(Below is the transcript of a recent presentation given at the Iftar dinner hosted by local law enforcement. A video summary of the program can be found at Night of Power - 2024 (youtube.com))
LAS VEGAS METROPOLITIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT NIGHT OF POWER
Bismillaahir Rahmaaner
Raheem, In the name of God, the Compassionate, The Merciful. To the organizers, community leaders, guests
and friends, many thanks for the invitation to address the topic of “night of
power” this evening.
I will begin by pointing to the month of Ramadan itself as
the time in which Quranic revelation was initiated to the Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him. It is the text of the Quranic revelation itself which states
that fasting should occur in that month, abstaining from food, drink and
intimacy from dawn to sunset. Travelers, persons suffering from illnesses and
the like are not obligated to do the fast. ( Q 2:183-185)
Abstaining from those items allows us for less distractions
and more focus on God and on Divine matters. It is also conversely a time for
stronger social bonding, via dinners and communal prayers at night. In a
similar vein, the fasting experience makes us more sympathetic to the needs of
the poor and hungry.
In the last ten nights of Ramadan, we have a tradition of
intense spiritual desires and longing. There is an actual “search” for the experience
of what is known as Laylatul Qadr,
usually translated as “night of power”. Tradition has it that the “night of
power” experience will more than likely be experienced in the 27th
night, or at some point within those last ten nights, with emphasis on the odd-
numbered nights. People tend to stay up in the evenings, making more prayers
and supplications to God.
I want to give you some clues as to the import and
significance of this experience by referring to some of the Islamic textual
sources. The Qur’an refers to Laylatul
Qadr as “more useful than 1000 months”, (laylatul
Qadri Khayrun min alfi shahr) ( Q 97:3) which is roughly 83 years. Thus,
its actual impact can be not only felt in the lifetime of a person, but felt
well beyond that.
If we are taking “night of power” in the traditional “religious”
sense, with its intense moments of worship and the like, we are acknowledging
that the decisions made, the life-resolutions considered during that time, will
not only be guided by God, but will lead to bigger and better things in life. After
all, the entire month has been one of avoiding the distractions we normally
engage in, allowing us for more clarity, focus and paying attention to the
Divine.
Many people look for and actually experience “miracles” in
the search for “night of power”. While not dismissing them, we don’t see those
experiences as decisive nor necessarily the over-arching goal, as they can be
subjective in any case.
But what if, during the fasting experience, the time of
focus, a person decides to give up intoxicants? They become inspired to make
their morals better, their character better? To be better husbands , wives,
parents and neighbors? What if our leaders have their moral compasses adjusted
properly during that time? The impact of such resolutions are felt by the
people involved, and for generations to come.
Thus, we are giving an idea of why and how “night of power”
is important to Muslims. The Qur’an says that angels and the spirit of
inspiration emerges to provide the necessary tool set for success, for
overcoming obstacles. This was felt with the Quranic revelation to the Prophet
Muhammad, but can also be felt by those with sincerity who are seeking for
their compasses to be working properly. (Q 97:4)
The Prophet Muhammad taught a particular supplication that
is associated with seeking out the night of power. It reads “Oh God, Surely, you
are the forgiver, the generous one. You love to forgive, so do forgive us.” The
original Arabic is actually a bit more telling. The word translated as “forgiver”
{‘afuwwun) actually has the
meaning of erasing or wiping out. In other words, we are to ask God for a
new life, in which we are not tied down to the sins or the mistakes of the
past.
Here’s a lesson: if we ask God for that, then we should do
it ourselves. We should not have self-loathing that prevents life progress. God
loves to grant second and third chances, so we should do it for ourselves as
well. We should do it for others as well. That is the teaching.
The Prophet’s prayer identifies God as “generous” (karim) . We already expect that from
God, so shouldn’t we be that way within our own selves, and with each other? That is the teaching.
There is much more that can be said on this, but I think
this is sufficient. Sufficient for human happiness and proper progress in this
world. We hope that all of your goodly aspirations are achieved, that second
and third chances for light emerges in our lives, that we are blessed with
experiencing Divine repair and generosity. Thank you.
