The wisdom in the Night of Power having been forgotten

In Turkey, the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) is generally a special time fixed on the 27th day, indeed the night, of Ramadan. We say "in Turkey" because elsewhere it is only a strong possibility, with no certainty, that the Night of Power falls on the 27th of Ramadan. Even its falling within the last ten days of Ramadan is again only a strong possibility. There is also the possibility that it falls on some day outside the last ten days of Ramadan. In fact the Night of Power is an uncertain time, and that is why it has the quality of being a time that is sought.

Since it has been reported that the Quran was revealed in it, that it is therefore better than a thousand months, and that prayers are answered more readily on the Night of Power, everyone gives that night a special importance, and acts of worship and prayers are increased that night. Those who have not fasted all month fast especially on that day, and most people save their zakat and alms for that day.

Although its time is uncertain, because on the basis of certain preferred narrations the likelihood of its falling within the last ten days of Ramadan is considered higher, it is recommended that the search be concentrated in the last ten days. It is better to try to catch that time within these ten days. That night could in fact be any night of the year, but the Messenger of God said that it is very likely to be within the last ten days of Ramadan. That is why he himself generally withdrew into spiritual retreat (itikaf) during the last ten days of Ramadan and tried to meet that night in a state of worship.

Think of it: even God's Prophet was not given definite knowledge about that blessed night... (according to the accepted narrations, this time was made to be forgotten by the Messenger of God (pbuh)). Of course one must dwell at great length on the wisdom of this. How and why could such an important time have been made to be forgotten by the Messenger of God? To be left in longing for a time. For a night better than a thousand months to have been hidden within a whole year, and to be obliged to seek it...

We know that the fact that such an important time was made to be forgotten by the Messenger of God does not make knowledge or the matter concerning it deficient. On the contrary, its having been made forgotten is a wisdom that Almighty God has decreed for the nature of this time. The Muslim will be in constant search. He will not stop at some point, saying "I have found it." The search itself is a valuable thing in its own right.

In fact this is a tremendous warning that being a Muslim is not an opportunity, a rank, a right or an acquisition settled once and for all, and that one must constantly earn it anew.

Has not this always been the reason for the downfall of earlier generations, of the so-called "chosen peoples"? Peoples who saw themselves in a position in which, whatever evil they did, they would not cease to be God's beloved servants gradually began to behave like God's spoiled children, putting on airs of absolute superiority over other people. This feeling by itself is a sufficient reason for God to take back the trust.

So that the same may not happen to Muslims, God has willed to subject them to a special training. Alongside a series of other trainings, this situation, which by making the Night of Power forgotten ensures that it is sought within a certain span of time, longed for, and in this way realized, is as it were part of that special curriculum that trains Muslims.

God, who made even His Prophet forget the definite knowledge of one blessed night, the Night of Power, better than a thousand months, the night in which the Quran was revealed, shows mercy to that community, and wills to tell them that they will not be saved by performing one or two good deeds or by performing certain acts only on a certain day or night. Not only that, He trains them in this direction within an intensive discipline, trains them in practice.

Perhaps this situation reflects one of the most important features of Islam as a religion. Never being in complete security before God, relying on one's own deeds. Islam is a religion in which no one bears anyone else's sin and no one can save anyone else. Individual responsibility finds magnificent expression in the Prophet's words to his own daughter Fatima, "be careful, I cannot save you either." Doing good deeds is very important, but one must not trust even them enough. For one must try to remain constantly vigilant against the danger of ostentation (riya), hidden polytheism or other motives that may seep into these deeds and that a person himself may fail to notice.

There is no guarantee of this vigilance either, what we are aware of and what we are not... How aware can a person be of his own states at all times? This is a tension that, from whatever side you look, can never be dispelled. A tension that cannot be dispelled by a few actions, a few dhikrs, a membership, a closeness. This tension drives a person to prayer.

Prayer drives a person to constantly check himself, to know himself, and in the process to know God and to know his place. It is hoped that never being in complete confidence of salvation, but of course never being in despair either, will provide a perfect balance of fear and hope (khawf-raja). Without our prayers we truly have no worth before God. Prayers, especially those made by the Prophet, each of which is a separate lesson for all Muslims, are magnificent prayers that introduce God and explain to, show and make a person feel his own place before God...

Therefore, one must not wait for the 27th night. Saying that any night of Ramadan may be the Night of Power, one must not hold back from seeking it and from arming oneself with awareness of it.

May Almighty God make us among those who appreciate the worth and truth of the Night of Power.