A THARIQ, PALAKKAD
As the blessed month of Ramadan enters its final days, it ushers in a night where the graces and bounties of the Almighty are destined to descend. In His own words:
“Surely, We sent it down on the Night of Destiny. And what should make thee know what the Night of Destiny is? The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months. Therein descend angels and the Spirit by the command of their Lord — with every matter. It is all peace till the rising of the dawn.”[1]
The Second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra, explained the Night of Destiny (or Laylatul Qadr) as the time of the appearance of a great Divine Reformer because at that time, heavenly light disappears from the earth and man is deprived of Divine blessings.”[2]
This description closely resembles the grave state of Arabia prior to the advent of the greatest divine reformer, the Holy Prophetsa. It was an era plagued by grave injustices and moral corruption—from the horrifying practice of burying newborn girls alive to the ruthless enslavement of men, women, and children. The darkness had reached its absolute depths, a night so black that it could grow no darker.
However, that was not the end, but a sign of the approaching dawn. At such a moment of utter darkness, the Merciful God sent His most beloved messenger, the mercy for all mankind—the Holy Prophetsa. He carried with him the divine light of the Holy Quran, whose radiant guidance pierced through the depths of darkness and illuminated the world with its glory. It was in fact the upsurge of God’s sheer grace or ‘Rahmaniyyat’ where those afflicted with darkness were blessed with divine mercy. Regarding this, the Promised Messiahas writes:
“This dark condition became a blessing for the world, and because of it, the world received a magnificent mercy in that the perfect man, Sayyidur-Rusul [the Chief of the Messengers]—the like of whom has never been born, nor ever will be—came for the guidance of the world and brought the Radiant Book, the like of which no eye has ever seen.”[3]
In one of his poems, he describes the transformation brought by this divine radiance in the hearts of people:
“The constriction that had beset the bosoms was dispelled;
The darkness dwelling in the hearts was totally transformed into light.”[4]
According to the Promised Messiahas, there are two manifestations of Laylatul Qadr: one physical and the other spiritual. He describes that the spiritual or inner reality of Laylatul Qadr marks the period of misguidance and darkness while the physical night was appointed to externally represent the night were the darkness reaches it extreme.[5]
The advent of a latter-day reformer
Though the Holy Quran brought a transformative revolution to the darkened hearts and inclined them toward the Almighty, the Holy Prophetsa prophesied a time when Islam would remain only in name, the Quran would be recited but not followed, the mosques would be full yet bereft of true guidance, and the religious scholars would become the worst men under the heavens.[6]
It was also prophesised that in such a time, a divinely appointed reformer would appear to rekindle the same light that had dispelled darkness fourteen centuries ago. In other words, a Laylatul Qadr, much like the one during the days of the Holy Prophetsa is destined to occur once again.
He will bring forth the true teachings of the Holy Prophetsa and his divine book, and unveil the hidden treasures of the Holy Scripture. This promised spiritual light descended in this era, with the advent of Hazrat Mirza Gulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. He says:
“This was the night in which God Almighty, finding the world steeped in extreme misguidance, decreed to reveal His Holy Word to His Prophet. So, as a result, this night became one of immense blessings.”[7]
Although this statement refers to the advent of the Holy Prophetsa, it also applies to the one who reflects his light, just as the moon does the sun.
The darkness of our time
We are currently experiencing an age of extreme darkness—one that signals the approach of a new dawn. Injustice, sin, and moral degradation have reached unprecedented levels. Atheism, once confined to the West, has spread across the world. Immorality has shattered all boundaries, and nations are either embroiled in war or ruled by oppression. The prophecies concerning the decline before the Day of Judgment—predicted to be the era of the Promised Messiahas—are unfolding before our very eyes.
Drawing parallel to the days of the advent of the Holy Prophetsa to the latter days, the Promised Messiahas writes:
“At that time (the time of the Holy Prophetsa), such darkness of total misguidance had spread over the entire world as had never been spread before, nor ever will, until the Day of Judgment.”[8]
But just as promised and fulfilled in the time of the Holy Prophetsa, the second victory of Islam will emerge from this period of deep darkness. The question is—are we prepared to embrace the dawn of this victory?
