THE NIGHT OF PRECIOUSNESS (Laylat al-Qadr)
 
   The Quran was revealed on "the night of peciousness", one of the nights of Ramadan (Laylat al-Qadr). It is a night of great wonders and blessings which God described as "better than one thousand months".

      This means that the reward of devotion during this night is better than the reward to be expected for devotion in one thousand months which do not include this night.

     The great merit of this night is expounded in the sura of the Quran carrying the same name. Allah said : "We have reveled it (the Quran) during the Night of Preciousness". "And what will convey to you the meaning of the Night of Preciousness"?

      "The Night of Preciousness is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Spirit by the ermission of their Allah, with all decrees."

 "All is peace till the break of dawn."

    The night has been variously fixed as the 21st, 23rd and the 25th of Ramadan. Ibn Hanbal reported that Ibn Omar had related a hadith in which the Prophet said "Whosoever seeks the night, let him seek it on the 27th".

     It is meritorious during the nights when the Night of Preciousness is sought, to spend the time in prayers, Quranic recitation and asking God for forgiveness. The Prophet said:

 
     "He who spends the Night of Preciousness in prayers, in full faith, shall have all his previous sins and guilt forgiven".

    `A'isha said : "I asked the Prophet what to say during that night, on the assumption that I knew it was the night.

   He told me to say : "AlIah, you love forgiveness, so forgive me."