Amazing Link between First Revelation and Laylatul Qadr

While looking to verify something different in Surat Al-‘Alaq 96, I counted the number of words and letters in the first five ayat (96:1-5), which is said to be the first portion of the Quran to be revealed to prophet Mohammad (pbuh). The results are 21 words and 76 letters. If we add these two sums (something I often do with meaningful results), the total is 97, which is the number of Surat Al-Qadr, describing Laylatul Qadr, the night in which the Quran was sent down to the prophet.

It was the Spirit Jibreel (archangel Gabriel) who “brought it [the Quran] upon your [Mohammad’s] heart” (2:97), and the verse number that mentions this is also numbered 97! We can consider this to possibly mean all the Quran came down into the prophet’s heart, of which portions would be revealed over time. And it could also be that these five ayat were revealed in that same night. And so a connection between the sum of words and letters in these first revealed words and the night of their revelation could be made.

What is the Purpose of Fasting Ramadan?

This post on the single Quranic aya which describes the why of fasting in the month of Ramadan, covers its purpose in the context of the aya. The purely physical benefits of “intermittent fasting,” of which Siyam (fasting) in Ramadan is an example, are surprisingly numerous. But of course, the purpose for Muslims goes deeper, and we must never forget the agony of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, but rather continue doing whatever we can to bring about justice and an end to Israel’s horrific genocide. One of the reasons to fast is to increase our sympathy with those deprived of food and water. And who is more desperately in need of these things than Palestinians? Because of the Israeli Blockade, it’s hard to know how to help. Here are some suggested ways. (Pictured above, the Palestinian sunbird.)

Are Muslim Women Deprived of Prayer and Rewards from Ramadan and Laylatul Qadr for having Menses?

This Quora post answers a question from a Muslima who repeatedly missed praying on Laylatul Qadr because of menstruation. Clearly she believes that women should not pray during their menstruation and therefore by adhering to this rule, she missed the night or nights considered by those around her to be that singular night. Quranists would say there is no such prohibition to begin with; still others would say that Laylatul Qadr was only the night in which the Quran was sent but that the notion of our prayers being given a higher value on a specific recurring night more than any other is erroneous. Without delving into those issues relating to Quran vs. Hadith, the answer linked above offers reassurances directly from the Quran that she has not been and will not be deprived of rewards and that such presumptions are unfounded. 

When Exactly Is Laylatul Qadr?

The Quran does not direct us to look for that specific night, and so we are not given “directions” or “signs” to it. We are always looking for shortcuts to “get to paradise quick” or guarantee our place in paradise. Some say if you offer a specific du’a it will be better than another and some people are anxiously searching to “get the right night.” But Allah is eternal and not restricted by time.

Du’as for Protection from Satanic Influence

For this kind of protection, which can be any bad influence, we have an entire sura, An-Nass 114, but there are others as well. These days, many people think of angels and devils as “mythological creatures,” but the Quran tells us they are indeed very real but in other “dimensions” where we cannot perceive them. The word “dimensions” doesn’t exist in the Quran, but rather it states there is a barrier between us and these kinds of beings. Occasionally however people do see them but usually as children or in circumstances where Allah gave permission, such as when angels were sent to the prophets – but they appeared in human form, not their actual form. All people are quite aware of good and bad influences, however. These du’as protect against evil or bad influences both from within oneself or from other people, or from “another dimension.” The word “devil/satan” can be from the jinn in another dimension, or just other people, as mentioned in sura 114. 

Ramadan in Places of Conflict and War

While we offer du’as to Allah for ourselves, our families, and our neighbors and friends, we should consider also offering du’as to Allah for Muslims who suffer from war and conflicts inflicted on them by aggressors from outside of their country. Such conflicts have sadly been common between people throughout history. Here are featured Ramadan in Palestine and Yemen, both victims of well-known conflicts that primarily affect children and civilian populations, and have been imposed upon them by more powerful aggressors, such as Israel backed by the UK, the US, and many allies in the West, and in the case of Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. However there are also many other conflicts either ongoing or where ppl suffer the after effects. For links to more pics from other places, see the bottom of this post. (Featured photo above is iftar in Ramadan in Iraq.)

