The Night of Decree and the Night of the Ascension
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Question: What is the stronger position among the scholars' opinions regarding the specific identification of the Night of Decree? Is it the best of all nights without exception, or not? What is your opinion of those who say that the Night of the Ascension is superior to the Night of Decree? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: The Night of Decree is a great night, and Allah has highlighted its status in His Noble Book,In His saying, the Exalted: [Surah al-Dukhan: 3, 4] ,And in His saying, the Exalted: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: [Surah al-Qadr: 1-5] , so it is a night that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has honored above other nights, and He informed that the deed in it is better than the deed in a thousand months, meaning better than the deed in more than eighty-three years and additional months, and this is a great virtue. He singled it out for the revelation of the Qur'an in it, and described it as a blessed night, and that in it is decreed what will occur
in the year of events, and these are great virtues for this night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would strive in the last ten nights of Ramadan in a way he did not strive in other times, seeking the Night of Decree. It is the best of the nights because nothing has come regarding any other night like what came regarding its virtue and the highlighting of its status. So it is the best of the nights due to the great virtues it contains. This is from the mercy of Allah the Exalted to this Ummah and His kindness to them, where He singled them out for this great night.
As for the comparison between it and the Night of the Ascension, I have before me now a question and its answer by the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, where he was asked (may Allah have mercy on him) about the Night of Decree and the Night of the Ascension of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is better? He answered that the Night of the Ascension is better for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Night of Decree is better for the Ummah. The Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) share, which he was singled out for in the Night of the Ascension, is more complete than his share in the Night of Decree, and the Ummah's share in the Night of Decree is more complete than their share in the Night of the Ascension, even though they have the greatest share in it. But the virtue, honor, and high rank were attained in it for the one with whom the Ascension took place (peace and blessings be upon him). This is what the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah answered in this issue.
The Imam and scholar Ibn al-Qayyim has words on this topic, agreeing with his Shaykh's words, that the Night of the Ascension is better for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Night of Decree is better for the Ummah.
And what must be pointed out is that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has prescribed for us in the Night of Decree of worship and drawing near to Him what He has not prescribed in the Night of the Ascension. So in the Night of the Ascension, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not perform the late-night prayer in it or single it out for standing or dhikr, but rather he would single out the Night of Decree for its virtue and status.
Also, it is not established in which month the Night of the Ascension is, or in which night of the month
it is, which indicates that knowing it and specifying it is not of benefit to us, unlike the Night of Decree, for which Allah informed that it is in Ramadan,For Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Baqarah: 185] ,Then he said: [Surah al-Qadr: 1] , so it indicates that the Night of Decree is in the month of Ramadan. Even if it is not specified in a particular night of Ramadan, it is more likely that it is in the last ten nights of it, and the night of the twenty-seventh is the most emphasized night according to Imam Ahmad and a group of the Imams. The scholars have ijtihad and schools of thought in seeking it out, but it is certainly in the month of Ramadan. So whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and stands in prayer in as many of its nights as is easy for him, there is no doubt that the Night of Decree has passed with him, and there is no doubt that whoever witnesses the Night of Decree has a reward according to his intention, his striving, and Allah's success for him.
So the Night of Decree has a distinction, because striving in worship, supplication, dhikr, and seeking it out has been prescribed for us in it, unlike the Night of the Ascension. We were not asked to seek it out, nor to single it out for any of the acts of worship. And by this, it becomes clear that those who celebrate the Night of the Ascension and the Mi'raj are innovators; they have brought what Allah has not prescribed, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) has not prescribed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate every year the passing of a night from the nights saying: "This is the Night of the Ascension and the Night of the Mi'raj," as these ignorant innovators do, who have made their religion rituals and innovative occasions, and left the Sunnahs and the established Shari'ahs from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This is something that must be paid attention to and explained to people, that Allah has prescribed for us striving in the Night of Decree, seeking it out, and drawing near to Him in it every year; unlike the Night of the Ascension and the Mi'raj, for which it has not been prescribed for us to seek it out, nor to single it out for anything. Also, it has not been made clear to us in
which month or which night it is, unlike the Night of Decree, which is in Ramadan without doubt. And Allah the Exalted knows best, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.
Answer: The Night of Decree is a great night, and Allah has highlighted its status in His Noble Book,In His saying, the Exalted:
(3) Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. (4) On that night is made distinct every precise matter -
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ(1) Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. (2) And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? (3) The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. (4) The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. (5) Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِin the year of events, and these are great virtues for this night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would strive in the last ten nights of Ramadan in a way he did not strive in other times, seeking the Night of Decree. It is the best of the nights because nothing has come regarding any other night like what came regarding its virtue and the highlighting of its status. So it is the best of the nights due to the great virtues it contains. This is from the mercy of Allah the Exalted to this Ummah and His kindness to them, where He singled them out for this great night.
As for the comparison between it and the Night of the Ascension, I have before me now a question and its answer by the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, where he was asked (may Allah have mercy on him) about the Night of Decree and the Night of the Ascension of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is better? He answered that the Night of the Ascension is better for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Night of Decree is better for the Ummah. The Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) share, which he was singled out for in the Night of the Ascension, is more complete than his share in the Night of Decree, and the Ummah's share in the Night of Decree is more complete than their share in the Night of the Ascension, even though they have the greatest share in it. But the virtue, honor, and high rank were attained in it for the one with whom the Ascension took place (peace and blessings be upon him). This is what the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah answered in this issue.
The Imam and scholar Ibn al-Qayyim has words on this topic, agreeing with his Shaykh's words, that the Night of the Ascension is better for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Night of Decree is better for the Ummah.
And what must be pointed out is that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has prescribed for us in the Night of Decree of worship and drawing near to Him what He has not prescribed in the Night of the Ascension. So in the Night of the Ascension, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not perform the late-night prayer in it or single it out for standing or dhikr, but rather he would single out the Night of Decree for its virtue and status.
Also, it is not established in which month the Night of the Ascension is, or in which night of the month
it is, which indicates that knowing it and specifying it is not of benefit to us, unlike the Night of Decree, for which Allah informed that it is in Ramadan,For Allah the Exalted said:
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُIndeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree.
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِSo the Night of Decree has a distinction, because striving in worship, supplication, dhikr, and seeking it out has been prescribed for us in it, unlike the Night of the Ascension. We were not asked to seek it out, nor to single it out for any of the acts of worship. And by this, it becomes clear that those who celebrate the Night of the Ascension and the Mi'raj are innovators; they have brought what Allah has not prescribed, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) has not prescribed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate every year the passing of a night from the nights saying: "This is the Night of the Ascension and the Night of the Mi'raj," as these ignorant innovators do, who have made their religion rituals and innovative occasions, and left the Sunnahs and the established Shari'ahs from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This is something that must be paid attention to and explained to people, that Allah has prescribed for us striving in the Night of Decree, seeking it out, and drawing near to Him in it every year; unlike the Night of the Ascension and the Mi'raj, for which it has not been prescribed for us to seek it out, nor to single it out for anything. Also, it has not been made clear to us in
which month or which night it is, unlike the Night of Decree, which is in Ramadan without doubt. And Allah the Exalted knows best, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.