Importance of the divine night
During this important phase of Laylatul Qadr, it is essential that we recognise its significance before the dawn breaks, ushering in the triumph of Islam and Ahmadiyyat. Those who fail to recognise this moment and transform themselves will be lost, deprived of the blessings bestowed through the Holy Word of God. Regarding this, the Promised Messiahas writes:
“In this cataclysmic situation, which is a very trying time, only those people escape destruction who are under the special shelter of divine grace. Hence, for these very reasons, God Almighty has appointed a part of this age, in which the darkness of misguidance had reached its peak, as Lailatul Qadr. Then He proceeds to describe the heavenly blessings through which this darkness is dispelled and says that it is the way of Arhamur Rahimin [the One who is the most Merciful of all who show mercy].”[9]
Those who strive in this era of darkness are blessed with His unparalleled mercy. The Promised Messiahas states that acts of worship performed during such challenging times are more likely to be accepted, as they require greater effort and sacrifice. He explains that true worshippers are most deserving of Allah’s mercy when the world is engulfed in the darkness of materialism, and when turning to the truth comes with trials and hardships.[10]
The special night during Ramadan is yet another manifestation of Laylatul Qadr—a time when believers have the greatest opportunity to remove the darkness from their hearts and be illuminated by divine light.
Who can attain the divine night?
This divine night which has manifested itself time and time again is synonymous with the revelation of the Divine word. Therefore, it is not an easy feat to search and find this blessed night. Regarding its occurrence, the Holy Prophetsa instructed:
“Search for the Night of Decree in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.”[11]
From the traditions of the Holy Prophetsa, it is understood that the first ten days of Ramadan are a time of Allah’s mercy, the second ten days signify His forgiveness, and the last ten days offer salvation from the fire. Only those who exert themselves in worship during the first twenty days can truly attain this salvation.[12]
The Second Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra, explains that when a believer sincerely prays and fasts throughout Ramadan, Laylatul Qadr will manifest itself in some way different for different individuals. As a final sign, as mentioned in various traditions, righteous individuals may experience flashes of light, feel a cool breeze accompanied by a slight drizzle, or witness a celestial light ascending or descending from the heavens.[13]
It must be noted that the sincerity required to find this blessed night should not be confined to the last ten days of the month. The worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, states:
“It cannot be that for the duration of Ramadan, one pays no attention to fasting, reciting the Quran nor establishing prayer, but then suddenly begins paying attention to these forms of worship in the last ten days—no—rather it is necessary to pay due attention to these forms of worship from the outset of Ramadan… when due attention is paid to fulfilling the rights of God and the rights of humanity from the outset of Ramadan and these righteous deeds are done, then will the doors to hell be shut and the doors to heaven opened.”[14]
If, after reading this, someone feels discouraged for not having fully utilised the early days of Ramadan, take heart in the words of our beloved Khalifaaba, who reassures:
“If, for some reason, you have not been able to benefit from the first days of Ramadan, then in these last ten days you should shed all excuses and adorn your nights with worship.”[15]
A Thariq holds a master’s degree in physics from Chandigarh University.
END NOTES
[1] Holy Quran 97:2-6
[2] Tafsir-e-Kabir (The Grand Exegesis), v. 9, p. 315, under the verse 97:2
[3] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, p. 187
[4] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V, p. 12
[5] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, p. 57
[6] Mishkat al-Masabih 276, Book 2, Hadith 72
[7] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, pp. 56-57
[8] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, p. 59
[9] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, p. 58
[10] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, p. 57
[11] Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab at-Tarawih (The Book on Praying at Night in Ramadan)
[12] Sahih Ibn Khuzaima, Kitab as-Siyam (The Book on Fasting)
[13] Tafsir-e-Kabir (The Grand Exegesis), v. 9, p. 399
[14] Friday Sermon, 14 November 2003
[15] Friday Sermon, 27 August 2010
2 Comments
Manawaruddin · March 23, 2025 at 3:23 am
Assalam alakum, JazakAllah for this informational article
Yashmin Parvin khan · March 24, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Assalamualaikum, May Allah reward you . This article really enlightened our inner thoughts.