TAFSEER AS-SA'DI

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Allah SWT began to send down the Noble Qur'an on Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Decree). This special night is called Laylat al-Qadr because of its immense status and virtue before Allah SWT, and because on this night, He decrees what will happen during the coming year of deaths, provision and other divine decrees.

"The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months" that is, in its virtue, it is equivalent to a thousand months, and deeds that are done on this night are better than deeds in a thousand months that do not contain this night.

This is something that is utterly astounding and amazing, that Allah SWT has blessed this weak Ummah with a night on which good deeds are equivalent to and surpass a thousand months, which is the age of a man who lives for a very long time, eighty-odd years.

"On that night the angels and the Spirit [Jibreel] descend" frequently "by their Lord's leave with all decrees [of blessings]. [It is a night of] peace and blessings" that is, it is free of all ills and evils, because of its great goodness "until the break of dawn" that is, it begins at sunset and ends with the break of dawn.

There are many mutawatir hadiths that speak of its virtue, and state that it is in Ramadan, in the last ten nights, especially the odd-numbered nights, and it will continue to occur every year until the onset of the Hour.

Therefore the Prophet (SAW) used to observe i'tikaf and do a great deal of acts of worship during the last ten days and nights of Ramadan, hoping that they would coincide with Laylat al-Qadr. And Allah SWT knows best.