Sūrah Al-Qadr The Power: Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī Qurʾānic Rulings and Law

DetailInformationClassificationSignificance

SurahAl-QadrMeccanThe Night of Power better than a thousand months

Key Fiqh IssueLaylat al-Qadr probable timing and ʿibādah obligationsSunnah muʾakkadah to worship intenselyMost meritorious single night in the Islamic year

School ComparisonAll four schools: in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān; 27th most probable per majority; iʿtikāf for last ten nights is sunnah muʾakkadah; specific duʿāʾ recommendedSunnah muʾakkadahAll schools recommend intensive worship during all ten nights

Uṣūl PrincipleAl-tawḍīf al-ʿibādī fī l-waqt al-mufaḍḍal concentrated worship in blessed timesSunnah patternBlessed times warrant concentrated worship as a sunnah obligation

Al-Qurṭubī derives from verse 3 "the Night of Decree is better than a thousand months" the extraordinary worth of this night: one night of worship equal to more than 83 years of worship. He maps the school positions on its timing: all agree it is in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān; the 27th is most probable per the majority of scholars; some scholars say it moves among the odd nights of the last ten; a minority say it is fixed on the 27th every year.

The legal consequence: given uncertainty about which specific night is Laylat al-Qadr, the correct approach is worshipping intensely in all ten nights (or all odd nights) the ʿibādah investment in all ten nights guarantees catching Laylat al-Qadr. Iʿtikāf (seclusion in the mosque for the last ten nights) is the prophetic practice sunnah muʾakkadah that provides the most comprehensive coverage. Al-Qurṭubī also derives the specific duʿāʾ for Laylat al-Qadr from ʿĀʾishah's narration: "Allāhumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuḥibbu l-ʿafwa fa-ʿfu ʿannī" the divine ʿafw (pardoning) is the most appropriate supplication for this night.

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ Laylatu l-qadri khayrun min alfi shahr Meaning: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months" Al-Qurṭubī: the multiplication factor establishes the worship value of this night; al-Qurṭubī derives the legal implication: concentrating worship on this night is the most efficient ʿibādah investment possible; missing it through negligence represents a massive lost opportunity.

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ Tanazzalu l-malāʾikatu wa-l-rūḥu fīhā bi-idhni rabbihim min kulli amr Meaning: "The angels and the Spirit descend in it by permission of their Lord for every matter" Al-Qurṭubī: the descent of the angels with divine decrees makes this night one of divine-human proximity; worship performed in this atmosphere of angelic presence has a special quality that grounds the "better than a thousand months" evaluation.

Laylat al-Qadr is in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān the 27th is most probable per majority; uncertainty about the exact night requires worshipping intensely in all ten nights.
Iʿtikāf (mosque seclusion) for the last ten nights of Ramaḍān is sunnah muʾakkadah the prophetic practice providing the most comprehensive Laylat al-Qadr coverage.
Specific duʿāʾ: "Allāhumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuḥibbu l-ʿafwa fa-ʿfu ʿannī" divine ʿafw (pardoning) is the most appropriate supplication for this night per prophetic instruction.
The worship reward multiplication (better than 1000 months) applies to all worship performed in this night ṣalāh, duʿāʾ, tilāwah, dhikr all receive the enhanced reward.
Missing Laylat al-Qadr through deliberate negligence is a major lost opportunity al-Qurṭubī notes the prophetic lament over missing this night grounds its emphasis.

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