Israel Attacks Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

https://youtu.be/L4Ez29JfsGM

In the middle of prayers in the holy month of Ramadan, last night Israeli troops invaded the Al-Aqsa sacred mosque during prayers in an ambush, beating women and men who were in the midst of prayer. At least seven were injured and Israel claims to have arrested 500 people. What was their crime? Their crime was being Palestinians in what Israel calls an exclusively Jewish “homeland.” We should collectively as Muslims offer a du’a to Allah to help the Muslims under such oppression and injustice, and to protect all Palestinians regardless of their religion, as mentioned in the previous post.

Calculating a Global Hijri Calendar and Al-Hilal

The article linked below from this site proposes a new global Hijri Calendar, using astronomical data as well as Quranic ayat and certain relevant hadiths to find the best and most authentic guidance, to create a Hijri calendar by which all Muslims in the world will follow a single calendar date for significant Islamic events, including the beginning of Ramadan and the start of the two Eid dates, over which political and other irrelevant considerations have famously been a source of division.

New thoughts about the Islamic Hijri Calendar

Surat Al-Qadr 97, Night of Celestial Power

This spectacular sura appears to be simple and easy to understand, but examined in greater depth, unleashes its power, as shown in the analysis below.

A Different Perspective on Sura 97 and Laylatul Qadr

Although I’ve presented a longer and somewhat unusual analysis of the meaning of Laylatul Qadr or “the Night of Decree/Power,” it’s important to present alternate (and shorter) views on this important subject. Here is a different and valid interpretation of that important night from Quora, exploring traditional and Quran-based interpretations, which I found also meaningful, and more in line with the traditional understanding that this night occurs in the lunar calendar-based Ramadan. It gives Quranic references with interesting possible explanations.

On the Benefits of Fasting Ramadan: Health Expert

Dr. Eric Berg DC describes the amazing benefits of the type of fasting done for the month of Ramadan.

Of course, the greatest benefits of fasting Ramadan are in Allah’s acceptance, and in the taqwa (God-consciousness) gained during this blessed month, especially in the last remaining days when our salat and dhikr intensifies insha’Allah. The physical and health benefits are in fact good “side effects.” May Allah the Exalted accept our fasting, prayers, and charity, and increase our knowledge of His Quran, our guidebook and source of comfort, enlightenment, and motivation.

Dr. Eric Berg is a best-selling author of The Healthy Keto Plan (KB Publishing, 2017) who specializes in weight loss and healthy ketogenic diet strategies as well as intermittent fasting. He has conducted over 4800 seminars on health-related topIcs and trained over 2500 doctors worldwide. And he is impressed with the benefits of fasting Ramadan as explained in the video above.

“Why Do You Feel That God Exists?”

A simple but beautiful answer to this question was posted on Quora, but the link wouldn’t post here, so I will quote both Question and Answer here in slightly edited and condensed form.

Video: Ramadan as Hope, the Quran as Allah’s ”Rope”

This video gives a unique and meaningful perspective about Ramadan, starting with Adam in an exalted state so close to Allah that Allah the Exalted spoke to him, then Adam’s mistake and descent to earth, not as a punishment (that’s a Christian idea not in Islam), but to work and suffer, becoming stronger in faith and determination, to return insha’Allah (God willing) to Allah’s Presence in the promised Garden, an inheritance from Adam and a reward for patience and struggle in His path. An eloquent and beautifully-presented message from Nouman Ali Khan. He explains the name ”Iblees” (another name for Satan) as derived from the meaning “hopeless,” from which we understand that the idea that we are a ”hopeless case” to be from satanic influence, and that to think we are beyond redemption or cannot be forgiven is a trademark satanic concept. Satan’s case is indeed hopeless, and he wants us to feel we are also hopeless, whereas with Allah there is always hope. The Quran is literally the way Allah speaks to us, opening up a two-way “conversation” if we join it and speak in return: the Quran gives us words, if we are at a loss for words, but any language will do.

Ramadan Around the World

(Pictured above: Muslim children gather to read Quran at the Al-Kabir Mosque in Sanaa, Yemen, Ramadan 2022.) The following pictures show how Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, traditionally by fasting, breaking the fast (iftar), reading Quran, and prayer. We also should remember millions of Muslims in China are prohibited/restricted from fasting or even acknowledging Ramadan, as well as pray, go to mosques for worship, or even read Quran. In 2017, many of these restrictions became law, and all Muslims, especially among the Uighurs, were forced to turn in their Qurans, prayer mats, Islamic clothing, or anything at all associated with Islam, or face the horrors of the extermination camps. So pictures of Ramadan in China might even pose an imminent danger to anyone appearing in such a photo, even anonymously. There are also many refugees from Syria and elsewhere suffering as they try to fast and celebrate this month, and notably Palestinians are often harassed particularly in Ramadan. Nonetheless, there is hope in this set of images.

