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Chasing the Lailatul Qadar
I have a small reminder to share. God willing, this still applies for the remaining days of Ramadan. I truly believe we still have a chance, as long as Ramadan has not yet come to an end. And if we miss it this year, perhaps we’ll have the opportunity to practice it next year.
I’m sharing several tips and daily preparation guides in our effort to pursue the descent of the Quran within ourselves, in conjunction with the coming of a night greater than a thousand months — Lailatul Qadar. We must understand that this is not a one-off preparation, but a holistic one that spans the entire day and month.
First, I’m sharing some articles that should be read to help understand the context of what I’m writing here:
1. Two Key Aspects to Guard During the Day: Body and Soul
While fasting during the day, there are two main aspects we must guard — the body and the soul. The body is obvious to most, so I won’t go into detail. But one important point to stress is to eat a proper pre-dawn meal (suhoor). Don’t skip it or treat it lightly. Suhoor is not just to carry us through the day, but is also a preparation for how we break our fast.
When it’s time to break fast, we should feel just enough energy — not ravenous or gluttonous. Just light nourishment to sustain us through the night prayers. So, suhoor is not only for the day, it’s also for the night. And breaking fast is not just to end hunger, it is a step of preparation for prayer.
If our food intake leads to sluggishness or affects our prayer, then we have already suffered a loss in our pursuit of a meeting with the Rabb.
2. Tarawih: Constructing the Palace and Throne Within
Tarawih is a moment of immense value. It is not merely a Ramadan routine. The word "Tarawih" itself is made up of four Arabic letters: Ta, Ra, Waw, and Ha — and each carries deep meaning:
- Ta symbolizes space — the inner chamber we are building.
- Ra refers to ourselves, specifically our soul and heart.
- Waw represents the connection — between us (Ra) and Him (Hu).
- Hu is He — the Rabb, and His angels.
Thus, Tarawih is a process of constructing the inner palace and throne within our spiritual heart. It is a welcoming of divine guests from the heavens.
If we truly understand this philosophy, we would never want to miss a single Tarawih. We would pray with calm composure, dignity, and deep reverence.
3. Guarding the Senses, Memory, and Soul
Throughout the fasting day, we must protect our senses — our mouth, ears, eyes, skin, nose, and all limbs — from distractions and meaningless things. This is vital because everything that enters our body and soul will become part of our memory. These memories will return to us in prayer — and if impure, they will disturb our concentration.
If our daily activities are clean, our sleep will be clean too. This matters because the quality of our sleep is key to preparing for the night. We want restful, undisturbed, high-quality sleep — not sleep plagued by worldly residue.
4. Sleep: The Moment Angels and Ruh Descend Into Us
Sleep is when the body remains alive but consciousness is lifted. Our soul is in the grasp of the Rabb. This is the time when the descent (nuzul) of the angels and Ruh occurs — into our being. Yes, while we sleep. (For deeper understanding, refer also to the incident where Muslim soldiers became drowsy at the Battle of Uhud.)
Therefore, from the daytime, to breaking fast, to Maghrib, Isya, and Tarawih — all the way to sleep — each step is part of the preparation for the letter “Ta” in Tarawih.
Sleep is not ordinary rest. It is the final phase before the doors within ourselves fully open.
5. Rising for Qiyam: The Pinnacle of Meeting
The most important part comes next — rising for Qiyam (night prayer). If before sleep we were in the stage of Ta, Ra, Waw, Ha, then waking up is the phase of Ta, Ha, Jim, Dal (from the word Tahajjud – Tahajada).
- Ta is the space being prepared.
- Hu is He — the Rabb and His angels.
- Jim represents the act of prostration — the relationship between our chest (Dal) within our being (Ra) towards Him (Hu).
- Dal refers to the sadr, or chest cavity — the seat of the heart (qalb).
From dawn to night, from day to sleep — everything is an interconnected cycle of worship.
We perform Tarawih (Ta, Ra, Waw, Ha) so that we may rise in Tahajjud (Ta, Ha, Jim, Dal).
6. Sujud: The Manifestation of “I Am the Slave, You Are the Master”
At the peak of all these acts is the prostration (sujud) in Tahajjud. All actions in prayer lead to this ultimate gesture — placing our face on the ground in humility before Him.
When we prostrate, we say:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى وَبِحَمْدِهِ
Subḥāna rabbiyal a‘lā wa biḥamdihi
Glory is to my Rabb, the Most High, and all praise belongs to Him.
Look closely at the meaning. We bow down, press our face to the earth — something we don’t normally do. In all other moments, our head is higher than our chest. But in sujud, we humble ourselves, lowering our face beneath the chest, and praise the Rabb:
Glory is to my Rabb, the Most High.
See how Allah teaches us to be true servants. We place ourselves low as slaves, and raise Him high within our chest — as Rabb, Master, and King of our being. All this while, we sat above — our head higher than our chest — as if we were kings. But He is the King of all kings.
At this time, not many are awake. Most are deep in sleep. Yet in this moment of Qiyam, our Rabb is proud of us in the presence of His angels — who have descended into the palace of our hearts we’ve built since daytime. The angels praise us, supplicate for us, because we have honoured their presence.
To be present at this hour, high focus is required. Don’t pray distractedly or carelessly. This is why good, sufficient, and timely sleep is essential — because sleep itself is a preparation for rising.
7. When the Ruh Descends, Ask for Nur and Hadi
Qiyam is the time to glorify Allah and to seek Nur (light) and Hadi (guidance). While often paired as Nur Hidayah, these are in fact two distinct things.
- Nur is the light that illuminates us, guiding us out of darkness. When things are lit, only then can the inner eye function properly.
- Hadi is the guidance — the direction, the compass, the mentorship from the Rabb.
Nur and Hadi both come from Ar-Ruh, which descends specifically on this night.
If Allah is pleased with our purified soul and sincere heart, He will grant us access to Ruhul-Haq — the True Spirit — within the Preserved Book (Kitabin Maknun). That is what we truly seek. And it only happens on the nights of Ramadan, especially when Lailatul Qadar descends within us.
Remember:
Having Nur but no Hadi — is to be in the light, but still lost.
Having Hadi but no Nur — is to know the path, but unable to see the way.
8. Don’t Just Chase the “Thousand Months”
Don’t be too focused on chasing the numerical value of “a thousand months.” We might end up being tested on our sincerity. Are we worshipping for Allah — or for His rewards?
If the Rabb and His angels already love us, that is enough. So, purify your intentions. Cleanse your heart. Welcome the descending angels and the Spirit. Let the Rabb be proud of us — because our Paradise is through His pleasure and acceptance (Radiah and Mardhiyah).
Final Note
Chase the Night of Power.
May we be among those chosen and praised by the Allah.