Today, by the grace of Allah, we mark the final Jumu’ah of Ramadan, the 24th day of this blessed month. We are deep within the last ten nights, and as we approach another odd night, hearts everywhere are seeking Laylat al-Qadr. This is the night in which the Quran was sent down, as Allah tells us:

إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (١)

“Indeed, We sent it down in a night of Al-Qadr.” (Al-Qadr 97:1)

We know this refers to the Quran because Allah says in Surat ad-Dukhan:

حمٓ (١) وَٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ (٢) إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةٍ۬ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ‌ۚ … (الدخان(

 “Ha Mim (1) By the clear book (2) Indeed, We sent it down in a blessed night – ….  (Al-Dukhan 44:1-3) 

Allah also tells us that the Quran was revealed in the month Ramadan:

شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدً۬ى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِ‌ۚ

“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion.” (Al-Baqara 2:185)

From these verses we understand that Ramadan is honored because of the Qur’an. And the Qur’an was revealed in Laylat al-Qadr.

But the Qur’an itself tells us that fasting has a purpose. Allah says: Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ … لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“Fasting has been prescribed for you… so that you may attain Taqwa.”

The goal of fasting is Taqwa.  Taqwa is a living awareness that Allah sees us, hears us, and knows our inner thoughts. When this awareness grows strong, something beautiful happens. A believer naturally begins to avoid what displeases Allah and rush toward what earns His love.

 

This is why Allah commands:

﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ ﴾ ] آل عمران: 102[

“O you who believe, have Taqwa of Allah as He truly deserves.” (Al-Imran 3:102)

Notice the phrase: حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ — Taqwa as He deserves.

Now listen to another verse repeated three times in the Qur’an:

وَمَا قَدَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدۡرِهِۦ …..(٦٧)

“They have not given Allah His true Qadr….”

This verse appears in: (Surat Al-An’am 6:91, Al-Hajj 22:74 and Al-Zumat 39:67).  In these verses Allah is reprimanding humanity: You have not truly recognized My greatness.

We must pay attention to the Arabic word Q-D-R (ق د ر).  This root changes meaning depending on the vocalization (Tashkeel) of the letter Dal (د):

• When it is pronounced Qadar (قَدَر) with a Fatha on the Dal, it refers to decree, destiny, or fate as in (الايمان بالقَدَر):
• But when it is pronounced Qadr (قَدْر) with a Sukoon on the Dal, it refers to status, honor, greatness and worth as in (حَقَّ قَدۡرِهِۦ) that means Allah’s true status.

 

When Allah says we haven’t given Him His “True Qadr,” (with the Dal has skoon) He tells us that people have failed to truly recognize His greatness and worth.

 

Note the powerful parallel:

Allah commands us to have حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ — Taqwa as He truly deserves

and He criticizes those who fail to give Him حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ — the honor He truly deserves.

Now reflect on something remarkable. The expression حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ appears three times in the Qur’an, and in Surat Al-Qadr, the phrase Laylat al-Qadr also appears three times:

إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (١) وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (٢) لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَہۡرٍ۬ (٣)

We sent it down on the night of Al-Qadr (1) And how will you know what the night of Al-Qadr is? (2) The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. (Al-Qadr 97:1-3)

It is as if the Qur’an is teaching us something: Laylat al-Qadr is the night when a believer finally begins to recognize Allah’s true greatness. It is the night when our Taqwa meets His Qadr.

But how do we give Allah His true Qadr?  The Qur’an teaches us the answer through the lives of the Prophets.  The Prophets did not simply believe in Allah.  They knew Him through His Names and Attributes.  And they used those Names in the exact situations where those attributes were most meaningful.

When we read the stories of the Prophets, we should pay close attention to which names of Allah they used and when they used them. For example, when Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) survived the great flood and the Ark finally came to rest, he did not simply ask for shelter.

رَّبِّ أَنزِلۡنِى مُنزَلاً۬ مُّبَارَكً۬ا وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡمُنزِلِينَ ( ٢٩ )

“My Lord, grant me a blessed place to land, for You are the best of those who grant settlement.” (Al-Muninoon 23:29)

He connected his specific need, stability after a flood, with a specific Attribute of Allah. When you move to a new city, when you buy a home, when you begin a new chapter in life… Do not simply say: “I hope everything goes well.”  Instead say:

“O Allah, grant me a blessed place to live, for You are the Best of those who grant settlement.”

Look also at Prophet Yaqub (as). When he lost his sons and faced overwhelming grief, he said:

عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأۡتِيَنِى بِهِمۡ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَڪِيمُ ( ٨٣ )

“Perhaps, Allah will bring them all back to me, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” (Yusuf 12:83)

Yaqub did not simply express hope or make formal supplication. He interpreted his tragedy through the knowledge and wisdom of Allah.  When you face a problem you cannot solve, remind yourself: “My Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

Consider Prophet Hud speaking to a powerful and arrogant nation. He reminded them:

إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيظٌ

“My Lord is Guardian over all things.”

He was reminding them that their power meant nothing before the One who protects and controls all things.

And Prophet Shuayb spoke to a nation known for economic corruption and cheating in trade.  Listen to how he reminded them of Allah:

إِنَّ رَبِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ

“Indeed, my Lord encompasses all that you do.”

In other words: Your transactions are not hidden. Your scales are not hidden. Your fraud is not hidden.  Allah sees everything.

The Prophets were teaching humanity something profound: Recognize Allah in every moment of life. And this is why the Qur’an commands:

وَلِلَّهِ الأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا

“To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call upon Him through them.” (Al-Araf 7:180)

If you truly wish to know Allah, do not simply memorize His names. Learn to recognize them in the events of your life.  When we see life through His Names, faith moves from words on the tongue to certainty in the heart.

أقول قولي هذا واستغفر الله العظيم لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرحيم

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الحمد لله وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمدًا عبده ورسوله ، صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن سار على نهجهم واهتدى بهديهم .أما بعد: .عباد الله: أوصيكم ونفسي بتقوى الله

The goal of faith is not merely to acknowledge that a Creator exists. Even people without religion sometimes believe in a “higher power.”  But the goal of the believer is to truly know Allah:

• To know that He is the Most Merciful when life becomes difficult.
• To know that He is the Perfectly Just when we witness oppression.
• To know that He is Al-Latif, the Subtle and Gentle Planner when the path ahead seems unclear.

And perhaps this is the real secret of Laylat al-Qadr. It is not only a night of worship. It is a night of recognition. A night when hearts awaken. A night when a believer finally says: Now I understand my Lord. Now I see His wisdom. Now I feel His presence.  Now I recognize His greatness.  If these final nights transform the way we see Allah, then we have truly found Laylat al-Qadr.

May Allah allow us in these blessed nights to truly know Him, to recognize His greatness, to give Him the honor He deserves, and to reach the level of Taqwa that transforms our lives.

اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه

DUA