Historical East African Quran Manuscripts

(pictured above: the Boné Quran, South Sulawesi, 1804)
We tend to think of the Quran as being mainly produced in the Middle East or Indochinese regions, but Africa has a rich cultural Islamic heritage, as seen in many ways. These manuscripts from coastal East Africa have a unique style both of calligraphy and illumination (where text is presented with flourishes such as borders, calligraphic designs, and illustrations). Although this isn’t the normal subject matter of this blog, I’m recovering from surgery and yet trying to keep to my promise of a daily blog post, or as close to it as I can get. 

Repairing Old Copies of the Quran for Ramadan

This article, Libyans Repair Old Qurans for Ramadan, shows us how economic hard times can sometimes be a boon for the ancient art of repairing what we already have, in this case masahif or copies of the Quran. The word “Quran” actually refers to the message itself, not written copies of it. Because English makes no such distinction, people generally refer to copies of the Quran as “Qurans,” although this is incorrect, a single book/copy being called a mus’haf. It’s a nice distinction, because what counts is not the physical book but the actual message it conveys. On the other hand, without an actual physical book, our ability to study it would be greatly limited. Now with virtual masahif in writing as well as Quran recitation on our phones, the distinction between the “copy” and its “content” becomes even blurrier, since you can’t have the content without a “source” for its transmission, yet what appears on a screen is changeable, somewhat not-quite-physically there. In any case, there are times when reading a physical book has its advantages, like when the power goes out for a significant period of time. Not to forget the beauty of a printed Quran in Arabic. And does anyone else still remember certain memorized parts of the Quran by their placement on the page?

Milestone: Muslims Pray Taraweeh in Times Square NYC

New York: US Muslims perform prayers in Times Square

For the first time in history, Muslims pray in New York’s Times Square

For this Ramadan, an historic first, Muslims in New York pray the taraweeh for Ramadan in Times Square as described in the article above. It is hoped that people will come to understand more about Islam, thus find more common ground and work toward justice and peace in these difficult times, insha’Allah — God willing.

The One Quranic Aya that Mentions Ramadan

This well-known aya, translated below (Saheeh International), is the only aya where Ramadan is mentioned by name as the time when the Quran was sent, and therefore is very significant and worth analyzing. Surat Al-Qadr 97 is a shorter sura entirely about the night the Quran was sent, called laylat Al-Qadr 97 or the “night of decree,” which we thus know is in Ramadan. But the whole month is named in this single aya in Surat Al-Baqara, with its significance declared in two basic ways: as the month in which the historically important event of sending the Quran to humankind occurred, and as a month of fasting and repentance. 

Salat in the Heart of the Quran

Salat is more than ”prayer,” but in its root term means ”connection” or ”to connect.” The Quran speaks of it as to be ”established,” to build or establish being the common translation of iqama, thus one establishes or erects a ”connection” to Allah within one’s heart by doing this daily. This could even be thought of in the modern sense of establishing a “connection” in a phone or with the internet, in a real sense to ”keep in touch” in this case with our Creator and Sustainer. The Quran has “built-in” such a connection in its very architecture, connecting the last 3 suras with the first sura, Al-Fatiha. This forms a visual dhikr Allah you can see, showing in the Quran a kind of circulatory system that brings us back to connect with Allah and His words. The chart with explanation in PDF form is downloadable below.

salatintheheartofthequran1649072725

The Meaning and Value of Ramadan: Memorable Video

One of the most meaningful and insightful explanations of Ramadan’s purpose in every sense that I’ve ever read or heard:

Dr. Nouman Ali Khan gives a beautiful explanation of the meaning of taqwa, how fasting Ramadan helps us develop it, and Ramadan as commemoration of the highly significant historical event of the Quran being sent down to humankind to guide us from darkness into the light. Plus the importance of understanding the difference between ease and hardship, and how that relates to short-term vs long-term success, and then applying this wisdom to eternity. He explains 3 out of 5, but wow, those are so vital.

His presentation gets to the heart of the matter, transcending divisions between schools of thought, traditional vs liberal, or other divisions between Muslims’ approach to Islam and the Quran. The core meaning is truly the point of this khutba, and that is universal truth.