“Truly We sent it down on the Night of Power.
And what will convey to you what the Night of Power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
In it the angels and the Ruh descend by their Lord’s authority with every ordinance.
It is Peace –until the coming of the dawn.”
(Surah Al Qadr 97: Verses 1-5)
As the last ten nights of Ramadan are upon the ummah, each of us seeks the blessings and mercy of Allah from the night of power. Ramadan is a time of connectedness to Allah and striving to submit to His will with our fasting. The night of power is significant, powerful and blessed. Muslim families have a unique and wonderful opportunity to seek the night of power as a family unit and strengthen their Iman and understanding of what Allah wants from mankind. This Ramadan reserve one of the odd nights during the last ten nights to seek the night of power as a family and share the beauty of this ibadah.
Islamic scholars have different interpretations of the meaning “Laylatul-Qadr”. Laylatul means night of but the word “Qadr” is layered with meaning. Some scholars describe Laylatul Qadr as the night of destiny or decree in which the destiny of each individual was decided. Others define “Qadr” as power indicating that the Ibadah and righteous deeds observed on this night are more powerful in degree than any other night.
The Prophet (ﷺ) was reported by Abu Huraira to have said, "Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven ."
This particular hadith from Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) seems to indicate both interpretations of ‘Qadr’ – the decision that observing this night has the power and decree of forgiveness by Allah.
Although many people enjoy seeking Laylatul Qadr with their local community of Muslims, there is the example and precedence to observe this night with you family as attested by Aisha (RA) who reported: “With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.”
To prepare to spend as a family with children and even extended family members here are a few suggestions.
Make Intention
- Just as we begin the month of fasting by making the intention to doing that which is most pleasing to Allah, The Most High, we should encourage all members of the family to make intention to seek this night.
Note the odd nights on the calendar.
- The companion Ibn Abbas reported: “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan ,' on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan (i.e. 21, 23, 25, respectively).”
Prepare
- Preparation helps families with young children and teens have a more beautiful night without the interruptions of the mundane.
- First there must be shuraa within the family as to which night of the last ten nights they will seek the night of power together.
- This planning creates interest and excitement in children that something important is happening.
- For the adolescents it brings the responsibility that on this night they will be expected to join in with family.
- After agreeing which night, you will seek the night of power as a family, it is a good idea to prepare an area for this. Set out extra prayer rugs, pillows, incense or oud and coverings for short naps.
- Prepare drinks and snacks in advance so as not to be interrupted with this task during the time of Ibdah and reflection.
Interactive Engagement
- Each family is different in how they will observe the night of power. In general, the older the children are in the family, the more significant they will take their participation. But there is something for all members of the family to engage in this night.
- Schedule – taraweeh prayer, Quranic reading or recitation, dua, dhikr, discussion, question and answer, reflection, story time, sharing of hadith, charitable acts
- The family can sit together, and even small children can recite a ayah or surah that they know. Each family member can read or recite a portion of the Quran.
- Teen boys in the family can lead the taraweeh or alternate between themselves and older male members – father, grandfather, uncles, cousins, etc.
- During ‘break’ the family can engage in youth led taleem where the children discuss their understanding of the night of power.
- Young children benefit from the story of how and when the prophet (pbuh) received revelation to put things in context.
- Charitable acts during the night can be as significant as children restraining from sibling squabbles, smiling at each other, members serving each other, sharing a pillow or blanket or volunteering to clean up the area. This is a wonderful time to explain how important it is for families to be courteous and loving towards each other and that Allah is most pleased with even the smallest acts of charity.
- The companion Abu Dhar narrated from the Prophet that he said, “Do not disdain a good deed, (no matter how small it may seem) even if it is your meeting with your brother with a cheerful face”
- Reported in Sahih Muslim
Stay Flexible
- Seeking the Laylatul Qadr is an act of Ibadah that we come to with a pure heart and sincerity. But the night is long and children have short attention spans. If small children seem bored or agitated include activities for their young minds
- Antsy small children can look at a cartoon like the Adam’s World Quran Buddies series.
- Preadolescents may color an Islamic themed coloring book
- Challenge adolescents to look up how many years 1000 months are and relate to their current age and how many blessings this will night could bring.
- Allows teens to engage with the night sky as the family prepares for dawn.
Surely Allah is The Best Knower and The Best to Guide us in all affairs.
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