REVELATION BEGAN ON a night known as laylat al-qadr - the night of glory and splendour. There is no agreement on the exact date of this night, but it is taken to fall in the last ten nights of Ramadhan, the ninth month in the Muslim calendar. Since this is a lunar calendar, the birth of the new moon, marking the beginning of each month, varies throughout the year, making it difficult to determine exactly on which night laylat al-qadr actually falls. Muslims wishing to offer additional voluntary prayers on that night are urged to do so every night during the last half or third of the month of Ramadan.
The beginning of the revelation of the Qur'an to mankind was undoubtedly a most auspicious event that should be commemorated with prayer and devotion. The Qur'an is God's own word and final revelation to mankind. It is a gift and a blessing to the world, as attested by the words:
Would that you knew what the Night of Power is! It is better than a thousand months. Hosts of angels and the Spirit (the Archangel Gabriel) are dispatched on that night by their Lord's leave with decrees for all manner of purpose. (2-4)
Elsewhere in the Qur'an, laylat al-qadr is described as the night on which "the fate and destiny of all creatures are carefully determined by Our commandments. We send messengers as a blessing from your Lord" (al-Dukhan: 4-6)
The Qur'an contains all the principles, rules, teachings, and guidelines necessary for the organisation of human life and behaviour in this world. It is the only source of inspiration and true guidance. A cursory comparison between the Qur'an and other allegedly divinely-revealed books available today would bear this out.
The night the Qur'an was sent down was also a night of peace, one of Islam's main objectives in this world. But peace can only be attained when justice is established on earth.
DEAREST ALL,
"SELAMAT HARI RAYA, MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN"
AISHAH SAID
