Significance and blessing of ‘Night of Power’ highlighted

Lailat Al Qadr commemorates the night God revealed the Holy Quran. It was then recited to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in sections by archangel Gabriel over a period of more than 20 years. Muslims throughout the world venerate this day as the holiest night of the year — the Night of Power and Revelation.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Hamad Al Shaibani, Director-General of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Services, explained that on the 27^th night of the month of Ramadan, the Prophet is said to have received from archangel Gabriel the first of the many revelations that made up the Quran.

Lailat Al Qadr is described in the Quran as a night “which is better than a thousand months, in which the angels descend to earth with God the Almighty’s permission. Peaceful the night is until dawn”.

During this night, the gates of heaven are opened wide, angels walk the earth and the demons of Hell are chained in their fiery pits. It is also a night of forgiveness. The good deeds performed in this night are better than the deeds of 1,000 months which do not contain a Night of the Decree. “This is the sanctified night when the history of Islam began,” he said.

Omar Al Khateeb, Head of Religious Guidance at the department, said the ceremony activities included speeches, Quran recitation and a lecture on the virtues of Lailat Al Qadr by Omar Abdul Kaffi, renowned I Islamic scholar.