What does the word “Qadr” in the chapter of al-Qadr mean?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is the ninety-seventh chapter of the Quran. It contains five verses, thirty words and one hundred and twenty letters. The verses end with the letter "r". It is disputable whether this chapter, which takes its name from the word "qadr" mentioned in its first verse, was sent down in Makkah or Madinah.

The chapter gives people information about the value and importance of the Quran. Allah Almighty states the following in the chapter of al-Hijr: "We have, without doubt, sent down the Message." In other words, it is a clear book sent down by Our wish, not as a request of the Prophet (pbuh).

The word qadr may have been used in two senses in the chapter. One of them is in the sense of taqdir (predestination). Allah gives the orders of predestination, that is, destiny, to the angels so that they would apply them. The following verse in the chapter of ad-Dukhan supports this view: "In the (Night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom." The other meaning of it is majesty and honor. This issue is expressed in the following verse of the chapter: "The Night of Power is better than a thousand months." It is definitely better because Allah's last message to humanity was sent down on this night. The night takes its value from this incident. Muslims are advised to commemorate this night, in which the Quran started to be sent down, and worship on this night.  

There are various views about on what day the Night of Power is. However, the view of the majority of the great scholars of the ummah is that it is on the twenty-seventh night of the month of Ramadan.

It is the night when the Quranic verses started to come down to the heart of the Prophet Muhammad.

Islam is not a religion that adopts outward appearance and that gives importance to shape. The view that "a person will be purified from all sins by worshipping one night" on the Night of Power, which is better than a thousand months, is valid for muttaqis, sincere and believing Muslims. The worship of only such people is accepted on that night and they can attain the first spirituality when the Quran was sent down. To commemorate the Night of Power and to spend that night by worshipping, believing and expecting the reward from Allah forms a part of Islam’s method of teaching, which is sound and forms a whole.    

The meaning of the chapter is as follows: "We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah´s permission, on every errand: Peace!...This until the rise of morn!"

M. Sait ŞİMŞEK

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