Tonight is 27th night of the Islamic month of Ramadhan. Most Muslims around the world keep watch tonight because they believe tonight is the anniversary of the “Night of Power,” the night the Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an claims this night is “more important than a thousand months.” Muslims are enjoined to keep watch because angels supposedly descend to bring blessings and mercy to those who keep watch.
Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of this night when he said, “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
Muslims around the world recite the Qur’an and pray while waiting observing Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power). One of them pleads, “lailatul qadr’ please come to me…” while another one, “I’m looking for Laylatul Qadr 🙂” I used to stay up reciting the Qur’an, praying and waiting in vain.
As important as this night is to Islam and Muslims, this supposedly momentous night was unimportant the first 14 years of Islam. Even non-Muslims…