THE HOLY QUR'AAN
INTRODUCTION:
This Surah consists of 5 verses, 30 sentences, 112 letters and 1 Ruku'.
The Sura has been so designated after the word al-qadr in the very first verse.
Whether it is a Makki or a Madani revelation is disputed. Abu Hayyan in Al-Bahr al-Muhti has made the claim that the majority of scholars regard it as a Madani Surah. All bin Ahmad al-Wahidi in his commentary says that this is the first Surah to be sent down in Madinah. Contrary to this, Al Mawardi says that occording to the majority of scholars it is a Makki revelation, and the same view has Imam Suyuti expressed in Al-Itqan. Ibn Mardayah has cited Ibn Abbas, Ibn Az Zubair and Hadrat Aishah as saying that this Surah was revealed at Makkah. A study of the contents also shows that it should have been revealed at Makkah as we shall explain below.
Its theme is to acquaint man with the value, worth and importance of the Quran. Its being placed just after Surah Al-Alaq in the arrangement of the Quran by itself explains that the Holy Book, the revelation of which began with the first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq. was sent down in a destiny making night. It is a glorious Book and its revelation for mankind is full of blessings.
At the outset, Allah says: "We have sent it down." That is, it is not a composition of Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessing) himself, but We Ourself have revealed it.
Then, it is said that "We sent it down in the Night of Destiny." Night of Destiny has two meanings and both are implied here. First, that it is the night during which destinies are decided; or, in other words, it is not an ordinary night like the other nights, but a night in which destinies are made or marred. The revelation of this Book in this night is not merely the revelation of a book but an event which will change the destiny of not only the Quraish, or of Arabia, but of, the entire world. The same thing has been said in Surah Ad-Dukhan for which please see Introduction to that Surah and E. N. 3 thereof. The other meaning is that this is a night of unique honour, dignity and glory; so much so that it is better than a thousand months. Thus, the disbelievers of Makkah have been warned, as if to say: "You on account of your ignorance regard this Book, which Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) has presented, as a calamity for yourselves and complain that a disaster has befallen you, whereas the night in which it was decreed to be sent down was such a blessed night that a task was accomplished in it for the well being of mankind, which had never been accomplished even during a thousand months of history. This also has been said in verse 3 of Ad-Dukhan in another way, which we have explained in the introduction to that Surah.
In conclusion, it has been stated that in this night the angels and Gabriel descend with every decree (which in verse 4 of Surah Ad-Dukhan has been described as arm-hakim: wise decree) by the leave of their Lord, and it is all peace from evening till morning; that is, there is no interference of evil in it, for all decrees of Allah are intended to promote good and not evil. So much so that even if a decision to destroy a nation is taken, it is taken for the sake of ultimate good, not evil.
Maududi
THE HOLY QUR'AAN
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
97 : 1
1. Inna anzalnahu fee laylati alqadri
Verily We revealed it (the Qur'aan) on the Night of Power!
97 : 2
2. Wama adraka ma laylatu alqadri
What will convey to you what the Night of Power is!
97 : 3
3. Laylatu alqadri khayrun min alfi shahrin
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months -
97 : 4
4. Tanazzalu almala-ikatu waalrroohu feeha bi-ithni rabbihim min kulli amrin
When the angels and the Spirit descend at the behest of their Lord to execute His Decrees!
97 : 5
5. Salamun hiya hatta matlaAAi alfajri
It is, therefore, a night of Peace until the cracking of the dawn! (R)
1. Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)[]
2. And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?
3. The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
4. Therein descend the angels and the Rûh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] by Allâh's Permission with all Decrees,
5. Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allâh to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.[]
097.001
YUSUFALI: We have
indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
PICKTHAL: Lo! We
revealed it on the Night of Predestination.
SHAKIR: Surely We
revealed it on the grand night.
097.002
YUSUFALI: And what
will explain to thee what the night of power is?
PICKTHAL: Ah, what
will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!
SHAKIR: And what will
make you comprehend what the grand night
097.003
YUSUFALI: The Night of
Power is better than a thousand months.
PICKTHAL: The Night of
Power is better than a thousand months.
SHAKIR: The grand
night is better than a thousand months.
097.004
YUSUFALI: Therein come
down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand:
PICKTHAL: The angels
and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all
decrees.
SHAKIR: The angels and
Gibreel descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair,
097.005
YUSUFALI:
Peace!...This until the rise of morn!
PICKTHAL: (The night
is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.
SHAKIR: Peace! it is
till the break of the morning.