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The Night of Power [Laylatul Qadr] and the dynamics of Power on Planet Earth

By Iqbal Suleiman

Committed Muslims the world over are participating in the last ten days of Ramadan and seeking out the night of power (Qadr).  The first verse of Surah 97 Al-Qadr reads “From on high, we have bestowed it [i.e. The Quran] on the Night of Power”

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) is reported to have said “Seek the Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramadan. [Related by Al Bukhari and Muslim]

 “Oh you who have committed to Allah. Fasting is ordained for you as it has been ordained for those before you so that you might remain conscious of Allah and his power to implement justice”. Quran (2-183)

Muslim therefore are compelled to reflect, introspect and conceptualize the meaning of “Power”. God is reminding the human being of God’s power presence and expression to implement justice on earth. The human is therefore called upon to submit to God’s power and strive in God’s cause to implement justice. There is a power dynamic at play here. God’s power is inextricably linked to justice. When the devoted servant of God is active in pursuit of justice, he is consequentially confronted by earthly powers of injustice.

 “It was the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was first made accessible from on high as a guidance for people and self-evident proof of that guidance, and as a standard to discern the true from the false. Hence whoever of you lives to see this month shall fast throughout it, but he that is on a journey shall fast instead for the same number of other days” Quran 2-185

 It was in the holy month of Ramadan that the first verses of the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) while he was in the cave of Hira at the age of 40. According to the prolific and revered Scholar and Mufassir, Sayyed Qutb “It is indeed the greatest and most significant event the Universe has ever witnessed”

This was indeed an epic moment in human history. A convergence between heaven and earth. The night of Qadr is auspicious because God in his eternal wisdom chose this night for the revelation of the Quran. It is awe inspiring in that the Angels led by Gabriel [p.b.u.h] descended from heaven to earth with God’s words [Quran]. The night of Qadr is therefore eternally auspicious for God’s servants because as verse 4 of Surah Qadr reveals “On that night the Angels and the Spirit by their Lord’s leave descend with all his decrees”.

As committed Muslims consecrate the night of Power in prayer and devotion, they come to the realization that in order to access God’s power presence, they must be active in “His power to implement Justice”. Surely a committed Muslim cannot extricate himself from firstly thinking about “Power” and secondly confronting the power of injustice. In this moment, at this time, the power of injustice is the Imperialist Zionist power bloc that dually carried out the Genocide in Palestine and recently launched an unprovoked and illegal war of aggression against the Islamic people and Government of Iran.

The Prophet [p.b.u.h] was at the forefront of resisting injustice. His was a lifetime in pursuit of truth and justice. He refused to surrender or be co-opted by the Powers on Injustice. His enemies offered him all the luxuries of the world on condition that he reneged on his struggle for truth and justice. The Prophet [p.b.u.h] conceptualized and understood power better than anyone else. His reply to his enemies is reported to have been something to this effect “Even if you are able to put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, I will not give up my struggle”. The Prophet [p.b.u.h] in his response was bringing to the attention of his enemies, the limitation of human earthly power and the reality of God’s all encompassing “Power to implement Justice”

On this Night of Qadr (Power), committed Muslims reflect on “Power” and the Prophet [p.b.u.h]. The Prophet [p.b.u.h] was the leader of the Islamic Government in Medina and the commander in chief of the Islamic Revolutionaries. His enemies launched a war of aggression to wipe out the Islamic Government in Medina. This war (Badr) took place in the month of Ramadan. The Prophet and the Islamic Revolutionaries prevailed over their enemies even though there was no military parity between the two warring factions. The enemies of the Islamic Government in Medina had overwhelming military superiority but the committed Muslims through their selflessness and self-sacrifice were able to access God’s power presence in the military encounter and therefore prevailed upon their enemies. Today the power of injustice finds its expression in Imperial America and Zionist Israel. This bellicose billionaire class led by Trump and Netanyahu claim that they are the most “Powerful” and they can do as they please because of the earthly power they possess. This is a direct affront to God’s eternal power and his power to implement justice. The selfless and self-sacrificing Muslims of Iran in service of God’s power to implement justice are now at war with these powers of injustice.

Committed Muslims who consecrate the night of Laylatul Qadr know with certainty the dynamics of power on planet earth today. They will align themselves with the victims of injustice and take a stand against this unjust war of aggression.

“And when my obliging subjects ask you about Me, behold, I am near, I respond to the call of him who calls, whenever he calls upon me, let them then respond to me and commit themselves to Me, so that they might maturely follow the right way” Quran 2-185

On this night of Qadr, the human being has a direct line to access his Creator, there are no gatekeepers who can prevent a poor believer from reaching his Creator.

The people of Palestine and Iran turn to their Creator in prayer to seek help, assistance and an end to the oppression. They have experienced massacres and sacrificed everything that is dear to them. They have lost their children, spouses, fathers, mothers, homes and universities and in all of this suffering they remain firm in their commitment to God and dignified in their resistance to the Israeli and American aggression. They are resisting the power of injustice.

The Quran in this Ramadan verse, calls upon all the people to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Iran.

“And how could you refuse to fight in the cause of Allah and of the utterly helpless men and women and children who are crying. “O our Sustainer! Lead us forth to freedom out of this imperial civic society whose people are oppressors, and raise for us, out of your grace, a protector, and raise for us, out of your grace, one who will bring us support”. Quran 4-75.

On this night of power, in this power struggle, you cannot align yourself with the powers of injustice nor can you remain “neutral”. You got to take a stand against this war of aggression. As Malcolm X said “Silence never liberated anyone. It only protects the Powerful. And we were not born to protect Injustice”.

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