Ramadan: Laylatul Quder

(If you've missed them, I've written three previous posts on Ramadan:  my experience of fasting during Ramadan, the ABCs of Ramadan and the 'fun stuff' of Ramadan.)

Tonight, August 26th, is the Night of Power.  The following is from the Quran:

Surat (chapter) 97
"In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
1.  We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
2.  And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?
3.  The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months.
4.  Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand:
5.  Peace! ... This until the rise of Morn!"

Fasting during Ramadan has a spiritual purpose.  In fact, the whole origin of fasting during Ramadan is the belief among Muslims that, during this month, Mohammed received the revelation of the Quran from Gabriel.  The whole process of revelation took many, many years, but it began during Ramadan.  So Ramadan has a special place in all the (lunar) months of the year.


More specifically, there is a specific night in which Muslims believe that these revelations began.  This is the Lalatul Qadr, or the Night of Power.1  The verses from the Quran quoted above say that this "night of power is better than a thousand months."  During this night, many Muslims believe that God grants special requests.  He visits people in dreams and visions.  It is a time to seek to be close to God.  Many people will stay up all night tonight praying in mosques or at home.  Some people are wanting to show their devotion to God by staying up all night.  Others are seeking God's forgiveness from sins.  Others still are looking for special blessings in the various circumstances they find themselves in.


1Qadr translates to Power here, and though it may be the best translation, the word has many more shades than simply 'power'.