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How to fill your bucket when it’s raining gold

How to fill your bucket when it's raining gold
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April 28, 2022
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Laylatul Qadr is the night of greatness and magnificence.

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ

Indeed, ˹it is˺ We ˹Who˺ sent this ˹Quran˺ down on the Night of Glory. (97:1)

In Surat Dukhan, Allah Almighty said the Quran was revealed in a  very blessed night:

حم ٓ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ

By the clear Book! (44:2)

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ

Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night, for We always warn ˹against evil˺. (44:3)

This night is full of barakah. Among many translations, it is called the Night of Power. However this translation is wrong. The night is not to do with power, it is to do with glory and greatness. It is glorious because it was the night the Quran was revealed and it is witnessed by the angels, among them the chief of the angels, Jibril.

From maghrib till Fajr there are hordes of angels descending, attending and witnessing the night. They send their salam to those who are engaged in worship and continue greeting them til Fajr.

How should you spend the night this special night and get the most out of it?

First we need our deeds to be accepted by Allah. In order for this, we need to go back to basics – we need a pure intention – to do things for Allah’s sake.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:

عن أبي هريرة -رضي الله عنه- مرفوعاً: «من قام ليلة القَدْر إيمَانا واحْتِسَابًا غُفِر له ما تَقدم من ذَنْبِه». 

“Whoever spends the Night of Qadr standing (in voluntary prayer) out of faith and seeking reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven.”  (Bukhari and Muslim)

There are two conditions mentioned here imaan (believing in Allah) wahtisaban and the second thing is expecting the reward from Allah. The belief is a good deed, and the expectation means he is focused on Allah, not meeting his friends who he has not seen in a while, or his wife made him come.

1.      Purity is the key to acceptance

In order for deeds to be accepted, you need a pure heart. Not a heart full of grudges, hatred or sins, as it will not receive the light from Allah. Therefore, we need to ask Allah for forgiveness, as our former sins will be forgiven. Scholars have commented that the sins which are forgiven do not include major sins (kabair).

2.      Delete major sins

Major sins require repentance. Kabair (major sins) are not deleted by praying 2 rakahs. We need to ask Allah to clear our record. These sins might be between us and Allah or us and others. If it is between you and Allah, Allah will forgive you. If it is between you and others, then you need to ask them for their forgiveness.

3. Forgive those who wronged you

Clear the space in your heart. Occupy it with Allah. Not ill feelings and negativity, but goodness. Seek Allah’s forgiveness. He is forgiving. Istighfar is the cleansing agent and it purifies the heart.

We ask Allah to make our hearts and our intentions pure and we ask Him to accept Laylatul Qadr from us. We need Allah’s forgiveness and acceptance whether it is Laylatul Qadr or not. Inshallah our deeds will be accepted and He will multiply and accept our deeds.

It is better than a thousand months

When Allah says in Surat Qadr, that this night is better than a thousand months, does he mean it literally? Some scholars have commented that it means the reward is unlimited, others have said it is literally equivalent to 83 years and 4 months (1000 months)

Either way, the rewards is immense. Laylatul Qadr is the night that rains gold. Do not watch it from the window, go and collect Allah’s mercy with both hands. The more purity you have the more mercy you will have.

Shaykh Haytham Tamim

20 years of Utrujj
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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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