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It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that a story about a man from the Bani Israeel, who carried weapons upon his shoulders for one thousand months for the sake of Allah Ta’ala, was mentioned in the presence of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was astonished to hear this and prayed for a similar virtue for his Ummah, saying, “O Allah! You made my Ummah the one with the shortest lifespan compared to the other nations and in deeds made my Ummah the least compared to the other nations.” Thereupon Allah Ta’ala bestowed upon him Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Decree), which is more excellent than one thousand months of worship, as stated in the Holy Qurān. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and his Ummah received one night in comparison to that very lengthy duration for which the man from the Bani Israeel carried weapons for the sake of Allah Ta’ala. This supreme blessing (Lailatul Qadr) is from the unique excellences of this Ummah.
It is mentioned in a narration that the name of that person was Sham’ūn. He fought against the enemies of Allah Ta’ala for one thousand months and during that time the saddlecloth of his horse never became dry (due to sweat). Allah Ta’ala bestowed upon him such power and courage due to which he overpowered his enemies, to the extent that they became dejected. They then sent a messenger to his wife with an offer of a tray full of gold, provided that she imprisons her husband, to enable them to make him their prisoner and get rid of that great warrior so that everyone could live in peace. Therefore, when he was asleep, his wife tied him up with strong ropes made from the bark of date trees. When he woke up, he shook his body and the ropes tore into pieces. He asked his wife, “Why did you do this?” She replied, “I wanted to test your strength.”
When the disbelievers received this news, they sent a thick chain to the woman who again tied him up. The great warrior again broke the chains as before. Iblees (Shaitān) then came to the disbelievers and made them understand that the woman should ask the warrior which thing exists which he cannot break. So they sent a man to the woman to inform her about this.
Therefore the woman questioned her husband, and the great warrior replied, “My hair.” He had eight long locks of hair to the extent that they touched the ground. When he fell asleep, she tied up his feet with four locks of hair and his hands with the other four locks. Then the disbelievers came, arrested the warrior and took him to their altar, which was four hundred handspans high but it only had one pillar, despite its height and extensiveness. The disbelievers cut his ears and lips and they were all gathered there when the warrior prayed to Allah Ta’ala to grant him the strength to break all the knots, for the pillar along with the roof to fall onto the disbelievers and to grant him freedom from their clutches. Subsequently, Allah Ta’ala granted him such strength. He shook his body and broke all the knots. Then he pushed the pillar and the roof fell onto the disbelievers. Allah Ta’ala thus destroyed all of the disbelievers and the warrior was granted salvation.
When the Companions of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) heard this incident, they asked, “Ya RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)! Can we also earn such reward like him?” He replied, “I do not know.” Thereafter Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) made Dua in the Court of Allah Ta’ala and Allah Ta’ala bestowed upon him Lailatul Qadr.
SubhānAllah! This teaches us how beloved Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is to Allah Ta’ala that his concern was immediately addressed through the bestowal of Lailatul Qadr. It also shows us how blessed we are as the Ummatīs of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that in one night we can attain more than what previous nations attained in a thousand months.
Hazrat Sayyiduna Anas (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) states that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “When Lailatul Qadr comes, Jibreel (Alaihis Salaam) descends with a group of angels and they send blessings and pray for forgiveness for every such person who, either standing or sitting, is busy in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala.”
It is narrated by Hazrat Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “The one who spent the 27th night of Ramadān in worship till dawn, that is more beloved to me than worship during all the nights of Ramadān.”
Sayyidah Aisha Siddiqah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) narrates that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “The one who spent Lailatul Qadr awake in worship, offered two Rakats of Salāh and sought forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala, then Allah Ta’ala grants him forgiveness, grants him a place in His Mercy and Jibreel (Alaihis Salaam) passes his wings over him. And the one over whom Jibreel (Alaihis Salaam) passes his wings, is granted entry into Jannah.”
{Compiled from Mukāshafat-ul-Quloob by Hujjat-ul-Islam Hazrat Imām Ghazāli (Alaihir Rahmah)}
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the strength to maximise worship during this blessed night and may we be counted among those who have been granted forgiveness, Allahumma Āmeen.