CHAPTER 97: AL-QADR (THE POWER)

It was revealed in the Mecca period. Some also say it was revealed in Medina. It consists of five verses. The word qadr, which appears in the first verse, means "honor and greatness." The surah takes this word as its name. (H. T. FEYIZLI, 1/598)

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

97/1-5 THE NIGHT OF QADR IS BETTER THAN A THOUSAND MONTHS

Translation

1- 3- Indeed, We sent it [the Qur’an] down on the Night of Qadr. 2- [O my Prophet!] And what can make you know [the virtue of] what the Night of Qadr is? 3- The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months [in which there is no Night of Qadr].

4, 5- The angels and the Spirit [Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every [wise] affair [that will happen until the next year]. 5- It [that night] is peace [mercy and well-being for the people of worship] until the emergence of dawn.

Commentary

(1) ‘Indeed, We sent it (the Qur’an) down on the Night of Qadr.’

In Surah Al-Baqara, it is also stated: "The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion" (Baqara 2/185). From this, it is understood that the night when Allah's angel first brought revelation to the Messenger of Allah in Hira was a night in the month of Ramadan. This night is called the blessed night: "Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night" (Dukhan 44/3). (MAWDUDI, 7/180)

Sending down the Qur’an on this night can have two meanings. First, on this night, the entire Qur’an was transferred to the angels carrying the revelation, and after that, Gabriel brought these verses and surahs to the Messenger of Allah by Allah's command from time to time over twenty-three years according to the conditions. This view belongs to Ibn Abbas. Second is the view that considers this night as the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’an. This is the opinion of Imam Sha’bi. (MAWDUDI, 7/180)

The statements of some commentators, based on Ibn Abbas, that the Holy Qur’an was first sent down as a whole to the nearest heaven, are neither supported by any verse or hadith nor consistent with reality. Because most of the Qur’an contains or is related to various stages of the Messenger of Allah's (pbuh) life, the events of the invitation in Mecca and Medina. There is no wisdom or explanation for verses speaking of these events to descend from the Preserved Tablet (Lawh al-Mahfuz) to the nearest heaven before those events occurred. (From Süleyman Ateş; M. DEMIRCI, 3/602)

Essentially, answers to the following questions should be sought here: What difference is there between the Qur’an remaining in the Preserved Tablet and its being sent down to the world’s sky that it should be transferred from the Preserved Tablet to the world’s sky? As expressed in the verse, "We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps" (Mulk 67/5), this near sky called the world’s sky (Bayt al-Izzah) is the space adorned with stars. Now, to which of these stars did the Qur’an descend? Is the essential word of Allah a material book that it should be taken from the Preserved Tablet and transferred to the nearest heaven? (M. DEMIRCI, 3/602)

As a result, it can be said that the Qur’an began to be sent down in the month of Ramadan and on the Night of Qadr by being transferred from the Preserved Tablet to the angel of revelation, and was revealed to the Prophet at various intervals. Its period of revelation represents a period of approximately twenty-three years. Accordingly, the second of the two views mentioned above—namely Sha’bi’s view—appears more accurate than the other. (M. DEMIRCI, 3/603)

Linguistically, "qadr" means power, predestination, judgment, honor, and value. One name of the Night of Qadr is the "blessed night." This indicates that it is a night full of goodness, very fertile, and honorable (cf. Dukhan 44/1-3). This night is also the night of predestination and judgment. On that night, many wise and important matters are decided. (cf. Dukhan 44/4-5; O. CELIK, 5/538)

(3) ‘The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months.’

The goodness and reward to be reached on that night through deeds, worship, and striving are better and more than the goodness and reward to be earned through deeds in a thousand months without it. It is so good that it cannot be designated or limited by a boundary or amount. Only Allah knows how much better it is. This is purely a favor and grace of Allah the Almighty to Muhammad and his Ummah. (ELMALILI, 9/340)

Nasafi says: "The reason why the virtue of the Night of Qadr is so high is because the angels and the Spirit descend on that night and every wise matter is distinguished therein." (S. HAWWA, 16/301)

Hadith: When Ramadan came, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "The month of Ramadan has come to you. It is a blessed month. Allah has made fasting in it obligatory upon you. In that month, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are shackled. In it is a night better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of the goodness of that night is truly deprived." (From Ahmad b. Hanbal; S. HAWWA, 16/303)

(4) ‘The angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) descend therein by permission of their Lord for every affair.’

Here, some other reasons why the Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months are explained. On this night, the angels and the spirit descend to the earth to undertake the duties given by Allah the Almighty. According to the majority of commentators, what is meant by "spirit" in the 4th verse is Gabriel. (cf. Ash-Shu'ara 26/193-194). Although Gabriel is one of the angels, he is mentioned separately to show the highness of his station and the greatness of his renown. There are also those who give meanings such as "the prominent ones among the angels," "an army from the invisible armies of Allah besides the angels," and "mercy." (From Razi and Shawkani; QUR’AN WAY, 5/659, 660)

Due to the abundance of its blessing, the descent of angels is frequent on this night. Angels descend with blessing and mercy. Indeed, they also descend when the Qur’an is recited, they surround the circles of remembrance (dhikr), and they sincerely spread their wings over the seeker of knowledge out of respect for him. As for the Spirit, it is said that Gabriel (as) is meant by it here. It has also been said that this is a type of angel. Allah knows best. (From Ibn Kathir; S. HAWWA, 16/301)

(5) ‘It (that night) is peace (mercy and well-being for the people of worship) until the emergence of dawn.’

In the 5th verse, it is expressed that this night is a night of well-being and happiness. For the angels descend in groups from the beginning of the night until the emergence of dawn and give greetings of peace (salam) to the believers. This situation continues until the darkness of the night recedes. On the Night of Qadr, Allah the Almighty manifests with the name Rahman, and as understood from verses 4-6 of Surah ad-Dukhan, this manifestation ensures the continuation of general well-being for at least one year and preserves order and balance. (QUR’AN WAY, 5/660)

Hadith: Aisha (ra) said: During the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would withdraw to the mosque to devote himself to worship and would say: "Search for the Night of Qadr within the last ten days of Ramadan!" (From Bukhari, Laylatu'l-Qadr 3; Muslim, Siyam 219; Tirmidhi, Sawm 72; O. CELIK, 5/539, 540)

Hadith: When Aisha (ra) asked the Prophet (pbuh): "O Messenger of Allah! If I know which night is the Night of Qadr, how should I pray on that night?" the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) replied: "Allahumma inneke afüvvün, tuhibbü’l afve, fa’fü annî" (O Allah! You are most forgiving, You love to forgive; so forgive me!). (From Tirmidhi, Da'awat 84; Ibn Majah, Dua 5; O. CELIK, 5/540)