The Night of Power

"We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: and what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand: Peace!... This until the rise of morn."

This Surah of the Holy Qur’n brings into limelight the importance and magnitude of the Final Message of God – the Holy Qur’n. It is due to this great importance that the Night of Power, the night when the Holy Qur’n was sent down to earth, is better than a thousand months.

The verse 2:185 manifests itself to the fact that the Qur’n was revealed in the holy month of Ramadhan. Again, the verse 44:3 says, "We sent it down during a Blessed Night (Lailatul Mubarakah). These two verses read together with Surah Qadr make it explicit that the Qur’n was revealed in a Blessed Night of Ramadhan.

Islamic exegetes believe that this event might have occurred in any one of the two ways: either the whole Book was revealed from the Tablet Preserved (Throne) unto the Archangel Jibrael or the revelation upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) commenced in this very Night.

There are about 40 different traditions, all tracing the exactness of the Night. However, a majority of Ulema believe that the Night of Power is one of the odd numbered nights in the last 10 days of Ramadhan. The reason for keeping it secret is not known. Maybe that the Muslims should seek with utmost devotion Allah’s blessings in more nights of Ramadhan than confining themselves to just one night.

That the Night of Power is better than a thousand months means, as the Arabs would say, a very long period of time – the "timeless time". It is because in this one Night alone an event of such great magnificence took place for the well-being and welfare of the entire mankind and the guidance was revealed for all time to come.

The Night brings immeasurable blessings and bounties to mankind. Angels and the Spirit descend, with the Lord’s permission, pouring peace upon the earth till the next morning.