By S. Arshad, New Age Islam
1 May 2021
Lailatul Qadr And Aitkaf Increase The Significance Of Ramadan Many Folds
Main Points:
1. God has made great promises of rewards for the fasting Muslims
2. The word Aitkaf in Arabic means sitting in seclusion
3. If no one sits in Aitkaf, the entire locality becomes sinner.
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Although the entire month of Ramadan is full of blessings of God and God has made great promises of rewards for the fasting Muslims who abstain from food and desires and other luxuries of life for attaining the pleasure of God, the last ten days or the last Asharah of the holy month of Ramadan has greater significance because of the Night of Decree or Shab-e-Qadr and Aitkaf ( sitting in seclusion in a mosque) that is witnessed in these days. God has promised unexpected rewards and bounties for those witnessing Shab-e-Qadr and Aitkaf.
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Also Read: Introspection and Religious Observance are Key Lessons of Ramazan
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According to Hadith, the Night of Decree or Lailatul Qadr falls on one of the odd nights of the last Asharah of Ramadan. In other words, any one of the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th night of the month of Ramadan is Shab-e-Qadr. Praying and worshipping in that night is equal to praying for a thousand nights. A surah ( Al Qadr) of the holy Quran is about the Night of Decree.
"Indeed it is We who sent the Quran down in the Night of Decree. And what will make you realise what is Night of Decree. The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. That night the angels and the holy 'Spirit' descend by the permission of their Lord for every decreed matter. It is all peace until the break of Dawn."
According to this surah the night is special because on that night a worshipper gets the reward of worshipping for a thousand months ( 83 years) and angels and the holy spirit descend on earth and give glad tidings of rewards for the devotees.
Hadiths also stress on the importance of the Lailatul Qadr. The holy Prophet pbuh urged Muslims to search for the night in the last five odd nights.
Hadhrat Ayesha Narrated that the holy Prophet pbuh said, "Search for the Shab-e-Qadr in the last odd nights"(Kitabus Sawm:1256: Sahih Bukhari)
However, the Awliya and true Sufis are individually blessed with the knowledge of the Night of Decree.
What is Aitkaf?
The word Aitkaf in Arabic means sitting in seclusion (at a place of worship). One who sits in seclusion with the purpose of worshipping and praying for the fulfilment of his wishes is called Akif. This practice of Aitkaf was followed by the polytheists of pre-Islam Arab. They would sit in seclusion before their idols to get their wishes fulfilled. The Quran mentions this practice in a couple of verses.
"When he ( Prophet Abraham) said to his father and his people, “What are these idols to which you sit down to worship (Aakifoon) with much devotion."(Al Anbiyaa:52)
"They said, "We worship idols and keep squatting in seclusion (Aakifeen) before them."(As Shuaraa:71)
These verses are in reference with Prophet Abraham's conversation with his father and his people.
After the advent of Islam this practice of Aitkaf continued but now the Aakif would sit in seclusion in a mosque to worship Allah and seek His blessings and pleasure. At least one person should observe Aitkaf in a locality. If no one does this, the entire locality becomes sinner.
Therefore, Lailatul Qadr and Aitkaf increase the significance of Ramadan many folds and blessed are those who are able to witness Shab-e-Qadr and sit for Aitkaf in the last Asharah of the holy month of Ramadan.
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Sohail Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
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