(p-176) Surah Al-Qadr, its purpose

The detail of the matter which is one of the two divisions of what the purpose of "Read" encompasses. This is indicated by its name, as the night has been favored by it. It is from the use of the cause to refer to the effect. This is evidence for those who say that the preference of times is due to what occurs in them. As the Jew said regarding the day when the saying of Allah, the Most High, was revealed: "This day I have perfected for you your religion" [Al-Ma'idah: 3]. And the Farooq, Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, singled this out and informed that we have two Eids: one due to it being the Day of Arafah, and the other due to it being the Day of Jummah. 'In the name of Allah,' whose command is exalted and whose essence is glorified. 'The Most Gracious,' whose mercy encompasses all, and 'The Most Merciful,' who has specifically completed the favor for the people of Tawheed, thus His gardens are exclusive to them.

* *When Allah, glorified and exalted is He, mentioned His Book in this miraculous Arabic mention, He referred to its revelation as being present in every heart. This was sufficient without the need to repeat it explicitly by its name. Thus, whenever His knowledge concealed it from the addressed one by what is in the context of the indications pointing to it, and by what it has in the heart of greatness and in the mind of presence, especially in this (p-177) Surah, which begins with the command to read, and ends with the prayer which is the greatest of its pillars. Its indication towards it is in the utmost clarity. It is as if He said: and draw near by reading the Qur'an in prayer. Thus, its concealment is more indicative of the overwhelming greatness than its declaration, for the indication of concealment shows that nothing has been completed that would necessitate the declaration of it. He emphasized it with matters: its concealment, and attributing its revelation to Him, and placing that in the manifestation of greatness, and the glorification of the time of its revelation, which includes the greatness of the city in which it was revealed - according to the majority - and the Prophet to whom it was revealed, confirming for the sake of their denial.

﴿Indeed﴾ meaning for what we have of greatness ﴿We have sent it down﴾ meaning this entire mention from the Preserved Tablet to the House of Honor from the heavens [of this world], arranging this arrangement which Allah has gathered the infallible nation upon. This is what exists now, and thus was the revelation of the first verse of it, which is the first Surah revealed, confirming that its greatness is from our greatness due to its miraculous nature in its composition, and from the diminishment of powers from encompassing its knowledge. The first part of it that was revealed was its beginning, consisting of five verses, the last of which is "what he did not know" to the Prophet ﷺ while he was in seclusion during this blessed month at the Mountain of Hira from the mountains of the honored Makkah. Then it began to be revealed piecemeal according to the events until it was completed over twenty-three years. Whenever a portion of it was revealed, it commanded the Prophet ﷺ (p-178) to arrange it in its Surahs by the command of Allah, the Most High, until it was completed in the Surahs as it is now in the House of Honor.

And when He magnified it by what He mentioned, He increased its greatness by the time He chose for its revelation, so that its emergence would be blessed, as its effect is praiseworthy. He said: ﴿In the Night of Decree﴾, meaning the night that has a great status and significant honor. The deeds in it have worth and honor, so it is as if it is specifically designated for decree, and there is no decree for anything else.

And Imam Abu Ja'far ibn al-Zubair said: It was mentioned as a definition by the revelation of what was previously commanded regarding its recitation, for the previous indication was towards the greatness of the matter of the Books. The approach to Him, glorified and exalted is He, is indeed from that door. He, glorified and exalted is He, informed us of the night of its revelation, and we recognized its worth so that we may rely on it in our supplications and attach our hopes to it. We seek to strive in good deeds, perhaps we may coincide with it, as it is like the hour on Friday in its ambiguity, along with its great status, and similar to the middle prayer. And for Allah, glorified and exalted is He, in concealing that, is the greatest mercy. And in the definition of the great worth of this night, the definition of the majesty of its status therein became clear. Thus, Surah Al-Qadr became a completion of what preceded, and its connection became evident.