny. This is a far-fetched idea. A believer has to spend a lifetime to attain a prepared mind and then hope his prayer will be accepted by God.  LAILATUL QADR (THE NIGHT OF DESTINY) A Long Arduous Search