Laylat al-Qadr
_001.jpg) This is the night of the Qadr. The term Al-Qadr
has been frequently translated as “the power”. A better translation may be
“the value” or “the decree” because God says the value of this night is greater
than one thousand months, a lifetime of over eighty-three years! God sends His
decrees in this night. This is the night when the Quran was first revealed at
the time of Prophet Muhammad. God says in the Quran:
“We have indeed revealed this (the Quran) in the Night of
Value (or Measure). And what will explain to you what the Night of Value is?
The Night of Value is better than a thousand months. Therein come down angels
and the Spirit (the angel Gabriel) by God’s permission with all decrees. (That
night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.” (Quran 97:1-5)
The Night of Decree is a gift to mankind from God. However,
it is not clear which night is Laylat al-Qadr. Some reports by
companions of the Prophet allude it to be the 27th night of the month of
Ramadan, but many more sayings point to any of the odd date nights during the
last third of the month of Ramadan. According to authentic teachings of the
Prophet Muhammad, may God exalt his name, Muslims are advised to spend the
21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th nights of Ramadan in worship and doing good
works to assure finding Laylat al-Qadr. A portion of Muslims stay up
all night in prayers and good works, however, the Prophet and his companions
used to sleep at least one-third of the night.
In some Muslim countries, the 27th of Ramadan is a
holiday to enable people to rest during the day after all night of worship.
Schools are closed from the 27th of Ramadan through the 2nd of Shawwal (5 to 6
days) to combine Laylat al-Qadr and Eid al-Fitr (An Islamic
celebration that starts with the end of Ramadan) observances.
I’tekaf or Seclusion
The practice of the Prophet Muhammad was to spend the
last ten days and nights of Ramadan in a mosque. Following his practice, it is
considered, an act of worship for someone to go in seclusion in a neighborhood mosque.
People in seclusion spend their time in various forms of dhikr
(remembrance of God), such as performing extra prayers, recitation and study of
the Quran, study of the Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), and exhorting
each other to be good through obeying God and His Messenger. Since people in seclusion
are not permitted to go outside the mosque except for emergencies, they sleep
in the mosque and use available facilities at the mosque.
The food for the people in seclusion is provided either
by their own families or people in the community. Seclusion ends, generally,
at the declaration of sighting of the moon or at the end of the month of
Ramadan. For busy people a shorter version of seclusion is allowed,
such as one night, one day or a few days.
Sadaqat al-Fitr
In general, any material help extended to the poor,
needy and to those who ask and deserve so is called Sadaqah. Sadaqat
al-Fitr, which is also called Zakat al-Fitr, is the obligatory
material help extended to the poor of the society before the Eid prayers,
preferably to be given early enough for the poor to prepare for the celebration.
In North America, the estimated amount is $5 to $8 to be given on behalf of
each member of the donor’s family, including infants.
Eid al-Fitr
The end of the fasting month is celebrated on the first
of Shawwal, the 10th month, which follows Ramadan. On the 29th of Ramadan
after sunset, people go out in the open looking for a new crescent in the
western horizon where the sun sets. If the crescent is sighted, the end of
Ramadan is declared. If the crescent is not sighted, Ramadan is extended by
one day.
On the day of Eid, people take a bath or shower in the
early morning, eat breakfast, wear their best clothes, use perfume and proceed
to the place of Eid congregation while pronouncing takbeerat, saying,
“God is the Greatest, there is no deity but God and all praise belongs to God.”
Muslims pronounce takbeerat in their homes, in the street and at the
place of congregation while waiting for the leader, the Imam. It was
the practice of the Prophet Muhammad to hold Eid prayer congregations in open
grounds. Following the practice of the Prophet Muslims are advised to hold Eid
prayers in open grounds. In Muslim countries with warm climate there are
designated Eid prayer grounds. However, in North America Muslims rent halls at
convention centers or major hotels.
The Imam leads the prayers at the appointed time,
and then delivers a sermon. At the end of the sermon, people supplicate,
greet, embrace and congratulate each other for the successful completion of
Ramadan and ask God for the acceptance of their efforts in His obedience.
During the day, people visit each other and children receive
gifts. In some countries, people go for picnics and other gatherings. Eid
celebrations may be arranged at work or at any social settings. Essentially,
Eid is a day of thanks to God and a day of meeting family and friends.
Umrah or Minor Hajj in Ramadan
There is a report from Prophet Muhammad saying that
performing Umrah in the month of Ramadan is equal to performing a major or
complete Hajj. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah. Hajj is the enactment of
some of the trials and tribulations of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), his
wife Hajirah (Hagar) and his oldest son, Isma’il (Ishmael). Complete Hajj
lasts for five days but Umrah is completed in a couple of hours. Umrah is only
a small part of the Hajj. An animal sacrifice may be offered at the completion
of Umrah. Umrah may be performed anytime during the year but it has special
significance in the month of Ramadan.
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