Muslim Festivals and Ceremonies — Page 36
Lailat-Ul-Qadr (The Night of Decree). This blessed night is also called the night of Power. It is the particular night in the month of Ramadhan when the Holy Quran first began to be revealed. The Holy Quran states: 'The month of. Ramadhan is the month in which the Quran began to be revealed, the Book which comprises guidance for mankind and clear proofs of guidance and divine signs which discriminate between truth and falsehood. . . (2:186). The first verses which were revealed to the. Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, were the following:. Translation: 'Recite in the name of thy Lord Who created everything. He created man from a clot of blood. Recite, for thy Lord is Most. Beneficent, Who has taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not. ' (Ch 96:2-6). He was forty at that time. The revelation continued until his death ie. for a period of about twenty three years. . The Holy Quran regards the Night Of Decree as better than one thousand months. It states in chapter 97:Translation: 'In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. Surely We sent down the Quran during the Night of Decree. How would you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Therein descend angels and the Spirit by the command of their Lord with their Lord's decree concerning every matter. It is all peace, till the break of dawn. '. The Holy Prophet of Islam remarked: 'Look for the Night of Decree among the odd nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadhan. '. In fact the whole month of Ramadhan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting. . Prayers, frequent recitation of the Holy Quran and remembrance of 36