Laylat al-Qadr: The 27th Night of Ramadan

It is night time here at number 11 and we have completed 27 days of fasting. The 27th night of Ramadan (Laylat al-Qadr) is considered among Sunni Muslims to be the anniversary of the night when God revealed the first verses of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) via Angel Gabriel.

It is also the annivesary of the night when the last verses of the Qur'an were revealed.

Muslims of all sects believe that the Qur'an was revealed in the last 10 days of Ramadan. Sunni's generally emphasize the 27th night but Shi'as emphasize the 23rd night. There is no disagreement really. Most Muslims accept that knowing the exact anniversary(s) is impossible.

The Qur'an in Chapter 97 (Verses 1-5) describes what Laylat al-Qadr is in this way:

In the name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful
Indeed We sent it [the Holy Quran] down on the Night of Power.
What will convey to you what the Night of Power is like!
Better is the Night of Power than a thousand months
in that Night the angels and the Spirit descend
by the permission of their Lord for every affair.
Peace it is, till the break of dawn.

For Muslims tonight is no ordinary night. The overall message is one of peace to all.

As Ramadan comes to a close in either 2 or 3 nights (depending on the sighting of the new moon) I wish all peace, Muslims and everyone else.

Onward!

Picture Credit: The picture captures Muslims praying on Laylat al-Qadr (2007) in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.