The Descending of the Angels Knowledge of Laylat al-Qadr Hafiz Ibn Kathir mentions this athar (narration). Various forms of this have also been mentioned by Ibn Abi Hatim and Imam al-Qurtubi. Ka b (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrated: Verily the Lote Tree (sidrat al-Muntaha) is on the border of the seventh heaven, where it adjoins Paradise, on the border of the breezes of this world and the next. Its height is in Paradise, and its shoots and branches are below the Throne. Upon its branches, there are angels worshipping Allah Mighty and Majestic, no one knows their number except Allah Mighty and Majestic. There is an angel in even the smallest of places. The place of Gabriel (Upon whom be peace) is in the middle of it [tr: the tree]. Gabriel is called upon by Allah to descend each Laylat al-Qadr, with the angels who inhabit the Lote Tree. Each angel is given mercy and compassion to pass on to the believers. The angels descend with Gabriel on Laylat al-Qadr when the sun sets. On Laylat al- Qadr, the angels are found everywhere either prostrating or standing, making supplication for the believing men and believing women. But they do not go where there is a church, a synagogue, places of fire-worship, an idol, a village rubbish dump, a house in which there is a drunkard, a place in which there is an intoxicant, a house in which an idol has been set up, a house in which there is a hanging bell, a lavatory or a place in which there is household rubbish. They spend their night there, making supplication for the believing men and the believing women and Gabriel shakes the hand of each and every believer. The mark of this is that the believers skin shivers; his heart becomes tender and his eyes water. For verily this is from the handshake of Gabriel. Whomsoever says on Laylat al-Qadr, There is no god but Allah,? three times, Allah will forgive him with one [tr: utterance], and He will save him from the Fire with another, and admit him into Paradise with another. The angels continue in this way, until daybreak. The first to ascend is Gabriel, who ascends until he is in front of the uppermost horizon. He then spreads out his wings. He has two green wings which he does not spread out except in that hour; the rays of the sun diminish. Gabriel then calls angel upon angel and ascends. The light of the angels and the light of the two wings of Gabriel combine together; the sun remains bewildered that day. Gabriel and those with him are made to stand between the earth and the heavens of this world in supplication, seeking mercy and forgiveness for the believing men and the believing women and for the one who fasted Ramadan with belief, seeking reward. And Gabriel makes supplication for the one who tells himself that if he lives until the next Ramadan, he will fast Ramadan for Allah. When the evening comes, the angels enter into the heaven of this world and sit in circle upon circle, gathering with the angels of the heaven of this world. They ask them concerning man after man and woman after woman. They talk about them until they say, ?What has so-and-so done and how have you found him this year?? They say, ?We found so-and-so last year, in this night devoting himself in worship, but we find him this year, in innovation. We found so-and-so in innovation, but we find him now in worship.? They stop seeking forgiveness for the former and continue to seek forgiveness for the latter. They say, ?We found so-and-so and so-and-so making the Remembrance of Allah, and we found so-and-so bowing, and so-and-so in prostration, and we found so-and-so reciting the Book of Allah.? Their day and night continue in this manner until they ascend to the second heaven. In each heaven they spend a day and a night, until they stop at their place at the Lote Tree. The Lote Tree says to them, ?O my inhabitants, tell me about the people and name them to me, for verily I have upon you a right, and I love him who loves Allah.? They enumerate and give accounts of men and women by their names and the names of their fathers. Paradise draws near to the Lote Tree saying, ?Inform me of what your inhabitants from amongst the angels, have informed you of.? Paradise then says, ?May the Mercy of Allah be upon so-and-so man and so-and-so woman. O Allah, hasten them unto me.? Gabriel, who reaches his place [tr: at the Lote Tree] before the rest of the angels, is inspired by Allah to say, ?I found so-and-so in prostration so forgive him.? And he will be forgiven. Gabriel hears the carriers of the Throne saying, ?May the Mercy of Allah be upon so-and-so man and upon so-and-so woman, and may His forgiveness be upon so- and-so.? Gabriel says, ?O Lord, I found Your servant named so-and-so, which I found last year upon the sunnah and in worship, but I found him this year, innovating a new act, and he has turned back on that which You have commanded him with.? Then Allah says, ?O Gabriel, if he makes repentance three hours before death, I will forgive him.? Then Gabriel says, ?Praise be to You, my god. You are more merciful than all of Your creation and You are more merciful with Your servants than Your servants are with themselves.? Then the Throne, that which is around it and the veils, tremble. The heavens and that which is in them say, ?Praise be unto Allah, the Most Merciful.? Whomsoever fasts the month of Ramadan, telling himself that when he breaks fast after Ramadan, he will not disobey Allah, will enter Paradise with neither questioning nor account. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, by Hafiz Ibn Kathir, surat al- Qadr) Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi writes concerning the word of Allah Most High, ?Therein, angels and the Spirit descend by the leave of their Lord,? that from this, it is known that the angels, including Gabriel, seek the permission of Allah Most High, to descend to the Earth. On being granted permission, they descend from the heavens. From this, it is proved that the angels long to meet the ummah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). When they are granted permission they descend in large numbers. A question is raised, as to why they would long to meet the likes of us, sinful people. When the angels read the Preserved Tablet, they read about the good deeds of the Muslims, but our bad deeds are hidden from them. (al-Tafsir al-Kabir by Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, under surat al-Qadr) At this time, the angels uncontrollably sing praises of Him who has made the good deeds apparent, and has hidden the bad deeds. At this, the angels know of the greatness of this ummah and they long to meet the servants from amongst them.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 08:20:37 +0000
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